Godflesh
Godflesh | |
---|---|
![]() Godflesh performing on 22 April 2014: B. C. Green and Justin Broadrick | |
Background information | |
Also known as | O.P.D. (1982–1983) Fall of Because (1983–1987) |
Origin | Birmingham, England |
Genres | |
Years active | 1988–2002, 2009–present |
Labels | |
Members | |
Past members | |
![]() |
Godflesh are an English industrial metal band from Birmingham. The group formed in 1982 under the original title O.P.D. (later Fall of Because) but did not release any complete music until 1988 when Justin Broadrick (guitar, vocals, programming) and B. C. Green (bass, programming) renamed the band and decided to use a drum machine for percussion. Melding heavy metal with industrial music and later with electronic music and dub, Godflesh's sound is widely regarded as a foundational influence on other industrial metal and post-metal acts and as significant to both experimental and extreme metal.[a]
The band signed to Earache Records in the late 1980s and released their debut album Streetcleaner (1989) to contemporary and lasting acclaim. After the release of their sophomore album Pure (1992) and their major label debut Selfless (1994), they started experimenting with live drums as well as hip hop and breakbeat sounds. The resulting albums, Songs of Love and Hate (1996) and Us and Them (1999), were followed by Hymns (2001), which saw a simplification of the band's style. Shortly after Green's departure in 2002, Broadrick ended Godflesh and pursued various other projects, such as Jesu. Broadrick and Green reformed Godflesh in 2009, releasing A World Lit Only by Fire (2014) and Post Self (2017) to critical acclaim. Their ninth album, Purge, was released in June 2023.
As pioneers of industrial metal, Godflesh's early sound was defined by harsh machine beats, production-emphasised bass, distorted guitar and sparse vocals delivered in a low, guttural fashion. The band performed for most of their career as a duo with Broadrick and Green playing over preprogrammed percussion, normally to a backdrop of apocalyptic scenery and Christian iconography. Godflesh's music has been regarded as especially heavy and grim, with Streetcleaner being named by several publications as one of the heaviest and greatest metal albums.[b]
History
[edit]Formation and early years (1982–1988)
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/The_Mermaid%2C_Sparkhill.jpg/220px-The_Mermaid%2C_Sparkhill.jpg)
The band that would eventually become Godflesh, O.P.D. (Officially Pronounced Dead),[1][2] formed in 1982 when B. C. Green and Paul Neville, two young musicians living in cheap council estate housing in east Birmingham, started experimenting musically alongside a drum machine.[3][4] In 1983, the band renamed to Fall of Because, named after a Killing Joke song and a chapter from an Aleister Crowley book.[5] The band found a live drummer, Justin Broadrick, who lived in the same council housing as Green and Neville. Broadrick joined the group in 1984 after organising a concert at The Mermaid in Birmingham.[4][5] At that show, Fall of Because, Final (Broadrick's first musical act), and an early incarnation of Napalm Death performed before a crowd of twenty-five people.[5] In the months following that concert, Broadrick joined Napalm Death as a guitarist and Fall of Because as a drummer and altered the latter's sound by introducing albums from Swans, Sonic Youth and Discharge to Green and Neville.[4][5] Only fifteen at the time, Broadrick said he "usurped" their band.[5]
Fall of Because recorded a demo titled Extirpate in 1986, which contained several tracks that would become Godflesh songs.[3][6] Due to these recordings not being widely available until 1999, they were retrospectively recognised as "eerily" ahead of their time by Exclaim!.[4] Later in 1986, Broadrick was invited to play drums for Head of David,[4] leading to his departure from Napalm Death and soon after from Fall of Because in 1987.[7] Then, in March 1988, he left Head of David for being, according to Broadrick, "too noisy of a drummer",[8] and contacted Green in April to reform Fall of Because as a duo.[3][9] In that reformation, Broadrick took over on guitar, and the band went back to employing a drum machine for percussion.[7] It was then that the group was renamed Godflesh.[10] Broadrick explained the new name by saying, "I heard someone once say that music is the voice of God. The word 'God' conjures something immense and inconceivable. The 'flesh' part is what effects you on a physical level. Our music is loud and destructive."[11]
Self-titled EP, Streetcleaner and Pure (1988–1993)
[edit]Inspired by the bleak urban landscape of Birmingham and the extreme music Broadrick introduced to Green,[12][13][14] Godflesh took on a distinctly heavier tone than the primarily Cure-influenced Fall of Because.[5] In 1988, the band established a presence in underground music by releasing their self-titled extended play (EP) through the Swordfish label.[15][16] That EP, considered the source of industrial metal alongside Ministry's 1988 studio album The Land of Rape and Honey,[15][17] combined programmed industrial beats, distorted vocals, low guitar and driving bass riffs to create the sound that Godflesh would become known for.[7]
Shortly after the Godflesh release, the band recorded another EP titled Tiny Tears comprising four short, rough songs.[18] Before Swordfish could release this EP, though, Godflesh were acquired by Earache Records, and the label's founder, Digby Pearson, convinced Broadrick and Green to shelve Tiny Tears and use the songs as bonus tracks on their first full-length album.[18][19] The band agreed, and in 1989 they released Streetcleaner, which went on to receive critical acclaim and recognition as a landmark album in heavy metal music.[b] Streetcleaner saw the reintroduction of Neville into the band, this time as the second guitarist, and it marked the band's first release of many on Earache.[37] The album further defined Godflesh's sound, standing out from other metal releases with unusual production that emphasised mechanical beats and percussive bass over guitar.[20] Streetcleaner is regarded as particularly heavy and bleak.[b]
From February to March 1991, Godflesh were again in the studio, recording the Slavestate EP, which saw the band experimenting with dance and more electronic elements.[38][39] Later that year in April, Godflesh embarked on their first tour of North America (a leg of Earache's Grindcrusher tour) with labelmates Nocturnus and Napalm Death.[9] According to Mike Browning of Nocturnus, most of the shows of the 45-day tour were attended by 200 to 300 people.[40] Godflesh missed the first concert due to permit issues, but they made it to the second date at the L'Amour in Brooklyn.[40][41] The venue was full, and when Godflesh took the stage, their drum machine failed and the band could not continue.[40][41] When a replacement machine was eventually found, Broadrick and Green hastily programmed in four songs to be ready for the tour's third show at the Channel in Boston.[40] Despite these initial difficulties, the rest of the tour went well and Godflesh drew surprisingly positive reception.[4] Slavestate was released in July after Grindcrusher had concluded. In August and October 1991,[39] both Broadrick and Green guested on Buried Secrets (1992), an EP by Painkiller.[42]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Godflesh_Camden_2.jpg/220px-Godflesh_Camden_2.jpg)
