Godflesh is an industrial metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 19… Read Full Bio ↴Godflesh is an industrial metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1988 by Justin Karl Broadrick (guitar, vocals, and programming) and G. C. Green (bass). They are highly regarded as one of the founders of industrial metal. The group disbanded in 2002 but reformed in 2010, appearing in few festivals and starting to produce a new studio album.
In 1988, Broadrick contacted Green about reforming Fall of Because, who fell apart in 1987. Justin decided to take over on guitars, and they chose to use a drum machine to replace Justin as a drummer. The newly formed band decided to change their name to Godflesh.
Godflesh established a presence in underground music with albums such as Streetcleaner and Pure, which demonstrated the effectiveness of lo-fi production values in heavy music. A brief flirtation with major label Columbia Records in 1994 for Selfless and the Merciless EP saw the duo take on a more high-end production approach. In 1996 Godflesh released Songs of Love and Hate, which featured the drumming of Bryan Mantia (Guns N' Roses, Primus, Praxis). The next album, 1999's Us and Them, saw the group experimenting with a more electronic, drum and bass-oriented sound in which the guitar played a less central role. In 2001 Godflesh released the double album retrospective In All Languages. That same year they released an album of new material, Hymns, which featured the precise drumming of new band member Ted Parsons (formerly of Swans and Prong) and brought the band back to its slow and heavy roots while retaining elements of its experiments with electronica.
Green left the band in late 2001. It was announced that he would be replaced by former Killing Joke and Prong bassist Paul Raven; however, Godflesh disbanded in 2002 when Broadrick suffered a nervous breakdown just before departing for a tour of the U.S. As a kind of parting gift, the group released a remastered version of their extremely rare 1994 EP Messiah, which was doubled in length with all new remixes. Broadrick and Parsons went on to form Jesu in 2003.
Godflesh will reappear for a few shows in 2010, including one at Hellfest, France, as the only show in Europe. These performances coincide with the re-release of their seminal album Streetcleaner remastered with an additional disc of unreleased mixes, demo tapes and live performances.
Broadrick's Farewell
"On April 10th 2002, I disbanded Godflesh. This was something I had painfully been pondering since GC Greens' departure from the band in Oct 2001. Regrettably it took until the day of leaving for a lengthy U.S tour for the realization to finally take its toll on me. Unfortunately the finality of the decision and the responsibilities of making the decision proved too much for me to bare, and I collapsed under the weight. I found that without GC Green, Godflesh is not Godflesh, and him leaving proved to be an omen for me. I also feel that everything we originally intended or even imagined with Godflesh we have done. My only regret has been the hurting of both remaining band members Ted Parsons and Paul Raven, and disappointing those that believe in Godflesh worldwide... In the near future, my new rock project Jesu will surface. So this is by no means the end of my songwriting/guitar/vocalizing. Simply the end of a chapter. Endless gratitude to all those that have believed in and supported Godflesh throughout the 14 year history. You know who you are... Long live the new flesh..."
Sound and influences
Drawing influences from SPK, Whitehouse, Throbbing Gristle, Swans, Brian Eno and Black Sabbath, among others, Godflesh were among the pioneers of industrial metal.
Godflesh is known for their unique mixture of industrial drum machine beats with droning, discordant guitar and powerful, intermittent bass. (On their earlier albums, the rhythms, synths, and samples are credited to "Machine" or "Machines". Later, Godflesh would make use of human drummers Bryan Mantia and Ted Parsons.) Their eerie, slow, and repetitive style is commonly described as "apocalyptic". The Godflesh sound was once described as "Pornography-era Cure on Quaaludes".
Broadrick's vocals are often guttural, making use of something akin to the death grunt technique, yet they also at times show a softer, more melodic side, as in "I Wasn't Born to Follow" from 1992's Pure. Godflesh lyrics are terse, cryptic, and bleak, often emphasizing duality or opposition. Paranoia and martyrdom are also common themes in Godflesh's music and cover art.
Broadrick has also taken inspiration from Leonard Cohen; both artists have albums titled Songs of Love and Hate. In the song "Mothra" (from Pure), Godflesh borrows the lyrics "Your pain is no credential here / It's just the shadow of my wound" from the song "Avalanche" on the aforementioned Cohen album.
