Editing Gojira (band) (section)

===''The Way of All Flesh'' (2008–2011)===
Returning to Le Studio des Milans to write their fourth studio album, ''[[The Way of All Flesh (album)|The Way of All Flesh]]'', Gojira had developed their desired sound by touring. Joe Duplantier said that the album would be "more intense, more brutal, and more melodic" than its predecessor.<ref name="Cracknell2008-06-12">{{cite news|last=Cracknell|first=Nick|date=12 June 2008|title=Gojira's Studio Deja Vu|url=https://www.musicradar.com/totalguitar/gojiras-studio-deja-vu-248011|url-status=live|work=[[MusicRadar]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901183246/https://www.musicradar.com/totalguitar/gojiras-studio-deja-vu-248011|archive-date=1 September 2020|access-date=1 November 2021}}</ref> The album took four months to write, with its songwriting finished in late March 2008.<ref name="Noiseweb2008">{{cite news|last=Paufert|first=Geoffrey|date=October 2008|title=Gojira: The Way of All Flesh (Interview with Mario Duplantier)|url=http://www.noise-web.com/interviews/2008/1008_gojira.htm|url-status=live|language=fr|work=Metal Obs' Magazine|location=[[Niort]]|publisher=H.I.M. Media|issue=23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231230945/http://www.noise-web.com/interviews/2008/1008_gojira.htm|archive-date=31 December 2020|access-date=1 January 2021|via=Noiseweb|trans-quote="We locked ourselves in our rehearsal room for 4 months, from November 20th to March 20th roughly, with small cuts when Joe worked with [[Cavalera Conspiracy]]".}}</ref> The album was recorded from April to June,<ref name="TWOAF2008-02-05"/> and the drums were initially recorded by [[Logan Mader]] with Joe and Mario Duplantier in [[Los Angeles]] before they returned to Le Studio des Milans to continue working with Laurentx Etchemendy.<ref name="TWOAF2008-06-05">{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=New Album Title, Release Date Announced|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-new-album-title-release-date-announced/|url-status=live|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=5 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607225225/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=98427|archive-date=7 June 2008|access-date=1 November 2021}}</ref> Mader mixed the album in Los Angeles over a two-week period.<ref name="Cracknell2008-06-12"/> [[Randy Blythe]] of the American band Lamb of God, an active supporter of Gojira in the US, co-wrote and appeared on "Adoration for None".<!-- check the album talk page before editing it to All the Tears --><ref>{{cite news|last=Bowar|first=Chad|date=29 September 2015|title=Lamb of God's Randy Blythe Joins Gojira Onstage for 'Backbone'|url=https://loudwire.com/lamb-of-god-randy-blythe-joins-gojira-backbone-live/|url-status=live|work=[[Loudwire]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210101003328/https://loudwire.com/lamb-of-god-randy-blythe-joins-gojira-backbone-live/|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=1 November 2021}}</ref> In August, two months before the album was released, Gojira performed "Vacuity" live for the first time at the Rock en France Festival in [[Arras]] as the opening act for Metallica.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Gojira: Performance Footage Of New Song Available|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-performance-footage-of-new-song-available/|url-status=live|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=16 August 2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201231235940/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-performance-footage-of-new-song-available/|archive-date=31 December 2020|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Gojira live - Nachtleben, Ffm - 2009 - JD - 7.JPG|thumb|alt=Close-up side view of Joe Duplantier onstage, with Christian Andreu partly hidden in the background|Andreu ''(left)'' and Joe Duplantier in 2009]]
''The Way of All Flesh'' was released on 13 October 2008 in Europe on Listenable Records and the following day in North America on Prosthetic Records.<ref name="TWOAF2008-06-05"/> The album debuted at No.&nbsp;138 on the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart, selling 4,200 copies in its first week of release.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Gojira's 'The Way Of All Flesh' Lands On Billboard Chart|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-north-american-tour-dates-announced/|url-status=live|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=22 October 2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170103205915/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-s-the-way-of-all-flesh-lands-on-billboard-chart/|archive-date=3 January 2017|access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> It reached No.&nbsp;28 on France's Top Albums chart, and No.&nbsp;25 on the [[The Official Finnish Charts#Charts|Official Finnish Albums Chart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Gojira&titel=The+Way+Of+All+Flesh&cat=a|title=Gojira − The Way of Al Flesh (album)|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=2008|publisher=finnishcharts.com|language=en|access-date=1 January 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210101152312/https://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Gojira&titel=The+Way+Of+All+Flesh&cat=a|archive-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> The album topped the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Top Heatseekers|Heatseekers Albums]] chart for one week, remaining on the chart for four weeks.