French progressive metal titans Gojira turned the Accor Arena in Paris into a surreal seascape last night, November 30, deploying a spectacular new production element that brought one of their most iconic songs to life.
During the performance of their signature track “Flying Whales“—from the 2005 landmark album From Mars To Sirius—the band unleashed a massive, inflatable whale that floated above the capacity crowd. Fan-filmed footage from the evening shows the prop gliding over the audience, perfectly timed to the song’s crushing riffs, adding a literal interpretation to the atmospheric heavy metal anthem.
The visual spectacle highlighted a triumphant night for the band as they continue their trek through their native France. However, the tour has required significant adjustments on stage due to a medical setback for frontman Joe Duplantier.
As previously reported, Duplantier recently underwent surgery for a broken hand, leaving him unable to play guitar. To salvage the tour, the band recruited Greg Kubacki of the mathcore outfit Car Bomb to handle rhythm guitar duties. This has left Duplantier free to focus exclusively on vocals and crowd interaction—a rare dynamic for the quartet that has evidently allowed for increased production value and stage theatrics.
The modified lineup isn’t the only surprise Gojira has offered on this run. Since kicking off the tour in Reims on November 27, the group has shaken up their setlist with deep cuts that have never been performed live before. The set includes the live debuts of “Born In Winter” from L’Enfant Sauvage and the emotional closer “Global Warming,” alongside the return of the technical thrasher “Wisdom Comes,” which had been absent from their shows since 2017.
Support on the current run is provided by Comeback Kid and Neckbreakker. The tour continues tonight in Rouen.
Gojira Remaining 2025 French Tour Dates
- Dec 01 – Rouen, FRA – Zenith de Rouen
- Dec 02 – Saint-Herblain, FRA – Zenith Nantes Metropole
- Dec 04 – Toulouse, FRA – Zenith de Toulouse
- Dec 05 – Clermont-Ferrand, FRA – Zenith de Clermont-Ferrand
- Dec 06 – Marseille, FRA – Dome Marseille
- Dec 08 – Nice, FRA – Palais Nikaia
- Dec 09 – Bordeaux, FRA – Areka Arena
- Dec 10 – Lyon, FRA – LDLC Arena
- Dec 12 – Strasbourg, FRA – Zenith Of Strasbourg
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