Godflesh (Godflesh - Godflesh)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	Godflesh - Godflesh
Date:	10/07/08 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Pioneered industrial metal.

Disadvantages: Forgettable songs.

Godflesh were one of the more subtly influential metal bands of the late eighties to early nineties, the first to combine industrial electronic music with a heavy metal style in a creative and naturalistic manner, unlike the excess of other bands such as Fear Factory. Their first self-titled E.P. contains six high quality songs that carry off a gloomy and coldly mechanical atmosphere, possessing all the heaviness and intensity of Justin Broadrick's previous band Napalm Death, but without the focus on speed and anger.

The music is based around repeating electronic drum rhythms and heavy guitar riffs, but each track is kept distinct enough to appreciate in isolation. 'Veins' is perhaps the most easily accessible song here, comparatively upbeat and mellow, while 'Godhead' is a moody track saturated with echo and 'Spinebender' and 'Weak Flesh' both offer something harder for death metal fans. The final song 'Ice Nerveshatter' is the peak of the album's industrial side, led by a dominant drum beat, but it never crosses too far into electronic territory for the listener to forget that this is primarily a metal album.

1. Avalanche Master Song
2. Veins
3. Godhead
4. Spinebender
5. Weak Flesh
6. Ice Nerveshatter

Summary: Godflesh's first E.P. (1988).