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/gojira/chart-history/tln/ |title=Chart History {{!}} Gojira {{!}} Heatseekers Albums |date=n.d. |magazine=Billboard |access-date=21 November 2021 |archive-date=21 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121195501/https://www.billboard.com/artist/gojira/chart-history/tln/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It reached No.&nbsp;21 on the ''Billboard'' [[Independent Albums]] chart.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/gojira/chart-history/ind/ |title=Chart History {{!}} Gojira {{!}} Independent Albums |date=n.d. |magazine=Billboard |access-date=21 November 2021}}</ref> Rivadavia wrote that the album provided "imaginative progressive headbangers&nbsp;... that were rife with technical fireworks and songwriting variety" and "a few failed experiments".<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000797980|pure_url=yes}}|title=Gojira {{!}} The Way of All Flesh|website=AllMusic|last1=Rivadavia|first1=Eduardo|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> Gojira supported [[In Flames]]'s European tour in October,<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Gojira To Tour Europe With In Flames In October|url=https://bravewords.com/news/gojira-to-tour-europe-with-in-flames-in-october|work=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|date=29 April 2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210101234252/https://bravewords.com/news/gojira-to-tour-europe-with-in-flames-in-october|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=2 January 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> touring North America in November and December.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=In Flames, All That Remains, Gojira, 36 Crazyfists: Fall 2008 Tour Dates Announced|url=https://metalinjection.net/news/in-flames-all-that-remains-gojira-36-crazyfists-fall-2008-tour-dates-announced|url-status=live|work=Metal Injection|date=21 August 2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210101183031/https://metalinjection.net/news/in-flames-all-that-remains-gojira-36-crazyfists-fall-2008-tour-dates-announced|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> ''The Way of All Flesh'' ranked fifth on ''[[Metal Hammer]]''{{'}}s list of the top 50 albums of 2008,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/features/metal-hammer-critics%E2%80%99-top-50-albums-2008-6-4/ |title=Metal Hammer Critics' Top 50 Albums 2008: 6-4 |access-date=1 November 2021 |archive-date=25 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225064044/http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/features/metal-hammer-critics%E2%80%99-top-50-albums-2008-6-4/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> and ''[[LA Weekly]]'' listed it as one of the year's top 10 metal albums.<ref>{{cite news|last=Freeman|first=Phil|date=22 December 2008|title=Top 10 Metal Albums of 2008|url=http://www.laweekly.com/top-10-metal-albums-of-2008/|url-status=live|work=[[LA Weekly]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210101144337/http://www.laweekly.com/top-10-metal-albums-of-2008/|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref>

In late January 2009, Gojira began a headlining tour of France, the UK, and [[Ireland]] to promote the album.<ref>''The Way of All Flesh'' tour began in January 2009:
* {{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Trepalium To Support Gojira On French Tour|url=https://bravewords.com/news/trepalium-to-support-gojira-on-french-tour|url-status=live|work=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|date=8 January 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210101193718/https://bravewords.com/news/trepalium-to-support-gojira-on-french-tour|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=6 November 2021}}
* {{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Pilgrimz To Support Gojira In UK, Ireland|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/pilgrimz-to-support-gojira-in-u-k-ireland/|url-status=live|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=30 January 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210101200337/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/pilgrimz-to-support-gojira-in-u-k-ireland/|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref> On 17 March, the band's first North American headlining tour was announced; their opening bands were [[The Chariot (band)|the Chariot]] and [[Car Bomb (band)|Car Bomb]].<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=North American Tour Dates Announced|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-north-american-tour-dates-announced/|url-status=live|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=17 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319063128/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=116355|archive-date=19 March 2009|access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> In June, Gojira followed [[Soulfly]] on the main stage at the Hellfest Summer Open Air and performed to more than 20,000 people.