With the successes of Streetcleaner, Slavestate, a concert opening for Nirvana and the Grindcrusher tour,[4][43][44] Godflesh started on their second album, this time without Neville, who chose to focus on his other project, Cable Regime, which featured Broadrick as a recurring producer.[45][46] To fill the void, Robert Hampson of Loop was brought in to play on half of the new album's tracks as well as on Cold World (1991), an EP recorded in the same sessions.[47] The sophomore album, Pure, was released in 1992 through Earache and has since been recognised as an influential release in the post-metal genre.[48][49] Musically, Pure was even more mechanical than Streetcleaner, further emphasising the drum machine and featuring production that augmented the percussion with a stark, bleak atmosphere.[50][48] Though Godflesh's most overt experiments with hip hop and breakbeats occurred later in their career,[51] Pure featured elements of both buried under the wailing guitar, shouted vocals and aggressively repetitive drumming.[52] The album continued its experimentation with atypical song structures on its conclusion,[53] "Pure II", a twenty-minute ambient drone piece with a submerged beat that, as AllMusic's Ned Raggett said, "hits like a distant cannon".[52]
Despite Broadrick's dissatisfaction with the mixing on Pure being "not heavy enough",[54] many critics regarded the album as unrelenting;[52][55] in a positive review, Spin's Mike Gitter wrote that "Hiroshima was probably more fun [than Pure]".[56] In support of the album, Godflesh planned to open for Ministry on another tour of North America, but instead ended up opening for the electro-industrial band Skinny Puppy on their Last Rights (1992) tour.[57][58] Due again to issues with entering the United States, Godflesh were forced to cancel a number of these dates;[59] they later returned to those markets as headliners to make the missed shows up.[41] Broadrick retrospectively said that this era of the band stands as "the most honest representation of what Godflesh set out to achieve."[60]
Selfless, Songs of Love and Hate and Us and Them (1994–2000)
[edit]After a year of minimal activity in 1993, Godflesh were approached by several record labels.[40] According to Broadrick, Danny Goldberg of Atlantic Records invited them to London and expressed his desire to acquire the band.[40] About this period, Broadrick said, "They really thought that Godflesh could be the next Nine Inch Nails and that we would be selling out fucking stadiums. The buzz at the time was ridiculous. It outweighed the sales, obviously. It was all hype."[40] Ultimately, the band ended up with major record label Columbia for the release of the EP Merciless in 1994, the title track of which was originally a Fall of Because song.[61] Another EP, Messiah was recorded during these sessions,[62] but it was not released on a wide scale until 2003 through Relapse Records.[63] Later in 1994, the band released their third album, Selfless, which represented a shift in the group to a more high-end production approach and to a greater focus on traditional heavy metal riffs.[64][65] Despite being the band's best-selling record with approximately 180,000 copies shipped, Selfless was deemed a commercial disappointment.[4] This coupled with the ban of Godflesh's first major music video led to the end of their collaboration with Columbia.[66][67]
Feeling abandoned after being abruptly dropped by Columbia, Godflesh were briefly directionless in 1995.[68][69] In 1996, the band returned to Earache and created their fourth studio album, Songs of Love and Hate, which was Godflesh's first music made with a human drummer since the early Fall of Because days;[70] Bryan Mantia of Praxis provided the aggressive, non-mechanical drumming.[70] In retrospect, Broadrick believed Songs of Love and Hate marked the point where Godflesh lost sight of their original goal and started making "self-conscious" music.[71][72] When it came time for the album's 1996 tour, Mantia made the move to join Primus, and Godflesh recruited Ted Parsons of Prong and Swans to perform on the tour in his place. Along with the album's follow-up remix release, Love and Hate in Dub (1997), Songs of Love and Hate moved away from Godflesh's industrial roots into experimentation with conventional verse-chorus format, hip hop, dub and drum and bass.[73] The remix album was supported by a one-off concert on 4 October 1997 at The Garage, London where Broadrick operated a mixing desk, Steve Hough played guitar, Green played bass and Diarmuid Dalton provided support on a Moog synthesiser.[74]
This experimentation continued and increased with Godflesh's next album, Us and Them (1999). While live drumming was dropped again in favour of percussive machines, Us and Them saw the group going further with electronics and drum-and-bass-oriented sound than ever before.[76] Broadrick was quick to admit that he "hated" the album and that it was an "identity crisis".[77][78] Retrospectively, though, he revised his thoughts, saying that his hatred was overstated despite him still having issues with the album.[79] Shortly after releasing Us and Them in 1999, Godflesh began work on a proposed remix album, Us and Them in Dub.[80][81] While this album was never released, two tracks from it appeared on the 2001 compilation In All Languages.[82] Also in 1999, Life Is Easy, an album compiling Godflesh's recordings as Fall of Because, was released on the Alleysweeper label and distributed via Martin Atkins' Invisible Records label.[61]
Hymns and dissolution (2001–2002)
[edit]Following the release of the double album compilation In All Languages, Godflesh released their sixth studio album, Hymns (2001) through several different labels.[83][84] The album again saw Godflesh with a human drummer; Parsons returned to provide the live percussion and, according to Broadrick, the inspiration for Godflesh to continue.[79] Hymns marked a dramatic shift away from Godflesh's recent experimentation, moving instead into the realm of direct heavy metal, with only a few tracks revealing hip hop or electronic influence;[85] Broadrick wanted Hymns to be more of a rock album than any other Godflesh releases.[86] The album was recorded in a professional studio and a producer outside of the band was brought in to oversee the process, two firsts for Godflesh that Parsons believed to be mistakes.[87][88] Despite receiving positive reviews, the final product of Hymns was ultimately dissatisfying for Broadrick, so much so that he restored it to a state resembling its demos on the 2013 reissue.[89] With the band disheartened by Hymns' troubled production and dreading an upcoming tour, the direct future of Godflesh was unclear.
