BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JUNE 29: Singer/guitarist – Redferns
French heavy metal powerhouse Gojira has reached a milestone with their new single “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ca Ira),” which has debuted at No. 1 on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart. This represents a historic pinnacle that has catapulted the metal genre to new heights within the music hierarchy.
Gojira scoring top ranking is notable, especially when compared to the historical success of bands like Slipknot and Metallica. Slipknot has had multiple entries in the Billboard charts with their hit “Psychosocial.” Metallica, often regarded as one of the most influential metal bands, has enjoyed significant chart success, including multiple No. 1 albums and iconic singles like “Enter Sandman” and “The Unforgiven.”
It’s a rare achievement for a metal band to secure the No. 1 spot on any of Billboard’s charts. Typically, these rankings are dominated by lighter genres. However, this week, a notable exception has occurred in the U.S.
Released shortly after Gojira’s performance during an Olympics broadcast, the song has resonated with fans, despite mixed reactions to the televised event—some even labeled it unsettling. Nonetheless, a dedicated U.S. fanbase quickly supported the track upon its release.
In addition to Gojira’s achievement, this single also represents a debut No. 1 for collaborators Marina Viotti and Victor Le Mashe on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart.
“Mea Culpa (Ah! Ca Ira)” propels Gojira into the top 10 of this sales-only chart for the third time, previously reaching No. 4 with “Our Time is Now” in late 2022.
Their earlier hit “Another World,” which spent more than a week on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart, peaked at No. 5 in 2020. Alongside its top placement, “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ca Ira)” also debuts within the top 10 on both the Rock Digital Song Sales chart at No. 6 and the Hot Hard Rock Songs chart at No. 9.
Could this signal a turning point for hard rock and metal? Are we witnessing a shift in the tides for these heavy genres? Metalheads everywhere are likely high-fiving and celebrating like it’s a holiday! Grab your air guitars and prepare for some serious headbanging—this could be the dawn of a new era for metal!