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Meurot |first=Julien |date=August 2009 |title=Hellfest Open Air |url=http://www.metalobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/MO32.pdf |language=fr |magazine=Metal Obs' Magazine |location=[[Niort]] |publisher=H.I.M. Media |issue=32 |page=12 |access-date=1 November 2021 |archive-date=1 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101184348/http://www.metalobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/MO32.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> They appeared for the fourth time at [[Belgium]]'s July [[Dour Festival]]<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Gojira: Dour Festival|url=https://www.dourfestival.eu/fr/artist/detail/Gojira/|url-status=live|language=fr|website=Dour Festival|date=n.d.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704162418/https://www.dourfestival.eu/fr/artist/detail/Gojira/|archive-date=4 July 2019|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> and [[Eurockéennes|Les Eurockéennes de Belfort]].<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Les Eurockéennes 2009|url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/2009/04/20/musique/musique/les-eurockeennes-2009-le-programme/|url-status=live|language=fr|work=[[Les Inrockuptibles]]|location=Paris|date=20 April 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210101211335/https://www.lesinrocks.com/2009/04/20/musique/musique/les-eurockeennes-2009-le-programme/|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> ''Terra Incognita'' was re-released with bonus tracks on 24 August in Europe and on 15 October in North America.<ref name="Garorock2009-10-01">{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Pro-Shot Footage From France's Garorock Festival Available|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-pro-shot-footage-from-france-s-garorock-festival-available/|url-status=live|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=1 October 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210102153546/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-pro-shot-footage-from-france-s-garorock-festival-available/|archive-date=2 January 2021|access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref> Gojira accompanied Metallica on their tour of the US and Canada from 14 September to 12 October, performing before Lamb of God.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Metallica announce awesome openers for Fall 2009 Tour|url=https://metalinjection.net/tour-dates/metallica-announce-awesome-openers-fall-2009-tour|url-status=live|work=Metal Injection|date=9 July 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210101220334/https://metalinjection.net/tour-dates/metallica-announce-awesome-openers-fall-2009-tour|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe began to join Gojira on "Backbone" at concerts when the bands appeared together.<ref>Randy Blythe performed "Backbone" at concerts with Gojira:
* {{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Gojira...|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-frontman-says-band-will-take-six-month-break-in/|url-status=live|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=15 August 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210101233255/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-frontman-says-band-will-take-six-month-break-in/|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=15 August 2021}}
* {{cite news|last=Bowar|first=Chad|date=29 September 2015|title=Lamb of God's Randy Blythe Joins Gojira Onstage for 'Backbone'|url=https://loudwire.com/lamb-of-god-randy-blythe-joins-gojira-backbone-live/|url-status=live|work=[[Loudwire]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210101003328/https://loudwire.com/lamb-of-god-randy-blythe-joins-gojira-backbone-live/|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=1 January 2021}}
* {{cite news|last=Kennelty|first=Greg|date=29 September 2015|title=Gojira Joined by Lamb of God's Randy Blythe On Stage For 'Backbone'|url=https://metalinjection.net/av/gojira-joined-by-lamb-of-gods-randy-blythe-on-stage-for-backbone|url-status=live|work=Metal Injection|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210102143700/https://metalinjection.net/av/gojira-joined-by-lamb-of-gods-randy-blythe-on-stage-for-backbone|archive-date=2 January 2021|access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref> The tour included headline dates on off days, supported by [[Burst (band)|Burst]] and [[Zoroaster (band)|Zoroaster]].<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Gojira Announces Headlining Shows On Metallica Tour 'Off' Days|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-announces-headlining-shows-on-metallica-tour-off-days/|url-status=live|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=19 March 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20161022164742/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-announces-headlining-shows-on-metallica-tour-off-days/|archive-date=22 October 2016|access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> As their popularity spread to America's metal scene, a [[Blabbermouth.net]] poster said that the band "has become one of metal's most acclaimed and admired acts".