In October 2001, the same month Hymns was released, Broadrick received a call from Green just two weeks before Godflesh were set to tour with Strapping Young Lad and Fear Factory.[79] Over the phone, Green expressed frustration at having to open for young bands despite being in the business since 1982, as well as being forced into a tour for an album that was manipulated from the outside. Green tearfully left Godflesh to return to university and focus on his relationship with his partner.[79][72] To cope with the departure of his friend, Broadrick devoted all of his effort to maintaining the band. It was quickly announced that Green would be replaced by former Killing Joke and Prong bassist Paul Raven.[90] Though this configuration of Godflesh came up with some ideas for another studio album (namely the usage of a rhythm from Public Enemy's "Shut 'Em Down"), Broadrick was "always aware that a new album was never going to happen".[78] Not long after this short-lived incarnation of Godflesh performed a handful of shows that Broadrick later said "felt completely wrong",[72] he experienced a nervous breakdown the day before departing for another tour of North America, this time with High on Fire and Isis.[91][92] He recalled the breakdown as a "real Brian Wilson moment"[93] and said, "I felt paralyzed by the stress, which had been building for several months, and I literally couldn't get out of bed. I was numb and couldn't move, so when the car came to pick me up to take me to the airport, I ran and hid at another friend's house in Birmingham."[94] All of the shows were called off,[91] and Godflesh officially disbanded on 10 April 2002.[95]
The cancelled tour caused a number of problems for Broadrick; his thirteen-year relationship with his girlfriend dissolved,[96] and a bus driver who had been hired for the tour threatened his life. In a panic, Broadrick remortgaged his house and amassed approximately US$35,000 to pay the driver and everyone else who had been affected by the cancellation.[94] Broadrick, at a low point in his life, was left with little to do but work on new, different music. About the period, he said, "My only solace, my only escape at that time was recording the first Jesu album."[79] "Jesu", the closing track of Hymns and, until 2014, the last original Godflesh song, ended with a hidden passage of unusual peacefulness and melodicism.[97] Broadrick's next project, bearing the same title of Jesu, adopted that shoegaze sound and the new band's first EP, Heart Ache, was released in 2004. On promotional material for Heart Ache, a message from Broadrick read, "Godflesh is dead, long live Jesu."[98]
Reformation (2009–2013)
[edit]After Godflesh's dissolution, Broadrick and Green rarely spoke.[99] Though there was no falling out between the two members, Broadrick assumed the project permanently dead, believing that Green's interest in it was gone.[99][100] Regardless, Broadrick decided in 2009 to approach Green with an offer to reform, something that promoters had been pushing for years.[100] Green responded to Broadrick's call within a few hours, saying he would love to do it.[99] Both members quickly agreed that the most important thing for the reunion's integrity was that they return to a drum machine for percussion.[100] In November 2009, the reunion was made public when Godflesh announced they would perform at the 2010 edition of the Hellfest Summer Open Air in Clisson, France.[101] Asked in a February 2010 interview about Godflesh's future, Broadrick replied, "Godflesh will not commit to anything but Hellfest currently. I am unsure as to where we will go from there, if we go anywhere at all."[102] He also revealed that the likelihood of new material was "fairly minimal", but that the possibility still existed;[102] though later, in 2014, he insisted that "ultimately, the whole reformation thing was pretty much fundamentally about wanting to make new music".[78] On 18 June 2010, Godflesh performed for their first time since 2001 at Hellfest. The show was fraught with technical difficulties, ending up as a forty-minute set instead of the intended sixty minutes.[103] Despite the frustration of the return performance, Godflesh continued to play festivals throughout 2010 and 2011,[104] including the 2011 edition of the Roadburn festival in Tilburg, Netherlands, where they performed their first album, Streetcleaner, in its entirety.[105] This performance was later released as the group's first live album in 2013.[106]
In December 2010, Broadrick revealed to Decibel magazine that Godflesh were gradually assembling new ideas for a studio album.[107] He explained, "It's something we're discussing all the time, and I do have bits and pieces of material. But it's something we'd really like to develop. It'd be quite easy to knock out eight to ten in-character songs and release it as quickly as possible to capitalise on the popularity of the group, but it would feel entirely wrong."[107] In 2011, Godflesh (along with Black Sabbath, Napalm Death, Judas Priest and Led Zeppelin) were recognised by the UK-based Home of Metal archival project as significant contributors to the heavy metal genre.[16] With this accolade absorbed, Broadrick continued to confirm the existence of a new Godflesh album throughout 2012, saying it would most likely be out in 2013 after a new EP.[108] In 2013, Godflesh released their first new recording in over twelve years, a cover of Slaughter's "F.O.D. (Fuck of Death)", through Decibel magazine's flexi disc Series.[109] The flexi disc was included in the November 2013 issue of Decibel.[110] Later in 2013, Godflesh performed Pure in its entirety at Roadburn, featuring Hampson on guitar for part of the set.[111][112] In 2014, Broadrick said that disbanding Godflesh was the best thing they had ever done and stated that the upcoming album was his favourite since 1994's Selfless.[113][114][78]
A World Lit Only by Fire and Post Self (2014–2021)
[edit]From 2012 to 2014, Godflesh were in Broadrick's private studio, working on their seventh album.[115] The process was slow due to Broadrick's commitment to making a proper Godflesh album instead of a hollow exploitation of the reformation's media attention.[116] After a long revision process, the 2014 EP Decline & Fall and the 2014 album A World Lit Only by Fire came out of those sessions,[117] both of which featured Broadrick on an eight-string guitar.[118] The album was the band's first to chart in the U.S.,[119] and it was met with critical acclaim,[120] drawing praise for its extreme weight and being lauded as the ideal return for Godflesh.[121] Musically, Broadrick stated A World Lit Only by Fire was most similar to Streetcleaner and Pure, and Green added that it was "spiritually" close to those first few releases.[122] About the album's sound, Broadrick said, "It's extremely minimal and very, very brutal — a fairly unforgiving record, really, I think."[122] Decline & Fall and A World Lit Only by Fire were heavy, distorted, riff-driven industrial releases that Broadrick saw as a return to the direct simplicity of Godflesh's original form.[123] All of the recording, engineering, artwork and packaging was done by Godflesh through Broadrick's own label, Avalanche Recordings.[124]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Godflesh91715.jpg/225px-Godflesh91715.jpg)
Following a number of tours in support of A World Lit Only by Fire and a failed attempt at an In Dub remix release with Parsons providing additional drumming,[99] Godflesh returned to the studio in 2016 for a new album.[125] Post Self, the band's eighth studio album, was released on 17 November 2017, shortly after another performance of Streetcleaner in its entirety.[126] Unlike A World Lit Only by Fire's focus on making a bombastic comeback, Post Self proved more introspective and moody.[127] Most of the traditional metal riffs were dropped in favour of atmosphere, noise and experimentation.[128] Post Self received similar high praise as its predecessor,[129] and both appeared on several publications' year-end lists.[130][131] After the release of Post Self, Broadrick avoided interviews, hoping to give listeners time to form their own opinions on the music and to retain some of the album's "mystique".[132] Godflesh embarked on a few brief tours and played scattered festivals, including the 2018 edition of Roadburn where they performed all of Selfless live for the first time.[133] Broadrick spent a month reprogramming the album's percussion from scratch since the original drum parts no longer existed.[134] In an interview with French magazine New Noise, Broadrick said that Selfless was the last Godflesh album he wanted to play in its entirety.[135]