Bandcamp / Soundcloud
In 1988, Broadrick contacted Green about reforming Fall of Because, who fell apart in 1987. Justin decided to take over on guitars, and they chose to use a drum machine to replace Justin as a drummer. The newly formed band decided to change their name to Godflesh.
Godflesh established a presence in underground music with albums such as Streetcleaner and Pure, which demonstrated the effectiveness of lo-fi production values in heavy music. A brief flirtation with major label Columbia Records in 1994 for Selfless and the Merciless EP saw the duo take on a more high-end production approach. In 1996 Godflesh released Songs of Love and Hate, which featured the drumming of Bryan Mantia (Guns N' Roses, Primus, Praxis). The next album, 1999's Us and Them, saw the group experimenting with a more electronic, drum and bass-oriented sound in which the guitar played a less central role. In 2001 Godflesh released the double album retrospective In All Languages. That same year they released an album of new material, Hymns, which featured the precise drumming of new band member Ted Parsons (formerly of Swans and Prong) and brought the band back to its slow and heavy roots while retaining elements of its experiments with electronica.
Green left the band in late 2001. It was announced that he would be replaced by former Killing Joke and Prong bassist Paul Raven; however, Godflesh disbanded in 2002 when Broadrick suffered a nervous breakdown just before departing for a tour of the U.S. As a kind of parting gift, the group released a remastered version of their extremely rare 1994 EP Messiah, which was doubled in length with all new remixes. Broadrick and Parsons went on to form Jesu in 2003.
Godflesh will reappear for a few shows in 2010, including one at Hellfest, France, as the only show in Europe. These performances coincide with the re-release of their seminal album Streetcleaner remastered with an additional disc of unreleased mixes, demo tapes and live performances.
Broadrick's Farewell
"On April 10th 2002, I disbanded Godflesh. This was something I had painfully been pondering since GC Greens' departure from the band in Oct 2001. Regrettably it took until the day of leaving for a lengthy U.S tour for the realization to finally take its toll on me. Unfortunately the finality of the decision and the responsibilities of making the decision proved too much for me to bare, and I collapsed under the weight. I found that without GC Green, Godflesh is not Godflesh, and him leaving proved to be an omen for me. I also feel that everything we originally intended or even imagined with Godflesh we have done. My only regret has been the hurting of both remaining band members Ted Parsons and Paul Raven, and disappointing those that believe in Godflesh worldwide... In the near future, my new rock project Jesu will surface. So this is by no means the end of my songwriting/guitar/vocalizing. Simply the end of a chapter. Endless gratitude to all those that have believed in and supported Godflesh throughout the 14 year history. You know who you are... Long live the new flesh..."
Sound and influences
Drawing influences from SPK, Whitehouse, Throbbing Gristle, Swans, Brian Eno and Black Sabbath, among others, Godflesh were among the pioneers of industrial metal.
Godflesh is known for their unique mixture of industrial drum machine beats with droning, discordant guitar and powerful, intermittent bass. (On their earlier albums, the rhythms, synths, and samples are credited to "Machine" or "Machines". Later, Godflesh would make use of human drummers Bryan Mantia and Ted Parsons.) Their eerie, slow, and repetitive style is commonly described as "apocalyptic". The Godflesh sound was once described as "Pornography-era Cure on Quaaludes".
Broadrick's vocals are often guttural, making use of something akin to the death grunt technique, yet they also at times show a softer, more melodic side, as in "I Wasn't Born to Follow" from 1992's Pure. Godflesh lyrics are terse, cryptic, and bleak, often emphasizing duality or opposition. Paranoia and martyrdom are also common themes in Godflesh's music and cover art.
Broadrick has also taken inspiration from Leonard Cohen; both artists have albums titled Songs of Love and Hate. In the song "Mothra" (from Pure), Godflesh borrows the lyrics "Your pain is no credential here / It's just the shadow of my wound" from the song "Avalanche" on the aforementioned Cohen album.
