Gojira’s From Mars to Sirius is a heavy record built on scale. Thirteen tracks, 72 minutes, and almost nothing about it feels small. The French metal band were building toward something bigger than their earlier records, and this album is the result: a dense, often punishing statement about environmental destruction and human violence, wrapped in some of the heaviest riffing the band had ever committed to tape.
The record opens with “Ocean Planet,” a slow-burning track that sets the tone immediately. It’s patient, atmospheric, and it builds slowly to a crushing finale. “Backbone” follows with a more aggressive attack, its title suggesting strength even as the music itself twists and turns. “From the Sky” continues the atmospheric approach, though it’s one of the more mid-tempo cuts on the record, and it doesn’t quite land with the force of the tracks around it.
Opening Trio
“Unicorn” is a brief, strange detour — a 2:09 instrumental that feels almost whimsical compared to everything else here. It’s a palate cleanser, but it’s also the weakest track on the album. “Where Dragons Dwell” picks things back up, a six-minute epic that earns its runtime through shifting dynamics and a memorable chorus. “The Heaviest Matter of the Universe” is a shorter, more direct track, all chugging riffs and a relentless pace.
Middle Stretch
“Flying Whales” is the longest track on the record at 7:44, and it’s one of the best. It’s a slow, brooding piece that builds to a massive, cathartic climax, and it shows off the band’s ability to sustain tension over a full seven minutes. “In the Wilderness” follows a similar path, though it’s slightly less immediate. Both tracks reward patience, and both feel essential to the album’s overall arc.
Back Half
“World to Come” is another strong entry, a 6:53 track that mixes melody with brutality. It’s one of the more melodic moments on the record, and it stands out for that reason. “From Mars” is a short, sharp interlude, a 2:25 burst that serves as a bridge to the second half of the album. “To Sirius” picks things back up, a 5:38 track that’s more immediate and urgent than anything in the first half.
“Global Warming” is the longest track after “Flying Whales,” clocking in at 7:51, and it’s another standout. It’s a slower, more deliberate piece that builds to a devastating finale, and it’s the clearest example of the band’s ability to craft a track that feels both epic and tightly controlled. “Escape” closes the album at 5:06, a final push that ends the record on a note of release rather than exhaustion.
Track List
| # | Track | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocean Planet | 5:33 |
| 2 | Backbone | 4:18 |
| 3 | From the Sky | 5:48 |
| 4 | Unicorn | 2:09 |
| 5 | Where Dragons Dwell | 6:54 |
| 6 | The Heaviest Matter of the Universe | 3:58 |
| 7 | Flying Whales | 7:44 |
| 8 | In the Wilderness | 7:47 |
| 9 | World to Come | 6:53 |
| 10 | From Mars | 2:25 |
| 11 | To Sirius | 5:38 |
| 12 | Global Warming | 7:51 |
| 13 | Escape | 5:06 |
Key Facts
- Artist: Gojira
- Album: From Mars to Sirius
- Release type: Album
- Tracks: 13
- Total running time: 72 minutes
Final Word
From Mars to Sirius is a dense, rewarding listen. It’s not an easy record — the longer tracks demand attention, and the album as a whole asks for patience — but the payoff is real. “Flying Whales,” “Global Warming,” and “Escape” are three of the strongest tracks the band has ever recorded, and they’re matched by the solid work in the middle of the album.
The weaker moments — “Unicorn,” “From the Sky,” and the quieter stretches of “In the Wilderness” — don’t sink the record, but they do keep it from being perfect. This is a band operating at a high level, pushing their sound further than it had gone before, and the ambition shows throughout.
- Ocean Planet5:33
- Backbone4:18
- From the Sky5:48
- Unicorn2:09
- Where Dragons Dwell6:54
- The Heaviest Matter of the Universe3:58
- Flying Whales7:44
- In the Wilderness7:47
- World to Come6:53
- From Mars2:25
- To Sirius5:38
- Global Warming7:51
- Escape5:06