Compilation album Long Live the New Flesh, was released in July 2021. The album featured almost all of the band's studio material released since reformation in 2010.[136] A shortened digital edition, New Flesh in Dub Vol 1, comprising most of Godflesh's reformation-era remixes alongside two otherwise unreleased tracks from the Post Self sessions, was released ahead of the full compilation.[137]
Purge (2022–present)
[edit]Godflesh had started work on a new album by January 2022, and live album documenting the performance of Pure at Roadburn 2013, titled Pure : Live, was released in November that year.[138][139][140] The band's ninth studio album, Purge, was released in June 2023,[141] preceded by the single "Nero".[142][143]
Style and influence
[edit]Musical style and legacy
[edit]Drawing inspiration from early industrial and noise groups such as Throbbing Gristle and Whitehouse, as well as from ambient musician Brian Eno, noise rock band Swans, post-punk innovators Killing Joke and also Siouxsie and the Banshees and Public Image Ltd., fellow Birmingham heavy metal band Black Sabbath and a wide range of hip hop artists such as Public Enemy, Eric B. & Rakim and Run-DMC,[c] Godflesh were among the pioneers of both industrial metal and post-metal and are considered a significant experimental metal and extreme metal band.[a] Broadrick and Green have both distanced themselves from the industrial metal title, though they concede that the label is accurate on a literal level.[163][164] They consider Godflesh to be a continuation of post-punk, specifically in regard to furthering Killing Joke's sound.[163] When asked in 2005 how he felt about being one of industrial metal's founders, Broadrick said, "I think I accidentally formed this genre. I don't even really know what this genre is; I just make music."[165] He expanded upon this statement in 2018 by calling the term industrial metal "limiting".[166]
Godflesh's sound is characterised by a combination of programmed drum machine beats, percussive bass and distorted heavy metal guitar.[17][93] Though the band would later employ human drumming for Songs of Love and Hate and Hymns in 1996 and 2001 respectively (a decision that Broadrick believed compromised the group's musical identity),[99] Godflesh's early sound was dominated by artificial, stiff drum loops and an uncommon focus on bass.[21][99] On those early influential releases, the rhythms, synths and samples were credited to "Machine" or "Machines" despite being done by Broadrick. Initially, the employment of mechanical percussion was done out of necessity.[167][168] When Broadrick rejoined Fall of Because with Green to form Godflesh, the beats he desired were too difficult to play acoustically, so he instead used an Alesis HR-16 drum machine;[8] this decision would prove defining for both Godflesh and for industrial metal at large.[15] Godflesh's writing and recording process is guided by Broadrick and generally happens without the aid of a professional studio or producer.[169][78] According to Broadrick, "50% of the Godflesh material was often born from rhythms and grooves", and he called the hands-on recording process "primitive".[78]
About the band's tuning, Green said in a 1997 interview, "We would just tune down as low as we could. We couldn't hear anything! But eventually we had to pick a pitch to tune to, so we chose C-sharp. It's low and heavy, but you can still make out the notes."[170] For the early Godflesh albums, the guitars are tuned down to B. Starting with 2014's A World Lit Only by Fire, Broadrick started using an 8-string guitar tuned to F sharp.[171]
Mike Patton of bands Faith No More and Mr. Bungle is a fan of Godflesh's sound, calling them "ridiculously heavy" and "one of the few bands that can make you wonder whether or not your batteries are running out on your stereo."[172] Patton invited Broadrick to join Faith No More as guitarist after Jim Martin left the band in 1993.[173][23] He was also asked to join Danzig shortly after Godflesh toured the U.S. with them and Type O Negative in 1994.[123] In both instances, Broadrick declined the offer in favour of continuing to reside in the United Kingdom and work on his own music.[174] Other artists such as Metallica, Fear Factory, Korn, Isis, Neurosis, Pelican, Prurient, Helmet, Prong, Nailbomb, Code Orange, Mortiis, Devin Townsend and Converge were inspired by Godflesh,[d] and in 2014 MetalSucks wrote, "Everyone from Nine Inch Nails to Fear Factory to Batillus probably owes these dudes a couple of checks".[192] Despite acclaim among critics and fellow musicians, Godflesh have only experienced minimal commercial success; in 2002, shortly before the band dissolved, Broadrick said he had no illusions about selling out stadiums.[86] The goal of Godflesh, according to him, was simply to put out good albums.[86]
Visual style
[edit]Being interested in horror and art house cinema, both Broadrick and Green incorporated many references to such films in Godflesh.[90] The image on the front of 1988's Godflesh EP is a still from the 1966 John Frankenheimer film Seconds.[193] Streetcleaner's cover is an image from the movie Altered States, a 1980 horror film by director Ken Russell,[8][64] and the album's liner notes feature frames from David Lynch's Eraserhead (1977).[194] The cover of Merciless is derived from the 1943 experimental film Meshes of the Afternoon, by Maya Deren.[64] Broadrick repeatedly cited another Russell movie, The Devils (1971), as an influence of Godflesh's sound.[87] Additionally, Godflesh appeared in the 1995 film Hideaway;[195] during one of the movie's club scenes, Broadrick and Green can be seen playing onstage in the background, performing the song "Nihil" from Cold World.[196]
Apart from cinema, Christian iconography helped inform Godflesh's visual style. Broadrick, originally anti-religious, found churches and their related imagery intimidating.[96] In a 2006 interview, Broadrick said, "The imagery of religion, the feeling of like when you walk into a cathedral, the huge feeling of intimidation that you get from Christian religion – everything to do with religion I find totally obsessive."[197] Broadrick described the worship setting as "suffocating" and "claustrophobic", saying it played a large role in forming Godflesh's style.[96] The covers of Streetcleaner, Songs of Love and Hate, Love and Hate in Dub and A World Lit Only by Fire showcase such Christian imagery, as do Godflesh's live performances.[198]
Vocal style and lyrical themes
[edit]Early Godflesh vocals came in the form of screaming and death growls,[199][34] and lyrics were scarce.[200][149] Over time, Broadrick's delivery expanded to include singing, softness and moments of melody, all things that he would further explore with Jesu.[201] Songs of Love and Hate and Hymns saw Godflesh's greatest profusion of vocals, while A World Lit Only by Fire and Post Self returned to Broadrick's predominantly succinct style.[128] Broadrick's voice has been compared to Killing Joke singer Jaz Coleman's,[202] a self-proclaimed vocal influence in addition to Kelvin Morris from Discharge and Michael Gira's early work with Swans.[166] Godflesh lyrics are cryptic, bleak and generally sparse.[200] Many of Godflesh's themes deal with inner conflict, violence,[34] destruction, corruption,[32] religion, loss, emotional extremes and fear.[70][158] In 2012, Broadrick stated that singing was "a necessary evil" to him and that he never felt he could do it properly; the role of vocalist came to him simply because he was bold enough to approach the microphone.[96]
In a 1990 review of the band's self-titled EP, Simon Reynolds of Melody Maker noted that Godflesh's music rebelled against the overt masculinity found in most metal; he wrote, "Rather than feminise themselves, they'd rather their masculinity was defeated, their strong bodies crushed and pulverised".[203] Broadrick echoed this sentiment in the same year, insulting the "celebration of male ego that comes with most metal" and distancing Godflesh from masculine expression;[204] he reinforced his stance in 2012, saying, "Godflesh isn't that all-conquering male thing, on stage with a fucking sword and saying they're going to 'rape and pillage'. Pure comedy."[205] Throughout the group's career, Broadrick continued to emphasise the defensive quality of the music over its offensive quality, citing aggression as a shield against the traumas of the world.[23][166][205]
Broadrick has taken significant lyrical and thematic inspiration from Leonard Cohen. Both artists have an album titled Songs of Love and Hate, and the Godflesh track "Avalanche Master Song" combines two Cohen song titles.[206] In the song "Mothra" (from Pure), Godflesh borrows the lyrics "Your pain is no credential here / It's just the shadow of my wound" from the song "Avalanche" on the aforementioned Cohen album.[207][208]