Bandcamp / Soundcloud
Imperator
Godflesh Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Imperator' by these artists:
Korpus Raz w pewnym mieście stanął czas I do roboty nie wstał…
Krabathor (lyrics: Bruno) THOUSANDS OF CRUEL WARRIORS THEY BRING O…
Oberer Totpunkt Der Schlächter liegt im Fieberwahn, sein Weib rauft sich das…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Godflesh:
02-Christbait Rising Don't hold me back, This is my own hell Christbait, Slugbait…
04 Anything Is Mine I declare, that we're all just shit And I believe, we'll…
12. Head dirt You can crush me, As I speak Write on rocks, What…
40 Versions I never know which version I'm going to be I seem…
Amoral you corrupt you enslave enforced taboos to the grave mak…
Angel Domain All my fears, looking where to hide All my fears, buried…
Animals Believe, you fall Selfless, you fall Believe, you fall Selfl…
Anthem And I found my soul, When every feeling has been crushed…
Antihuman Disown Disgust With? We slave Disown Disgust With? We slave …
Anything Is Mine I declare, that we're all just shit And I believe, we'll…
Avalanche Master You're proud of being poor Nothing changes nothing You eat y…
Baby Blue Eyes Bury your dreams Drown your skin Useful ruins Baby Blue Eyes…
Bigot God speaks, with cold tongue Receive, my open soul Control S…
Bittersweet I'm invisible And you won't even hear me I'm divisible Be wh…
Black Boned Angel If only the damned Would stay damned There would be no forev…
Blind My eyes feel blind, can't feel no more My eyes feel…
Body Dome Light Can't stop thinking, Where I am Can't stop running, Where I…
Carrion You are / a vulture Picking / flesh from bones You scavenge…
Christbait Rising Don't hold me back, This is my own hell Christbait, Slugbait…
Christbait Rising (Live from H Don't hold me back, This is my own hell Christbait, Slugbai…
Circle Of Shit Don't, don't blame me for falling in love with you I'm…
Control Freak I'll dig deep I'll hide away I'll dig deep Turn night to day…
Crush My Soul Scar me hard Make me learn Don't need me Crush my soul, make…
Curse Us All Without a soul / you can rule the world You can…
Dead Head Dying ocean, dead head Watchin′ the figures March without so…
Deadend There's no love here / ruled by hate and fear You…
Deaf Dumb & Blind Beyond my hell, Beyond my heaven, Outside all hate, Outside …
Deaf Dumb and Blind Beyond my hell, Beyond my heaven, Outside all hate, Outsi…
Defeated Everything I build I destroy, Everything I love always hurts…
Defiled I'm gonna get defiled In your world I'm naive Like a lost…
Descent No desire, no air to breathe No desire, no need to…
Devastator Truth mis-user, abuser Death dealer, devastator There ha…
Devastator / Mighty Trust Krusher Truth mis-user, abuser Death dealer, devastator There has t…
Don't Bring Me Flowers You don′t bring me flowers You don't sing me love songs You…
Dream Long Dead Smoke Filled Room Blank clean screen ??? Easing flame Time's…
Empyreal Trust everyone Carry, Weight of the world Feel, My decay Fee…
Endgames Take my soul Take my body Take it all Make your money It's a…
Flowers You don't bring me flowers You don't sing me love songs You…
For Life I'm feeling, unneeded, I'm seeing, believing, So that I can …
For Those About to Rock [originally by AC/DC] Stand up and be counted For what you …
Forgive Our Fathers Dispel / all thoughts Wipe it / all out Just believe /…
Frail Owe yourself, but no one else Behind your eyes, inside your…
Gift From Heaven I am nothing, I am love I am hate, hate my…
Go Spread Your Wings Black eyes, can't breathe Go, Spread your wings Can't see, W…
Godhead Gave you flowers To seal the shit off my face…
Head Dirt You can crush me, As I speak Write on rocks, What…
Heartless I come, and stand at every door This heart is always…
Hidden Track If I could see without your sight, I would not be…
Hunter Fear for your own survival, you can't fight what you…
I I, me, mine I follow the signs I, me, mine Take what I…
Ice Nerveshatter Ascend, Faceless Naked, I am yours See me naked, I'm dying I…
Jesu Nature will step on you, nature will eat you up, Jesu...Jesu…
Kingdom come I'll give you space, as you chain me down I won't…
