Dragging on Lars Ulrich's drumming has become an increasingly common pastime for metalheads over the last few decades and Gojira drummer Mario Dupantier is sick to death of it.
Duplantier has spoken out in defence of the Metallica icon, sounding off on Ulrich haters during an appearance on Stray From The Path drummer Craig Reynolds' popular podcast The Downbeat.
"We need to bring some justice for him, because it's not about moving tempo-wise," said Duplantier. "It's what he created in the past. I'm a bit tired of seeing all this conversation about Lars because what he did create is quite unique. Listen to fucking …And Justice For All. It's amazing."
Reynolds, a fellow Ulrich fan, whose initial concept for The Downbeat podcast was to make a series named And Justice For Lars where he would chat to other musicians about why Ulrich is awesome, concurred with Duplantier, adding that it is impressive that Ulrich is still playing sets consisting of thrash classics at his age.
"And to play at fucking 60-something years old – or 60, sorry – playing for two hours and playing long fucking [songs like] 'Master Of Puppets,' eight and a half minute long songs.'
Duplantier continues that train of thought, offering that "It's very physical and what he brought to the table back in the day – you know, playing without shirts and doing all these faces, and standing up behind the kits – is almost more important than the rest. It's the the personality on stage for me as a kid, I was just fascinated, it was not about the technique, you know? 'Is it tight? I didn't care. I just saw someone behind the drums. A true personality."
You can check out the full podcast episode below.
The conversation is particularly well timed, given Metallica are set to release their eleventh studio album 72 Seasons on April 14th. Metallica shared the video for their new single If Darkness Had A Son last week. The third track released from the highly anticipated new album 72 Seasons, If Darkness Had A Son is a classic Metallica mid-tempo stomper, in the vein of Harvester of Sorrow or The Thing That Should Not Be. Lyrically, If Darkness Had A Son sees James Hetfield continue to explore the darker side of the inner workings of the human mind, examining the seemingly innate self-destructive tendencies that dwell within. If Darkness Had A Son follows prior singles Screaming Suicide and Lux Aeterna in previewing 72 Seasons.
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French metal goliaths Gojira, released their chart-topping album Fortitude in 2021. This past December, they unleashed all the earth-shattering polyrhythms, blast beats and thought-provoking thematic downunder when they played the Good Things Festival.
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Listen to Gojira - Fortitude
