Image credit: NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP – Getty Images

This fiery, bloody performance at the Olympics opening ceremony in Paris saw a gory retelling of Marie Antoinette’s execution.

Gojira just made history as the first heavy metal band to play in the Olympics opening ceremony. Knowing the weight of their performance, the band went all out for one of the most impressive performances seen at any Olympics.

The band played from the windows of the grand Conciergerie, a former prison and the French kings’ hideout during the French revolution. Gojira’s performance featured opera singer Marina Viotti and was lit by explosive pyrotechnics shooting fire along the Seine in front of the grand building.

Numerous figures were displayed to represent the beheaded image of Marie Antoinette. The brutality didn’t stop there, with streams of red ribbons shooting from the ribbons in an explosion of blood-like horror. Gojira’s singer and guitarist, Joe Duplantier said: “It was a very bloody era of French history, so it was very metal.”

If it sounds like a performance like this might be controversial, it interestingly enough has been a huge success. Metal fans were thrilled to watch an iconic band represent the genre on the global stage. Audiences beyond heavy metal fans also seemed to enjoy the show. Forbes described it a “a monumental moment”.

Of course, the display has been derided by some and caused a row over whether it is offensive to Christians. Two prominent – but controversial themselves – figures to speak out are Tesla and SpaceX owner Elon Musk, who described it as “extremely disrespectful to Christians, and Andrew Tate, who said: “Satanists control the west and they show you that they worship the devil.”

Music is a large part of the Olympics ceremony. The choice of a heavy metal band to play this year’s opening was a brave one that has sparked conversation if nothing else. Watch the impressive performance in its entirety below.