Godflesh to Release New Album Purge June 9
You’ll likely note the use of diagnostic language here in the info from the PR wire. Not calling it out to stigmatize — if you read this site on a regular basis, you’ll already know I’ve discussed the neurological experiences of myself and my kid many Fridays over — but even beyond autism and PTSD, the mention of hypersensitivity feels relevant, and looking back to 2017 when the announcement came through for that year’s Post Self (review here), there was none of it as part of the narrative, so put seems safe to guess that Justin K. Broadrick has made ‘doing the work’ a part of his life. Good for him, and I mean that sincerely. From the breakup of Godflesh the first time through the various stages of Jesu and his sundry other incarnations/projects, he’s been up front about his struggles and as someone who respects his output, this would seem only to be a new manifestation for its cathartic aspects. He did call it Purge, after all.
This is why I post press releases: because I believe it’s important contextually to know what an artist is positing as the story of their work. One way or the other a new Godflesh record is something to look forward to, and one remembers a time when such a thing seemed unlikely, so a third post-reunion full-length will do nicely. There’s no audio yet, but the info is more than preliminary, even as regards the album itself never mind the apparent backdrop against which it arrives for Broadrick personally, and while you’re carefully paying attention, don’t miss the part where it says select US dates are incoming. This is a band that, if you can see them, you should, at least once in your life, honestly whether you think of yourself as a fan or not. The historical context alone, never mind the still-forceful presence on stage or the songs, either of which would also be reason enough to show up.
The PR wire takes it from here:
GODFLESH ANNOUNCES PURGE DUE ON 9TH JUNE VIA AVALANCHE RECORDINGS
FIRST NEW GODFLESH RECORDINGS SINCE 2017’s CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FULL LENGTH POST SELF
Preorder: https://avalancherecordings.bandcamp.com/
With the highly anticipated new album PURGE, Godflesh revisits and updates the concepts of PURE (1992), as well as bringing a whole host of new dirges and laments. Amongst the many layers of dirt, PURGE mangles 90s hip hop grooves and puts them through the Godflesh filter to create something futuristic in style – and utterly unique.
Both minimal and maximal, Godflesh deliver alien grooves that swing whilst also retaining the psychedelic, bad trip edge with layer upon layer of filth and heaviness – that Godflesh have always been known for. This is, and always has been, feel-bad music.
The title alone – PURGE – references directly how songwriter and creator Justin K. Broadrick utilises Godflesh’s music as a temporary relief from his diagnosed autism and PTSD. It’s the next stage in a journey he has been on since he began creating music, feeling alone and like an outsider in any scene or group, from childhood through to adulthood.
The music of Godflesh gives Broadrick the means to express a lifetime of feeling misunderstood and overwhelmed by hyper-sensitivity. The band is the vehicle to provide some sense of catharsis and transcendence; a way of communicating overload, as well as the constant disenchantment at the human condition, and man’s abuse of power and the systems that chain us.
PURGE references the cycle of horror that man always has and always will put us through; those in positions of power revel in the infliction of pain and horror upon individuals – in the name of their religion, their power, their money, their flags…
PURGE TRACK LISTING:
01 – NERO
02 – LAND LORD
03 – ARMY OF NON
04 – LAZARUS LEPER
05 – PERMISSION
06 – THE FATHER
07 – MYTHOLOGY OF SELF
08 – YOU ARE THE JUDGE, THE JURY, AND THE EXECUTIONER
PURGE is 8 songs, delivered in a concise fashion for fellow outsiders.
A digital only single of the opening song ‘NERO’, coupled with 3 self-remixes will be released 3rd April.
The duo of Godflesh – Justin K Broadrick and Ben Green – augmented by Machines, are seen as a pivotal entity in the world of ‘heavy’ music, impacting entire subcultures within the scene since the band’s inception in 1988.
Godflesh have been credited as being one of the first bands to cross old British industrial music with down-tuned, primitive and minimal metal, accidentally pioneering the ‘industrial metal’ sound – yet reaches far beyond the confines of the genre. The band is widely regarded as a cultural icon, and its impact can be felt across generations of heavy music, both mainstream and underground.
Godflesh will perform at select shows worldwide and key festivals, including headlining Birmingham’s Supersonic Festival, and Oblivion Fest (Austin, TX, USA) around the release date of the album. To be followed by a small string of US dates too.
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It’s actually their third post-reunion album no? It re-started with ‘A world only lit by fire’ which is coincidentally absolutely awesome. To go on a tangent, it’s either that one or ‘Surgical Steel’ from Carcass that claims the title of all time best reunion album.
You’re right, of course. For some reason I was remembering ‘A World Lit Only by Fire’ as an EP. I appreciate the correction and updated the post.
There was en EP just before ‘Only…’, ‘Decline And Fall’, https://godflesh1.bandcamp.com/album/decline-and-fall-ep all of it good!
Yes, there it is. Good to know I’m only half crazy in this case.