GOJIRA frontman Joe Duplantier recently contributed to MTV’s Headbanger's Blog. His blog on the band’s new album, The Way Of All Flesh, appears below:

The new Gojira album, The Way of all Flesh, is all about mortality and the lyrics are rife with messages of decay and destruction. It seems like some pretty nihilistic stuff. How strange, then, that when we invited frontman Joe Duplantier to write a guest blog, he submitted an essay about positive thinking. Clearly there’s more to this man (and band) than meets the eye:

The way we think can affect ourselves and the world on a very profound way. It’s obvious that positive thinking is a force that brings oneself forward and our intentions and ideas have an impact on life in general.

An example of negative thinking: “I am weak, ugly and it is not cool to hang out with me.” If I think this way, I’ll look worried and sad, my self-confidence disappears and after a while, this thought becomes reality. I’ll be on my own…

An example of positive thinking: “I am strong, nice, and I’m good company for others.” In that case, I project a good energy and image of myself. The simple fact is that such an attitude will bring confidence and a relaxing vibe that will communicate something positive and constructive.

We have the power to bring positive energy around us by thinking, for example, “These people around me are my brothers and sisters and we’re part of the same existence.” Being in this state of mind is pretty hard sometimes, but it can be a sort of self-discipline in life and a good way to overcome hate, anxiety and jealousy. When we are on tour with the band, we go through tough situations every day — even though we have fun and love what we do and respect each other — because we’re tired all the time. A lot of things can be hard for the nerves. The way we behave becomes more important every day, and we have to find the proper way to behave. For me, it’s an unlimited source of strength to think about life in a positive way and to face problems thinking, “There is a solution.”

I am talking about a deep decision of being constructive and the will to be into compassion instead of competition. Being part of a global solution instead of a growing cancer for our planet: destruction.

Some call this positive thinking “prayer.” In my opinion, it’s just another word for that. I am not a religious person but more of a spiritual guy, I guess. I try to see the different levels in each aspect of life and I feel “concerned.”

Vacuity