Gojira – Amazonia: Against deforestation

There's fire in the sky / You're in the Amazon", sings frontman Joe Duplantier over drums, guitar and didgeridoo. "The biggest miracle is the burning on the ground". The video takes it a step further, showing burnt forests and indigenous people dancing.

The incendiary Amazonia sees the French band tackling the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and the impact it has on the communities living in it. Just like Sepultura did with Roots Bloody Roots 25 years ago. The track finds Gojira marrying native instruments to their sound to stunning effect.

Proceeds from the single will go to The Articulation of Indigenous People of the Brazil (AIPB), which supports indigenous victims of deforestation, land loss, forced labour, violence and harassment.

The group is also running an auction to raise funds for AIPB. One of the most notable items is a one-of-a-kind Charvel guitar featuring Duplantier's own hand-carved artwork. Another is a bass, donated by Metallica's Robert Trujillo and his wife, Chloe, which also features a carved bird (just like the guitar). In a video released by the Trujillos, the couple sign the instrument. There are also items donated by Slayer, Sepultura, Lamb of God and Bring Me the Horizon.

"We don't want to just release a song called Amazonia – we want to do something more", says Duplantier. "We feel a responsibility as artists to offer people a way to take action".

Gojira had earlier released another track off Fortitude, "Born for One Thing". "We have to practice detachment from everything, starting with real things", Duplantier said about the song's meaning. "Own fewer possessions and give away what you don't need, because one day we'll have to leave everything behind. If we don't, we'll just become ghosts stuck between dimensions."

Amazonia is the second single from Fortitude, following Born For One Thing. The album comes out on April 30th. You can find the page for the band's initiative here.