Live performances
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Godflesh_Wherehouse_2.jpg/170px-Godflesh_Wherehouse_2.jpg)
Godflesh typically perform as a duo, with Green playing bass and Broadrick providing both guitar and vocals while the percussion is relayed over the speakers,[209] often at a notably high volume.[210][211][212] This lineup, however, has not been constant over the band's career. In concerts supporting Streetcleaner, Neville occasionally came onstage and played second guitar, and Hampson did the same for Pure.[10] For the tours in support of Selfless, Songs of Love and Hate and Hymns, the band played with a live drummer, though Broadrick believed this incorporation to be a misstep.[99] In a 2014 interview, he clarified that the percussive additions of Mantia and Parsons brought "something amazing" to Godflesh, but that the band's name should have changed so as to not dilute the original focus on machine drums.[99] A handful of other musicians have briefly performed with Godflesh: Mick Harris in 1991;[213] Diarmuid Dalton in 1997, 1999 and 2001;[74] Steve Hough in 1997 and 1999[74] and both Paul Raven and Jaz Coleman of Killing Joke in 2002.[214]
The band's stage show is, like their music, minimal and focused.[209] Godflesh only occasionally employ a smoke machine, and the lights are generally static;[215] Toby Cook of The Quietus highlighted this unusual approach in a review of a 2014 concert, writing, "Over-lit and with no dry ice in sight, they look alarmingly exposed".[215] Images of industrial urban sprawls, Christian iconography and apocalyptic landscapes cycle through the projector.[198] The music itself is presented as noisy and overwhelming, with some critics calling the sound even more cacophonous and dissonant than the band's studio work.[210][106][216] Gaps between songs are normally filled with feedback, and the band rarely speak to the crowd.[153][217][218] In response to a question about Godflesh's laconic stage presence, Broadrick said, "I don't communicate with people. We just make music. We come on stage and I don't say anything to anyone. And that alone made people really mad. I find it really bizarre. I can't believe that people would disown a band because I'm not telling them how much I'm going to kick their asses tonight."[86]
In a 2011 interview, Broadrick called playing live "a necessary evil" that is "so rarely right and so frequently wrong", but at the same time said that Godflesh "is probably even more so a live band than it is a recorded band" because those imperfections only work to accentuate the grinding chaos of the music (which is something that critics have noticed, too[219]).[199] Broadrick went on to say that it was the "rage" of Godflesh that made it work in a live setting.[199]
Members
[edit]Current lineup
[edit]- Justin Broadrick – guitars, vocals, programming (1988–2002, 2009–present), drums (1984–1987)
- B. C. Green – bass, programming (1982–1987, 1988–2001, 2009–present)
Former members[edit]
|
Former touring musicians[edit]
|
Timeline
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/1gapzqb0b64ss031vqpc4x66nzbzso1.png)
Discography
[edit]- Streetcleaner (1989)
- Pure (1992)
- Selfless (1994)
- Songs of Love and Hate (1996)
- Us and Them (1999)
- Hymns (2001)
- A World Lit Only by Fire (2014)
- Post Self (2017)
- Purge (2023)
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b O'Connor, Andy (10 October 2018). "Heavy Metal Techno: JK Flesh on Futurism, DIY Culture, and the Beauty of Non-Music". Electronic Beats. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ Long, Sean. "Godflesh: Interview with Justin Broadrick". POGO Zine (in French). Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ a b c Ankeny, Jason. "Fall of Because – Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Nasrallah, Dimitri. "Justin Broadrick: Napalm Death – Godflesh – Techno Animal – Jesu – Pale Sketcher". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Bennett, J (8 July 2014). "Justin Broadrick on the Secret History of Godflesh". Vice. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ "Fall of Because Discography". godflesh.com. Crumbling Flesh. Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d Birchmeier, Jason. "Justin Broadrick – Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g Cimarusti, Luca (8 April 2014). "Artist on Artist: Justin Broadrick of Godflesh Talks to Producer Sanford Parker". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Godflesh 1991" (Press release). Nottingham: Earache Records. 1991. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ a b Thompson, David (1 December 1992). Industrial Revolution. Cleopatra Records. p. 44. ISBN 978-0963619303.
- ^ Walczak, René (Fall 1992). "Godflesh: Strength Through Purity". Propaganda. 19: 40–41. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ a b Horsley, Jonathan (7 October 2011). "Justin Broadrick Interview: Godflesh, Growing Up and Anarcho-Punk". Decibel. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ Jones, Cat (18 September 2013). "Exclusive Interview with Justin Broadrick on All Things Jesu and Godflesh". MetalSucks. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ a b Ruffin, Josh (23 October 2007). "Justin Broadrick: Existing Through Risk". Metro Spirit. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Walters, Martin. "Godflesh – Godflesh". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- ^ a b Doran, John. "Godflesh – Band Information". Home of Metal. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
- ^ a b c Prato, Greg. "Godflesh – Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ a b Pearson, Digby (22 August 2006). "Godflesh – 'Tiny Tears' 12-inch?". Earache Records. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ Harper, Judd (2006). "1991 Interview with G. C. Green and Paul Neville". Disposable Underground. Retrieved 6 August 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Christe, Ian. "The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- ^ a b c "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s". Fact. 24 June 2013. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ a b Jahdi, Robin (15 September 2012). "Neurosis on Working with Steve Albini, Locking Horns with Godflesh and Making Time Stand Still". Fact. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d Kailas (16 July 2011). "Architects of Rage: Godflesh on Streetcleaner [Interview]". Trebuchet. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ "Watch Godflesh Deliver Crushing 'Like Rats' Performance in Brooklyn". Revolver. 30 May 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Terrorizer – 100 Most Important Albums of the Eighties". Terrorizer. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
- ^ Christopher, Roy (1 December 1997). "Godflesh: Heads Ain't Ready". Slap. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ Christopher, Roy. "Godflesh Streetcleaner: My 33 1/3 Book Proposal". roychristopher.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ DiVita, Joe; Hartmann, Graham; Ives, Brian. "The 30 Most Underrated Hard Rock + Metal Guitarists". Loudwire. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ Yardley, Miranda (11 November 2011). "The Heaviest Albums Ever: The Albums Kerrang! Forgot". Terrorizer. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- ^ "The Twenty Heaviest (Metal) Records of All Time". NME. 4 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- ^ Kot, Greg (21 May 1992). "Technology Expands Skinny Puppy's Apocalyptic Sound". Chicago Tribune: 84.
- ^ a b Fisher, Mark (August 2010). "Godflesh – Streetcleaner". The Wire (318): 70–71.
- ^ "The 90 Greatest Albums of the '90s". Alternative Press (125). December 1998.
- ^ a b c Raggett, Ned. "Godflesh – Streetcleaner". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ a b Gardner, Noel (9 August 2010). "Godflesh – Streetcleaner (Reissue)". The Quietus. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "The Best Metal Album from 40 Subgenres". Loudwire. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
- ^ Streetcleaner (CD liner notes). Godflesh. Earache Records. 1989. MOSH15.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Raggett, Ned. "Godflesh – Slavestate". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ a b Collepiccolo, Luca (April 1992). "Godflesh – Into the Void". Blast! (in Italian): 12–15.
- ^ a b c d e f g Mudrian, Albert (2004). Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal & Grindcore. Bazillion Points. pp. 279–280, 300. ISBN 1935950169.