<ref name="Garorock2009-10-01"/> Gojira returned to France after the US tour for a few concerts and began a planned six-month hiatus; Joe Duplantier cited "just five days' break" since 2004.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Gojira Frontman Says Band Will Take Six-Month Break In 2010|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-frontman-says-band-will-take-six-month-break-in/|url-status=live|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=15 August 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210101233255/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-frontman-says-band-will-take-six-month-break-in/|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Gojira BergenCalling2011 ChristianMisje-5171.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Close-up of Christian Andreu, long hair flying, playing a guitar with a cutaway bottom|Andreu at the [[Bergen]] Calling Festival in [[Norway]], 2011]]
The band's break ended earlier than expected after Gojira was announced as the opening act of Metallica's European and [[Russia]]n tour in April 2010.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Gojira: European Live Dates Supporting Metallica Confirmed|url=https://bravewords.com/news/gojira-european-live-dates-supporting-metallica-confirmed|url-status=live|work=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|date=7 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102181935/https://bravewords.com/news/gojira-european-live-dates-supporting-metallica-confirmed|archive-date=2 January 2021|access-date=20 April 2022}}</ref> In July of that year, they were included in the lineup of the rock-oriented [[Vieilles Charrues Festival]] in [[Brittany]].<ref name="Charrues2010-07-16">{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Gojira. 'Beaucoup vont partir en courant!'|trans-title=Gojira. 'Many will run away!'|url=https://www.letelegramme.fr/ig/loisirs/ete/vieilles-charrues-2010/samedi/gojira-beaucoup-vont-partir-en-courant-16-07-2010-992058.php|url-status=live|language=fr|work=Le Télégramme|place=Brittany|date=16 July 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210321131348/https://www.letelegramme.fr/ig/loisirs/ete/vieilles-charrues-2010/samedi/gojira-beaucoup-vont-partir-en-courant-16-07-2010-992058.php|archive-date=21 March 2021|access-date=21 March 2021}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|Before the concert, ''[[Le Télégramme]]'' warned festival attendees that "Gojira could blow up the sound barrier tonight".<ref name="Charrues2010-07-16"/>}} Playing for an audience largely unaccustomed to metal music, Gojira's "delicate mission" was to close Saturday evening on the Glenmor stage. Described in an article in ''[[Le Télégramme]]'' as "more powerful" than [[Motörhead]]'s concert in 2008 on the same stage, the show began with "Lizard Skin" to an estimated crowd of 40,000 to 50,000; twenty minutes later, between 4,000 and 5,000 people remained. According to ''Le Télégramme'', "The show had a rare sonic power&nbsp;... so brutal that the band lost 90 percent of its attendance along the way". Undaunted, they continued to perform "as if their lives depended on it" with a drum solo of "breathtaking mastery". Since the Gojira show, metal has been slowly excluded from the Vieilles Charrues Festival.<ref name="Charrues2020-07-25">{{cite news|last=L'Hours|first=Dimitri|date=25 July 2020|title=Souvenirs en live: Quand le monstre Gojira fait fuir le public des Charrues|trans-title=Live memories: When the monster Gojira made audiences run away from the Charrues|url=https://www.letelegramme.fr/dossiers/souvenirs-en-live/souvenirs-en-live-quand-le-monstre-gojira-fait-fuir-le-public-des-charrues-25-07-2020-12586208.php|url-status=live|language=fr|work=Le Télégramme|place=[[Brittany]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219155217/https://www.letelegramme.fr/dossiers/souvenirs-en-live/souvenirs-en-live-quand-le-monstre-gojira-fait-fuir-le-public-des-charrues-25-07-2020-12586208.php|archive-date=19 December 2020|access-date=2 January 2021|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In August, they headlined the Rock Altitude Festival in Switzerland.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.-->|title=Kruger: Live Video of 'Muscle' Featuring Gojira's Joe Duplantier Available|url=https://bravewords.com/news/gojira-confirmed-for-germanys-wacken-open-air-2010|url-status=live|work=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|date=15 October 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210102184011/https://bravewords.com/news/kruger-live-video-of-muscle-featuring-gojiras-joe-duplantier-available|archive-date=2 January 2021|access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref> The band continued to promote ''The Way of All Flesh'' into 2010, including the European [[Wacken Open Air]],<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.