Justin K. Broadrick, the man behind legendary industrial metal band Godflesh and trippy, doom, shoegaze inspired Jesu, is one of the more prolific and talented people in underground music.
Born in the same gritty town where Black Sabbath began creating what would become the blueprint of all things metal, Birmingham England, Broadrick broke into the extreme music scene as a guitarist on Napalm Death's classic first album, 1987's "Scum." Not staying with that group long (as many people didn't), he teamed up with bassist G.C. Green in 1988, forming Godflesh.
The very qualities of Godflesh that may turn people off are the ones that make the band so damn good. The sound is dark, raw and oppressive. The sonic embodiment of dystopia, Broadrick and Green combined their individual sounds and created a partnership that would last until the group disbanded in 2002. Broadrick's guitar work sounds exactly like the word used to describe the music: industrial. He couples a thick, de-tuned guitar with discordant, metallic riffs that create a cold atmosphere of anger and conjures up images of an Orwellian future. With a virulent voice that ranges from guttural scream to a quivering, unsure croon and a knack for songwriting, Broadrick forged the way for bands like Fear Factory and Korn. G.C. Green's bass snarls and barks, adding an extra layer of bile to the machine like cadence of Godflesh's music.
Opting to use drum programming instead of a live drummer for their first three albums proved to be a perfect fit for the band. Songs like "Christbait Rising" from 1989's Streetcleaner and "I Wasn't Born To Follow" from the following album Pure, achieved a completely sterile and distressing tone with the drum machine that would appeal to heavy music fans across the board. 1994's Selfless, the bands brief flirtation with major label Columbia, saw the band use a more hi-fi production that brought out more heaviness and vitriol from the already apocalyptic sound.
All together, Broadrick and Green would release six full length albums, five EP's and numerous remixes and re-issues. They would push the boundaries of metal, introducing electronic influences and eventually a live drummer toward the end of their existence. G.C. Green left the band in 2001, and while it was speculated that Broadrick would continue on without him, he decided to dissolve the group in 2002 after having a nervous breakdown the day he was supposed to begin a a U.S. tour.
Godflesh-Christbait Rising
Godflesh-Black Boned Angel
Godflesh-Spite
Godflesh-Crush My Soul
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This is awesome. I listened to the first two songs then saw one on youtube called Nihil that I listened to and really liked (not just for the name of the song, although that's sweet too).
ReplyDeleteAfter listening, I can definately understand what you are saying about an "industrial" sound. What I did notice was that, although it's not my everyday music, I somewhat drawn in to see where it led. Their songs are, buy radio standards, long however they don't necessarially drag on. I have heard this music for years, yet rarely listened to it. Not bad!
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