Empalot were a French
experimental rock band formed in the
Landes
''Landes'', or ''Lanas'' in Gascon, means moorland or heath.
''Landes'' and ''Lanas'' come from the Latin ''plānus'' meaning “‘flat, even, level, plain’”. They are therefore cognate with the English plain (and plane), the Spanish word '' ...
in 1998 by brothers
Joe
Joe or JOE may refer to:
Arts
Film and television
* ''Joe'' (1970 film), starring Peter Boyle
* ''Joe'' (2013 film), starring Nicolas Cage
* ''Joe'' (TV series), a British TV series airing from 1966 to 1971
* ''Joe'', a 2002 Canadian animated ...
and
Mario Duplantier
Mario François Duplantier (born 19 June 1981) is a French-American musician and artist best known as the drummer for progressive death metal band Gojira. He established himself as a powerful, technically precise drummer, using polyrhythmic patt ...
of
Gojira Gojira (ゴジラ) is the original Japanese name for Godzilla, a giant monster at the center of a media franchise.
It may also refer to:
Films
* ''Godzilla'' franchise, known as ''ゴジラ'' (''Gojira'') in Japan
** ''Godzilla'' (1954 film), rele ...
. The band members were Laurentx Etxemendi on saxophone,
Joe Duplantier
Joseph Andrew Duplantier (born 19 October 1976) is a French-American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist of heavy metal band Gojira. He is also a record producer and environmental activist.
Duplantier was born ...
on vocals and guitar, Stéphane Chateauneuf on vocals, Christian Maisonnave on percussion and Mario Duplantier on drums. In the band, Joe and Mario called themselves Vensceslas Podoldo
and Daniel Pestous, respectively.
History
The group's musical intention was to create a rare type of
experimental metal, described as ''terroir metal'' (English: style of metal typically linked to the land of a region–sarcasm, irony), which would combine
alternative metal,
jazz fusion
Jazz fusion (also known as fusion and progressive jazz) is a music genre that developed in the late 1960s when musicians combined jazz harmony and jazz improvisation, improvisation with rock music, funk, and rhythm and blues. Electric guitars, ...
,
funk rock,
avant-garde, and a touch of insanity accompanied by aggressive vocals of Joe Duplantier. The lyrical themes range from the modern myth of
Chouinard to silly songs, criticism of science and a struggle of the medieval period. The offbeat side of the group was also apparent in its appearance: the stage shows were colourful. The members appeared with masks or axes and were disguised as a cloud, a flower, a street lamp, a goat or a fund created by cardboard buildings.
The theatrical aspect was reinforced by the fact that the concerts were sometimes mingled with mini-plays.
In a 2004 interview for ''Noiseweb'', Joe Duplantier explained, "Empalot, it's really a story of childhood friends, we met in high school, it's transplanted. In addition, my brother – the drummer of Gojira, the sound engineer of Gojira, the lighting technician of Gojira is
lsothe singer of Empalot, so it's a bit the same people and in Empalot, it's humor that expresses itself in music, it's another delirious universe."
Empalot toured in France between 1999 and 2004.
Joe and Mario Duplantier placed the side project on hiatus in 2004.
''Tous aux Cèpes''
Their only album, ''Tous aux Cèpes'', was recorded in the studio Arema Bordeaux, produced by Gabriel Editions – the same label family created by Gojira.
It can be compared to other similar bands like Psykup, Trepalium or Gronibard. There are misspellings on the album; the group wanted it to be that way to magnify the ridicule.
Band members
*
Joe Duplantier
Joseph Andrew Duplantier (born 19 October 1976) is a French-American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist of heavy metal band Gojira. He is also a record producer and environmental activist.
Duplantier was born ...
− lead vocals, guitar, bass
(1998–2003)
*
Mario Duplantier
Mario François Duplantier (born 19 June 1981) is a French-American musician and artist best known as the drummer for progressive death metal band Gojira. He established himself as a powerful, technically precise drummer, using polyrhythmic patt ...
− drums
(1998–2003)
* Stéphane Chateneuf − vocals
(1998–2003)
* Laurentx Etxemendi − saxophone
(1998–2003)
* Christian Maisonnave − percussion
(1998–2003)
Discography
Studio albums
Live albums
Demo albums
References
{{Authority control
French heavy metal musical groups
Musical groups established in 1998
Experimental rock groups