Godflesh - Hymns

For many, quite reasonably, “Hymns” is the album that provides the bridge, for those interested in the career of Justin Broadrick, between Godflesh and Jesu. The songs on “Hymns”, it could be argued, are beginning to lose some of the ferocity of previous releases and are taking on a more ethereal quality more reminiscent of the characteristic Jesu sound.

Originally released in 2001 as a follow up to “In All Languages”, this reissue, remastered by Broadrick, gives those familiar with the album the opportunity to hear it with more clarity. And with the benefit of a number of demos, and the track “If I Could Only Be What You Want”, an unreleased track from the original sessions, the chance to consider the cultural history of Godflesh.

Possibly some of the clearer indicators of where Broadrick is going with Jesu are on “Anthem” and “Voidhead”. The voice here displays a purity and minimalism that was later to become a feature of that project. The vocals are still however riding on those gorgeous guitar riffs that are simultaneously luscious and melancholic, yet menacing and foreboding. The aggression has not totally been forgotten nevertheless, as tracks such as “Tyrant” display a hostility and danger that is adored by many, whilst “White Flag” lumbers along with the percussion very much in the foreground, again, arguably, a key indicator as to what was to come with Jesu.



“Antihuman” evolves as a repeated opening phrase mutates into the basis of the arrangement. There is a mesmerising quality to this music as a whole which is achieved through repetition and wraithlike vocal. The final track “Jesu” is pregnant with a dark momentum and is characteristic of this repetitious trait. A tension is built which gradually dissipates into the electronic ether. Again, some may say the ideal swansong for Godflesh....

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JK Flesh - Posthuman review

The latest release from purveyors of “post-dubstep” (however that may be described) and industrial landscapes, 3by3 records, is sure to be demanding, and for that reason, ultimately rewarding to ears that are willing to experiment and discover new sounds. From the depths of rural North Wales, given life in the home studio of Justin K Broadrick, JK Flesh will be manna from heaven for devotees of the crushing guitar riffs and tortured vocal of Godflesh. Not to say that this new project is simply a rehashing of the Godflesh template, as “Posthuman” explores how industrial landscapes and inner city anxiety can be explored alongside a re-reading of how dubstep could mature over the next few years.

“Knuckledragger”, which opens with a disconcerting array of dissonant sounds, soon falls into a steady stride of desolate beats, unsettling riffs and heavily twisted vocals. If there was any listener who felt fretful before playing the album, they would be well advised to try again at a later date. “Idle Hands” carries on the theme with a gruelling guitar riff and bleak vocal, whilst “Punchdrunk” makes excellent use of cacophonous electronic sound coming tangentially out of the mix. By this stage, the listener is gripped by how much the guitar, and particularly the industrial guitar riffs, are very much a characteristic of “Posthuman”. Having said that, “Devoured” has all the elements of mutant hip hop, but with that vocal which has been drawn from the psyche of its creator, whilst the title track “Posthuman” seems to rage in the face of the listener from the milieu of industrialised Birmingham.

Deranged cacophony that merely hints at vocals and a pumping bassline feature heavily in “Earthmover” whilst further into the voyage “Dogmatic” continues to explore how far the confines of misshapen hip hop can be pressed, with the familiar sound of urban decay being assaulted with heavily twisted voice samples. “Underfoot”, although slower in tempo, is drenched in a similar feeling of angst that was so apparent on many of the Jesu releases, but with beats that keep a sinister momentum. Closing the album, “Walk Away” has less of the desolation, but more of the cacophony and layering of instrumentation that has been hinted at throughout the album....

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