- ^ a b c "Godflesh Interview". Under the Volcano (36): 8–10. April 1997. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "Painkiller – Buried Secrets". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ Turner, Luke (18 November 2009). "Greymachine: Justin Broadrick and Aaron Turner United". The Quietus. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ a b Pettigrew, Jason (March 1991). "Godflesh: The Power of Positive Paradoxes". Alternative Press. 5 (36): 22. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Justin Broadrick – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ Life in the House of the Enemy (CD liner notes). Cable Regime. Permis de Construire Deutschland. 1992. PPP108.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Raggett, Ned. "Godflesh – Cold World". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ a b c Jahdi, Robin (24 June 2015). "The 40 Best Post-Metal Records Ever Made". Fact. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ Enis, Eli (6 June 2022). "20 Great Albums from 1992". Revolver. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ Christopher, Roy. "Godflesh: Uneasy Listening". roychristopher.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ Hollings, Ken (August 1999). "Soundcheck: Godflesh – Us and Them". The Wire (186): 50–51.
- ^ a b c Raggett, Ned. "Godflesh – Pure". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ a b c Wiederhorn, Jon (4 August 2016). "A Brief History of Post-Metal". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ Kulkarni, Neil (28 May 2014). "Loopflesh: Justin Broadrick and Robert Hampson Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ Gitter, Mike (June 1992). "Godflesh – Noise²". RIP Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
- ^ Gitter, Mike (June 1992). "Godflesh – Pure (Earache/Relativity)". Spin. 8: 78.
- ^ "Godflesh – Justin Broadrick Interview". Convulsion Online. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ Turman, Katherine (15 July 1992). "Skinny Puppy; Godflesh". Variety. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ Kern, Jay (January 2014). Skinny Puppy – Synthesis. Mythos Press. p. 325.
- ^ Hennessy, Kate (3 October 2014). "Interview: Justin Broadrick". The Quietus. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ a b Life Is Easy (CD liner notes). Fall of Because. Invisible Records. 1999. INV 9042.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Ayers, Chris. "Godflesh – Messiah". Exclaim!. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ Messiah (CD liner notes). Godflesh. Relapse Records. 2003. RR 6564-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e Kinski, Klaus (21 September 2009). "An Interview with Justin K. Broadrick". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Raggett, Ned. "Godflesh – Selfless". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. pp. 432. ISBN 978-1858284576.
rough guide to rock godflesh columbia.
- ^ Broadrick, Justin (4 September 1996). "Godflesh Interviewed". RIP Magazine (Interview). Interviewed by Garth Ferrante. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ Pascual, Tomas (April 1997). "Godflesh Deals with Real Horror or a Day at the Beach". Metal Maniacs. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ Palmerston, Sean (July 1997). "Godflesh". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ a b c Birchmeier, Jason. "Godflesh – Songs of Love and Hate". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Haynes, Rob (20 June 2010). "Godflesh to Play Supersonic. Justin Broadrick Talks Reformation". The Quietus. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ a b c Broadrick, Justin (21 April 2018). "EX.406 Justin Broadrick – Kicking Against the Pricks with the Birmingham Prodigy". Resident Advisor (Interview). Interviewed by Holly Dicker. Event occurs at 7:40, 8:10, 9:30. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- ^ Eglinton, Mark (19 February 2009). "Godflesh – Songs of Love and Hate Reissue". The Quietus. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ a b c Codrington, Lee (November 1997). "Godflesh at The Garage in Highbury, London – 4 October 1997". Terrorizer (48). Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ^ a b Poscic, Antonio (April 2022). "Justin K Broadrick". The Wire (458): 30–39.
- ^ Bush, John. "Godflesh – Us and Them". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Bromley, Adrian. "Hymns of Progression". Chronicles of Chaos. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Whelan, Kez (6 October 2014). "Godflesh: Interview & Album Stream". Terrorizer. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Suarez, Gary. "Voidhead: Justin Broadrick on the End of Godflesh". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- ^ Gabler, Pete (July 1999). "Peeling Back the Flesh". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ Broadrick, Justin. "Avalanche: Godflesh Page 1". avalanche.demon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 May 1999. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ In All Languages (CD liner notes). Godflesh. Earache Records. 2001. MOSH246CD.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Hymns (CD liner notes). Godflesh. Music for Nations. 2001. CDMFN271.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Hymns (CD liner notes). Godflesh. Koch Records. 2001. KOC-CD-8266.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Westland, Raymond (25 September 2013). "Jesu Versus Godflesh – an Interview with Justin Broadrick". Ghost Cult. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d Teppo, Mark. "Features: Godflesh". EarPollution. Archived from the original on 12 June 2002. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ a b Bartkewicz, Anthony (March 2007). "Justin Broadrick". Decibel. Archived from the original on 23 February 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ^ Fernando, S.H. "Interview: Swans, Prong, and Godflesh Drummer Ted Parsons". Red Bull Music Academy Daily. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- ^ Hymns (remastered) (CD liner notes). Godflesh. The End Records. 2013. TE254-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f g Wiederhorn, Jon (October 2014). "Godflesh: Long Live the New Flesh". Revolver. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ a b Wiederhorn, Jon. "Godflesh Singer Suffers Breakdown, Breaks Up Band". MTV. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ Parks, Andrew (10 October 2014). "Godflesh and the Horror of Everyday Life". Wondering Sound. Archived from the original on 18 November 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ a b Chick, Stevie. "Till Deaf Us Do Part". TheGuardian.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ a b Harris, Chris (22 February 2007). "Metal File: Jesu, Obituary, Animosity & More News That Rules". MTV. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ "Godflesh Disbands". godflesh.com. Crumbling Flesh. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Dicker, Holly. "Playing Favourites: Justin Broadrick". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Terich, Jeff (22 February 2013). "Godflesh: Hymns (Special Edition)". Treble. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- ^ Heart Ache (CD liner notes). Jesu. Dry Run Recordings. 2004. dry98cd.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h Teitelman, Bram (23 September 2014). "Justin Broadrick Talks the Rebirth of Godflesh". Metal Insider. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ a b c Jahdi, Robin (18 October 2010). "Justin Broadrick: Past Meets Present". Fact. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ "Godflesh Reunite for France's Hellfest". Metal Injection. 30 November 2009. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Godflesh Mainman Doesn't Rule Out Possibility of New Material". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ "Godflesh Reunion a Disaster (According to Justin Broadrick)". BrooklynVegan. 28 June 2010. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ Barthels, Élodie. "Interview – Godflesh". Shoot Me Again. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Yardley, Miranda (27 October 2010). "Godflesh to Perform 'Streetcleaner' in its Entirety at Roadburn Festival 2011". Terrorizer. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ a b Bellino, Vince (30 June 2017). "5 Great Live Roadburn Albums". Decibel. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Reunited Godflesh Working on New Material". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ "Godflesh's New Album". Rock-A-Rolla (37): 7.
