Killing monsters at Smash

HEAR ME ROAR: Gisborne heavy metal covers band Diekaiju (‘killing monsters’), who specialise in Gojira covers, are among several metal acts who will raise Smash Palace’s roof at the two-day Hell SmashFest VI from tomorrow. Picture supplied

ORIGINALLY called Godzilla before they changed their name to Gojira, the French heavy metal band was the inspiration for Gojira covers band Diekaiju.

The Gisborne metal act at first adopted the Japanese name Daikaiju (large strange beast).

“We changed the Japanese word to Diekaiju — so we’re ‘killing monsters’,” says drummer Aiden Walters.

“When we started learning Gojira’s songs they weren’t a well-known band yet. Gojira has an impressive presence. They play hard but they have a new-age message in the songs as well. They talk about problems we have these days and bring up things other metal bands don’t.”

Themes include climate change and the environment. When Gojira brothers Joe and Mario Duplantier’s mother died last year they wrote a couple of songs about her too.

“Those songs are still hard out and heavy metal but the lyrics aren’t aggressive. They’re trying to get a message across. They’re a bit different from the usual angry stuff.”

Diekaiju’s band members decided at the outset that if any one of them left the band would not longer be Diekaiju. Family commitments mean one member now has to depart from the band which leaves the others to decide what to do next. They have some original songs so they will turn to those in their next incarnation.

Before the monster slayer takes itself apart, Diekaiju will unleash their gargantuan sound at the Hell SmashFest VI from Friday.

The two-day heavy metal, rock and punk festival at Smash Palace features 15 bands over two stages. Diekaiju will be joined by Gisborne act Uni-Fi, Auckland band Stormforge, Bulletbelt from Wellington, Melbourne rockers Logic Defies Logic and others.