-->|title=Gojira Confirmed For Germany's Wacken Open Air 2010|url=https://bravewords.com/news/gojira-confirmed-for-germanys-wacken-open-air-2010|url-status=live|work=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|date=18 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125204358/https://bravewords.com/news/gojira-confirmed-for-germanys-wacken-open-air-2010|archive-date=25 January 2021|access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref> [[Bloodstock Open Air]],<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.-->|title=Gojira Confirmed For UK's Bloodstock Festival|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-confirmed-for-u-k-s-bloodstock-festival/|url-status=live|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=12 January 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210102205516/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-confirmed-for-u-k-s-bloodstock-festival/|archive-date=2 January 2021|access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref> and [[Brutal Assault]] festivals.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.-->|title=Gojira, Catamenia, Monstrosity Confirmed For Czech Republic's Brutal Assault|url=https://bravewords.com/news/gojira-catamenia-monstrosity-confirmed-for-czech-republics-brutal-assault-festival-2010|url-status=live|work=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|date=26 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125205356/https://bravewords.com/news/gojira-catamenia-monstrosity-confirmed-for-czech-republics-brutal-assault-festival-2010|archive-date=25 January 2021|access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref>

Gojira had made substantial progress on their fifth album by March 2011, saying that they had written almost half of it; according to Joe Duplantier "These songs are original and a good reflection of what we are today".<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Gojira Working On Material For New Album|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-working-on-material-for-new-album/|url-status=live|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=15 March 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170101003935/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-working-on-material-for-new-album/|archive-date=1 January 2017|access-date=31 October 2021}}</ref> The band was relatively quiet during the year, focusing on new material and playing a handful of concerts in June and July, including at the [[Sonisphere Festival]] in [[Greece]] and France.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=30 June 2011 |title=Gojira: Quality Footage From Greece's Sonisphere Festival |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-quality-footage-from-greece-s-sonisphere-festival/ |url-status=live |work=Blabbermouth.net |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211101190145/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gojira-quality-footage-from-greece-s-sonisphere-festival/ |archive-date=1 November 2021 |access-date=1 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Messieurs 100.000 watts|trans-title=Gentlemen 100,000 watts|url=https://www.estrepublicain.fr/actualite/2011/07/06/messieurs-100-000-watts|url-status=live|language=fr|work=[[L'Est Républicain]]|date=5 May 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210102234411/https://www.estrepublicain.fr/actualite/2011/07/06/messieurs-100-000-watts|archive-date=2 January 2021|access-date=1 November 2021}}</ref> The band became [[Free agent (business)|free agents]] during the summer of 2011, after their contract with Prosthetic Records expired.<ref>{{cite news |last=Neilstein |first=Vince |date=27 July 2011 |title=Poll: With Which Record Label Will Gojira End Up? |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2011/07/27/poll-with-which-record-label-will-gojira-end-up/ |url-status=live |work=[[MetalSucks]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318172803/https://www.metalsucks.net/2011/07/27/poll-with-which-record-label-will-gojira-end-up/ |archive-date=18 March 2016 |access-date=1 November 2021}}</ref> Admired by [[Monte Conner]], Gojira was acquired by [[Roadrunner Records]] on 9 November 2011.<ref name="Pasbani2011-11-09">{{cite news|last=Pasbani|first=Robert|date=9 November 2011|title=Gojira Officially Sign With Roadrunner Records|url=https://metalinjection.net/news/gojira-officially-sign-with-roadrunner-records|url-status=live|work=Metal Injection|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210103002829/https://metalinjection.net/news/gojira-officially-sign-with-roadrunner-records|archive-date=3 January 2021|access-date=3 January 2021}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|After a "fiercely" competitive bidding war between record labels.{{sfn|Sayce|2013|p=23}}}} With their new recording contract, the band entered Spin Studios in [[New York City]] in November to record their next album.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pasbani|first=Robert|date=7 November 2011|title=Gojira Officially Recording New Album...|url=https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/gojira-officially-recording-new-album-signed-with-roadrunner-records|url-status=live|work=Metal Injection|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210108204924/https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/gojira-officially-recording-new-album-signed-with-roadrunner-records|archive-date=8 January 2021|access-date=1 November 2021}}</ref>