- ^ Mudrian, Albert (30 August 2013). "Subscribe to Decibel for an Exclusive Godflesh Flexi Disc". Decibel. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ Bonazelli, Andre (19 September 2013). "Fear, Emptiness, Decibel: Stream Godflesh's Cover of Slaughter's 'F.O.D. (F*ck of Death)'!". MetalSucks. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ "Saturday, April 20th – Roadburn" (Press release). Roadburn Festival. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "Godflesh to Headline Roadburn Festival 2013 Performing 'Pure' in its Entirety for the First Time Ever". The Sleeping Shaman. 19 April 2012. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- ^ Prarthana (20 October 2014). "Interviews: 'The New Album Is Raw, Heavy and Pure Godflesh!' – an Interview with Justin Broadrick (Godflesh)". Metal Obsession. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ^ Falzon, Denise. "Godflesh's Justin K. Broadrick Talks Returning to Their Old-School Sound on First Album in 13 Years". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ Petersen, Albert. "Justin Broadrick of Godflesh: Australia Bound". Metal as Fuck. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ a b c Bowes, David (11 August 2014). "Godflesh: Justin K. Broadrick Talks to Dave Bowes About the Past, Present & Future". The Sleeping Shaman. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ "Quite Annihilating: A Chat with Justin Broadrick of Godflesh". Invisible Oranges. 24 September 2014. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ Rosenberg, Axl (8 May 2014). "OMG New Godflesh EP". MetalSucks. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ "Godflesh Chart History – Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ "A World Lit Only by Fire by Godflesh". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- ^ Falzon, Denise (3 October 2014). "Godflesh: A World Lit Only by Fire". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 5 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Godflesh to Release 'A World Lit Only by Fire' Album in October; First Song Streaming". Blabbermouth.net. 5 August 2014. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ^ a b c Lindsay, Cam (27 September 2013). "Godflesh and Angel Dust to Jesu and Children's Music: The Evolution of Justin Broadrick". Vice. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ a b Stosuy, Brandon (3 October 2014). "Godflesh – Show No Mercy". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Aloras, Dimitris (24 September 2017). "Justin Broadrick (Godflesh) on Rock Overdose: 'The New Album Encompasses All the Sides of Godflesh'". Rock Overdose. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ "Godflesh played 'Streetcleaner,' Jesu & Prurient & Nothing Collabed, & More at Hospital Productions Anniversary (Pics, Video)". Brooklyn Vegan. 7 November 2017. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ Mitras, Thanos (25 October 2017). "Interview with Justin Broadrick (Godflesh, Zonal)". Metal Invader. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- ^ a b Simpson, Paul. "Godflesh – Post Self". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "Post Self by Godflesh". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- ^ "Godflesh – A World Lit Only by Fire". Album of the Year. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ "Godflesh – Post Self". Album of the Year. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ Mudrian, Albert (17 October 2018). "Godflesh's Justin Broadrick: 'I Never Feel Comfortable at Any Festival'". Decibel. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d Bannon, Jacob. "Godflesh". Roadburn Festival. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ Broadrick, Justin (15 May 2018). "Roadburn 2018: Justin K. Broadrick (Godflesh) Interview". Never Mind the Hype (Interview). Interviewed by Ingmar Griffioen. Event occurs at 1:05. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- ^ "Godflesh Interview". New Noise (in French). No. 42. France. January–February 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ Long Live the New Flesh (digital liner notes). Godflesh. Avalanche Recordings. 2021. AREC053.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ New Flesh in Dub Vol 1 (digital liner notes). Godflesh. Avalanche Recordings. 2021. AREC053DUB.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Broadrick, Justin. "Pinned Answers to Some of the Most Frequently/Repeatedly Asked Questions". Facebook. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Godflesh - Demoing New Album". Metal Storm. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ Pure : Live (digital liner notes). Godflesh. Avalanche Recordings. 2022. AREC062.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Godflesh Announce New Album Purge for Release in June". Discipline Mag. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ Slingerland, Calum. "Godflesh Map Out North American Tour, Share New Song "Nero"". Exclaim!. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Nero". Bandcamp. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Justin Broadrick on... Justin Broadrick". Self-Titled. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ a b Burnett, Joseph (9 May 2012). "Extreme Language: an Interview with Justin K. Broadrick". The Quietus. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Kelly, Jennifer (17 June 2007). "Relinquishing This World of Brutal Music: An Interview with Jesu's Justin Broadrick". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Babcock, Jay W. (December 1996). "In Godflesh We Trust". RIP Magazine. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ Hennessy, Kate (16 October 2014). "Central to Process: Justin Broadrick's Favourite Albums". The Quietus. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Newquist, H. P.; Maloof, Rich (1 April 2004). The New Metal Masters. Blackbeat Books. p. 38. ISBN 978-0879308049.
- ^ "Top 11 Influential Minds of Industrial Metal". Consequence of Sound. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ Chillingworth, Alec (26 September 2014). "The Bluffer's Guide: Industrial Metal". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ O'Connor, Andy. "Godflesh: 'Imperator'". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
- ^ a b Sinclar, Paul. "Godflesh Live Review: Summerhall, Edinburgh, 20 Jul". The Skinny. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ a b Nelson, Michael (6 November 2012). "Isis – 'Streetcleaner' (Godflesh Cover) (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ a b Caramanica, Joe (20 September 2005). "The Alchemy of Art-World Heavy Metal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ Lawson, Dom. "Godflesh: A World Lit Only by Fire Review – Pioneers of Heavy Experimental Music Return". TheGuardian.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Gardner, Noel (21 August 2009). "Godflesh – Slavestate, Pure, Cold World Reissues". The Quietus. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
- ^ a b Welsh, April Clare (20 December 2017). "Godflesh Legend Justin K. Broadrick on Crying at Christmas and the Coping Power of Extreme Music". Fact. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Ringo, Brandon (7 November 2017). "Godflesh: Making Brutally Extreme Metal with Two Guys and a Drum Machine". New Noise Magazine. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Godflesh – Messiah". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ Chalmers, Anthony (22 May 2018). "Playlist: Raw Power Staff Picks". The Quietus. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- ^ Pehling, Dave (26 May 2018). "Iconic UK Punk Group Headlines Independent in SF". CBS. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ a b Broadrick, Justin; Green, B. C. (16 May 2013). "Godflesh – Interview Lomax" (Interview). Le 106. Event occurs at 8:10. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ Broadrick, Justin; Green, B. C. (24 August 2013). "Justin Broadrick and G. C. Green of Godflesh Interview Moscow, Russia, 2013". drugmetal.ru (Interview). Event occurs at 4:48. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ "Jesu – Justin Broadrick Interview". RashRock. Archived from the original on 21 June 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ a b c Gavrilovska, Ana. "A Conversation with Justin Broadrick of Godflesh Ahead of Their Detroit Performance". Metro Times. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ Pettigrew, Jason (June 1992). "Godflesh – Louder Than Life". Alternative Press (1992). Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ Ivers, Brandon (12 April 2007). "Justin Broadrick in the Studio". XLR8R. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ Exley, Mike (August 1991). "Flesh Wound '91". Thrash 'n Burn: 26–27. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
- ^ Paone, Caroline (June 1997). "Benny Green's Tumultuous Soundscapes". Bass Player: 13–14. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ Segal, Dave. "Holy Shit, It's the Return of Industrial-Metal Icons Godflesh". The Stranger. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ Patton, Mike (1992). "The Making of Angel Dust" (Interview). MTV. Event occurs at 7:30. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ Walschots, Natalie Zina. "Faith No More – Return of the King". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Pearson, Digby (21 June 2006). "Godflesh and Hammett/Metallica". askearache.blogspot.com. Earache Records. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ Cazares, Dino (15 August 2015). "Dino Cazares on 'Genexus', 'Rip Off' Clarification, Live & Programmed Drums & Technology (2015)". Metal Wani (audio). Interviewed by William Richards. Event occurs at 14:00. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ Camp, Zoe (2 July 2014). "Godflesh – Decline and Fall EP". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d "10 Essential Industrial Albums". Revolver. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
- ^ Turner, Aaron. "Aaron Turner's Top 10 Live Acts, from Merzbow & Full of Hell to Jon Mueller". Self-Titled. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ Brown, Gavin (23 April 2016). "Interview: Aaron Turner (Mamiffer, Sumac, Old Man Gloom)". Echoes and Dust. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ de Brauw, Trevor. "Interview: When Pelican Met Jesu". Self-Titled. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ Fernow, Dominick (16 April 2018). "Godflesh's 'Streetcleaner': Justin Broadrick, Nothing, Prurient on Revolutionary LP". Jesu X Nothing X Prurient. 3:40 and 9:55 minutes in. Revolver. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
There's no other band and there's no other record that represents the passion, the love and the dedication and sacrifice for all of everything that makes up industrial, everything that makes up metal, everything that makes up any kind of underground, subcultural movement than Streetcleaner. With Justin, as a guy who's arguably invented possibly two, maybe three genres of music, he's the sweetest, most passionate, dedicated person that I know in the music business.
