In a remarkable achievement for metal, Gojira clinched the Grammy for Best Metal Performance at the 67th annual Grammy Awards held on February 2, 2025, at Los Angeles’s Crypto.com Arena.
Their winning piece, “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça Ira!)”, is a rendition of the French Revolution-era song “Ah! Ça Ira!” This track was performed by the band during the previous year’s Olympic Games opening ceremony and became a landmark moment in metal history
The performance featured Gojira collaborating with opera singer Marina Viotti, accompanied by figures symbolizing the executed Queen Marie Antoinette. This evocative presentation took place outside the historic Conciergerie in Paris, a site where Antoinette was imprisoned before her execution in 1793.
“Thank you very much. It took us a long time [to walk up to the stage], we were sitting back there. We’re extremely excited to receive this award. We had the privilege to perform at the Olympic ceremony with Marina and Victor, so this is a great day for us, obviously,” said the band’s frontman, Joe Duplantier.
“We want to dedicate this award to all the bands that are pushing the boundaries. Support your local artists, support your local bands because that’s where it’s at. They’re inspiring us to continue. So thank you very much for this,” he concluded.
In the Best Metal Performance category, Gojira faced competition from notable acts:
- Judas Priest – Crown Of Horns
- Metallica – Screaming Suicide
- Knocked Loose (featuring Poppy) – Suffocate
- Spiritbox – Cellar Door
The 67th annual Grammy Awards were broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
This accolade underscores Gojira‘s innovative approach to metal music, blending historical themes with contemporary performance art. Their success at the Grammys highlights the genre’s evolving landscape and the band’s significant contribution to its progression