From Mars to Sirius is the third studio album by the French progressive metal technical death metal band Gojira. The album was released on September 27, 2005. It is a concept album addressing environmental issues and the rebirth of a dead planet through a space travel storyline, with the underlying theme of a transition from war to peace. From Mars to Sirius was released in 2005 to critical acclaim. It has since been ranked amongst the Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.
It was largely written by Joe and Mario Duplantier, but Christian Andreu contributed certain parts such as the outro of Where Dragons Dwell and the central melody on World to Come. The album was entirely self-produced by the band. Jean-Michel Labadie was involved in the production, especially on the coherence of his bass in the compositions, and with his work the band sought “to bring a much warmer note into their sound”.
Gojira had emphasized more interludes and melodies in this album. Joe Duplantier said that From Mars to Sirius represented a journey; saying, “and as in every journey, there are air gaps, variations and moments of calm”.
After the recording of Terra Incognita made in ten days in a studio in Brussels, the band decided to build their own studio called, Le Studio des Milans, located in their hometown, where From Mars to Sirius would be recorded. The drum recording were made at Le Florida in Agen. Prior to the album’s release date, the band performed two songs at concerts in France, Backbone and The Heaviest Matter of the Universe. The mastering of the album was completed in mid-July 2005.
Tracklist:
- Ocean Planet
- Backbone
- From the Sky
- Unicorn (instrumental)
- Where Dragons Dwell
- The Heaviest Matter of the Universe
- Flying Whales
- In the Wilderness
- World to Come
- From Mars
- To Sirius
- Global Warming
Japanese bonus track - Escape (Metallica cover)
Gojira
Joe Duplantier: vocals, rhythm guitar, writing, mixing, artwork
Christian Andreu: lead guitar
Jean-Michel Labadie: bass, mixing
Mario Duplantier: drums
Technical personnel
Seb Dupuis: mastering
Jean-Pierre Chalbos: mastering
Laurent Etchemendy: engineering, mixing