Godflesh | Artist
Godflesh is an English industrial metal band formed 1982 in Birmingham, UK, by Justin Broadrick (guitar, vocals, programming) and G. C. Green (bass). Pioneers of industrial metal, Godflesh's early sound, inspired by bands such as Throbbing Gristle and Whitehouse, 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 scenes and Christian Iconography. Godflesh's music has been regarded as especially heavy and grim, with their classic debut album Streetcleaner (1989) being named by several publications as one of the heaviest and greatest metal albums. The founding duo, who met when living in cheap council estate housing in east Birmingham, started experimenting musically using a drum machine. Their first band name "Fall of Because" was named after a Killing Joke song and a quote from Aleister Crowley's Book of Thelema. They later found a live drummer Justin Broadrick, who lived in the same council housing complex. In 1988, the band released their self-titled EP which established a presence in underground music circles, with a sound combining programmed industrial beats, distorted vocals, low guitar and driving bass riffs, Inspired by the bleak urban landscape of Birmingham. The band has released eight studio albums, plus a number of excellent EPs. Standout releases include their first six albums: Streetcleaner (1989), Pure (1992), Selfless (1994), Songs of Love and Hate (1996), Us and Them (1999) and Hymns (2001), plus their debut EP Godflesh (1988). There also exists an early demo album called Extirpate from 1986, when the band was called Fall of Because. Justin Broadwick also works on solo and collaborative projects under a variety of pseudonyms.
Artist Website: godflesh1.bandcamp.com
Featured Albums: Godflesh
Related Artists: God, Jesu, Killing Joke, Techno Animal, Napalm Death