- ^ MacMurdo, Walker (23 September 2015). "Mic Check: Prurient". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ Gonzales, Ron (5 October 2007). "Jesu Frontman Puts Thought into Heavy Music". Albuquerque Journal: 61.
- ^ "Interview: Tommy Victor, Prong". Invisible Oranges. 27 January 2009. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ Rosenberg, Axl; Krovatin, Christopher (24 October 2017). Hellraisers: A Complete Visual History of Heavy Metal Mayhem. Race Point Publishing. p. 201. ISBN 978-1631064302. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ Randon, Danny. "Code Orange: 'We Wanted to Drop This Thing Like a Bomb'". Upset Magazine. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ Pessaro, Fred (11 December 2017). "Best of 2017: Code Orange's Jami Morgan Picks Best Music of Year". Revolver. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ Morton, Luke (27 February 2017). "Mortiis Talks Remix Albums, Godflesh, and the State of Industrial Metal". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
- ^ Bellino, Vince (27 February 2017). "Track Premiere: Mortiis – 'The Great Leap (Godflesh Remix)'". Decibel. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
- ^ Yardley, Miranda (19 October 2011). "Devin Townsend: 'I Found Out About Playing Damnation Festival on Twitter'". Terrorizer. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ Stasis, Spyros (15 December 2017). "Godflesh: Post Self". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
- ^ Rosenberg, Axl (11 April 2014). "Show Review: Godflesh Bring People Together". MetalSucks. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ Nanos, Darren. "Godflesh – Self-Titled EP (1988)". Just a Visual. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ "Godflesh Artwork Descriptions". godflesh.com. Crumbling Flesh. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ "Godflesh". IMDb. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ DeSimone, Nick (31 October 2014). "Metal Insider Top 5: Metal Songs in Horror Movies". Metal Insider. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ "Interview with Justin K. Broadrick, Jesu, Saturday May 20th, 2006". Night Seminar. 24 September 2008. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ a b Horsley, Jonathan (4 December 2012). "Live Review: Neurosis + Godflesh, HMV Forum, London". Decibel. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ a b c "Jesu Interview: Justin Broadrick Confirms New Godflesh Studio Album, Discusses Jesu's Latest, Imperfection, Self-Indulgence, Roadburn, and Much More". The Obelisk. 6 May 2011. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ a b Wharton, Bryer (2 October 2014). "Playing with Fire: An Interview with Godflesh's Justin K. Broadrick". SLUG Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Harper, Jim. "Godflesh – Hymns". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Tfaaon (7 July 2014). "Godflesh at Hellfest 2014". La Grosse Radio (in French). Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ Reynolds, Simon (March 1990). "Godflesh – Godflesh (Earache)". Melody Maker. 66: 38.
- ^ Estrada, Kevin (December 1990). "Justin Broadrick on Godflesh". Guitar Player.
- ^ a b "Interview: Justin Broadrick". ATTN:. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- ^ Hassan, Marcos (10 February 2017). "Godflesh Is Still Driven by Implosion (and Leonard Cohen Lyrics)". Vice. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Pure (CD liner notes). Godflesh. Earache Records. 1992. MOSH32.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Songs of Love and Hate (Vinyl liner notes). Leonard Cohen. Columbia Records. 1971. C 30103.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "Godflesh Live at Boston, MA's Paradise Rock Club". Invisible Oranges. 14 October 2015. Archived from the original on 9 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ a b Thomson, Jamie (22 April 2011). "Avant-Garde Epiphanies in Tilburg: Roadburn 2011 Reviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ Kot, Greg (11 December 1994). "Raw, Entertaining Spectacle – Glenn Danzig Lets Loose, but Metal Night at Riviera Belongs to Godflesh". Chicago Tribune: 83.
- ^ Bayer, Gerd (10 September 2016). Heavy Metal Music in Britain. Ashgate Popular and Folk Music Series. Routledge and Ashgate Publishing. p. 64. ISBN 9781138249387.
- ^ Pearson, Digby (10 January 2010). "Was Mick Harris in Godflesh, Doom and ENT?". Earache Records. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ Tfaaon (14 October 2014). "Justin K. Broadrick, Guitarist and Singer of Godflesh". La Grosse Radio (in French). Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ a b Cook, Toby (17 December 2012). "Live Report: Neurosis & Godflesh". The Quietus. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ Capper, Andy (22 July 1999). "Godflesh in Highbury, London: Live Review". NME.
- ^ Gerrard, Steve (18 September 2015). "Godflesh at the National – 18th September 2015". Montreal Rocks. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
- ^ Staples, Derek (25 September 2015). "Concert Review: Godflesh/Prurient". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ Chainsaw, Billy (24 July 1999). "Godflesh at The Garage, London on July 2nd, 1999". Kerrang!.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Godflesh on Bandcamp through Avalanche Recordings (2003–present)
- Godflesh on Bandcamp through Earache Records (1988–2001)
- Godflesh at AllMusic
- Godflesh discography at Discogs
- Godflesh photography by Ted Parsons
- Godflesh
- 1988 establishments in England
- 2002 disestablishments in England
- 2010 establishments in England
- Avant-garde metal musical groups
- British industrial metal musical groups
- Earache Records artists
- English experimental musical groups
- English heavy metal musical groups
- Extreme metal musical groups
- Musical groups from Birmingham, West Midlands
- Musical groups established in 1988
- Musical groups disestablished in 2002
- Musical groups reestablished in 2010
- Post-metal musical groups