Kingdom Come I'll give you space, as you chain me down I won't…
Life Giver Life Taker The dying sun / is all ours It will reclaim /…
Life Is Easy Life, Our life My life, Is expendable What do you care Life …
Like Rats You breed, Like Rats Breeding Stylized Deformity Don't look …
Locust Furnace The earth, Froze up One dead, Pale world And you'll swing, F…
Love Waste away, heart _slave/slain_ Edge of Despair, Head fucked…
Mantra Inside you, Feel free Inside you, Come out Regret, Within Vi…
Meltdown Hundreds of people gathered around In a trance they dance wh…
Merciless Show no mercy, Kicked me to the ground Felt no pain,…
Messiah You see Their truth You know Their lies give me fire Give m…
Mighty Trust Krusher I need this, I need you On your knees And we'll pray Toge…
Mirror of Finite Light You shall seek out All that makes you fear Hold on tightly W…
Monotremata Feel Free, Be afraid Head held high, Arms held high You drow…
Mothra Your pain has no credential here It's just a shadow of…
Nail Keep me chained down So I can't move Cut the light out So…
New Dark Ages Pray to god That we're not here Don't look back We'll dis…
Obeyed Permission / is exclusive Inclusive / but denied Rules / a…
Paralyzed From birth to death, just a slave, From birth to death,…
Perfect Skin New-age appearance, He didn't like Her cheap skin, Like you …
Predominance Behold the sky Your eyes seen by my eyes Predominance You're…
Pulp When on my own I feel free I can refuse Arms wait enfold Not…
Pure Deny, Your disease Isolate, Pure Pure, By yourself I'm so im…
Regal I fall down, can't stand up, I stay down, won't stand…
Requiem [originally by Killing Joke] Man watching video The bo…
Scapegoat I'll be victim Stand down Be good I'll be victim Praise you …
Shut Me Down Veins full / break down Escape / hold on It will /…
Slateman Your blood on my hands, Your blood on my hands Grey…
Slavestate Jesus, Weeping Hold on to me, Drown me in Hate Taught me hat…
Someone Somewhere Scorned Someone somewhere scorned Never will forget Someone somewher…
Spinebender Bonebreaker, I think you've been graced A halo of flies, You…
Spite See me, Feel me, Hear me You just ruin me Hate me,…
Sterile Don't use it, if you can't feel it Don't be it,…
Streetcleaner Vision, Escape Vision, This feels right Hell, Is where I lie…
Streetcleaner 2 Vision, Escape Vision, This feels right (?) Hell, Is where …
Sungod I fight lost wars See light fear sight I open my mind Need…
The Internal Our peace Is now in pieces But what else would You expect…
Time Death and Wastefulness How many lies Can people take How many emotions Can people f…
Time, Death and Wastefulness How many lies, can people take How many emotions, can people…
Tiny Tears From where we stand From where I stand I feel the sorrow …
Toll I'm feeling so low I'm feeling I'm being destroyed Can't say…
Towers Of Emptiness All wishes / all wishes are granted When all you wish…
Tyrant We hail downfall We hail black rain Invert what's sane We se…
Unworthy Where you go, I see gold I am not worthy, Who…
Us That's all there is Just us and them No other way It's us…
Vampires You fucking fakes you bleed me dry, You fucking speak, I…
Veins Reduced to this, Vulnerable and cold Pushed myself too far, …
Voidhead Denial, no function, loveless, no meaning Fearless, system, …
Wake Nobody's right if everybody's wrong You can't see white if y…
Weak Flesh Strong man stands, I won't stand abused Be off the streets,…
White Flag I tried, I tried to stand, But I fell, I fell…
Whose Truth Is Your Truth Who's your saviour? Who's gonna slay you? Beyond perception …
Wilderness of Mirroros Dub Keep back Don't move Keep back Don't see 'Cause I'm the foo…
Witchhunt No choice One way No choice One way Is it war you want? Then…
Witchunt Eleanor Rigby Picks up the Rice in the church Where a wedd…
Wound Survival in buildings. Stand still, shut-in Streets are empt…
Xnoybis I see so much, Burns my eyes Lift your arms up,…
Zero the Hero Accept your fate that you're second rate Sit there and watch…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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