Anyone who follows Godflesh on social media cannot have helped notice comments from Justin Broadrick about how uncomfortable being scrutinised and questioned by fans of their music makes him feel. Battling with autism and PTSD his music is incredibly personal and also a necessary cathartic release from the isolationism and feelings of being a hyper-sensitive outsider. It’s hardly surprising that due to this there have been long gaps and even serious downtime from him and collaborator GC Green as far as the duo are concerned as well as various other projects from Justin as he discovers other outlets for his creative juices. Still having accrued a highly regarded body of work since conceiving Godflesh in the late 80’s and a plethora of seminal albums the follow up to 2017’s ‘Post-Self’ was always going to be hugely anticipated and now on the ninth studio album and playing live as much as possible since that nasty virus, it appears the pair are on a creative peak of late.
‘Purge’ sees them revisiting ideas formed back in 1992 on second album Pure. Yes, it is just the addition of a letter but that could have escaped your attention as it did me on first few listens. It’s easily established that this is quintessential sounding Godflesh and the work of a band identifiable, copied but never mastered, within just the first few bars, or as they put it themselves “8 songs, delivered in a concise fashion for fellow outsiders.”
First single taken from the album ‘Nero’ chugs away like an out of control steam train billowing smog and rattling down the tracks. It has layers of groove that make it totally understandable that various dub mixes followed in its wake on the EP format. Vocals are a bellicose and indignant roar which along with the lead-lined stomp give it a crushing feeling of protest against all the ills of this shitty world. Perhaps too ‘Land Lord’ is a social commentary against greed and the rich picking off the bones of the poor. It’s difficult trying to disseminate lyrics with this lot and besides that would distract from the volatile bass gust billowing out the speakers as this one churns forth staccato grooves and shrill, strident guitar tones peaking levels that ears can just about handle. The mechanical ballast is excellent and as bass swoops and dives around it all, vocals caustically biting over the juggernaut of riffs. Bouncy tenacity has ‘Army Of Non’ sounding like a well-oiled spring uncoiling or perhaps a Space Hopper for anyone who remembers them. Maybe that is why I get a real sense of nostalgia about the album as it takes back to the past although the slower moments here are cast with a dour feeling of pessimism. These times may well be remembered fondly but it wasn’t all fun and games. ‘Lazarus Leper’ focuses on those crescendo reaching high notes littered throughout the duo’s career with a mantra like approach to both melody and dour vocals. Some may regard it as a dissonant dirge but others will “make sense” of its impactful sharp edges.
Over on the b) side of an album surely designed to be appreciated best on vinyl the hip-hop etched warping beats and looser guitar work of ‘Permission’ along with the at first cleaner and airier vocal approach start things off with an optimistic flair. Make the most of it as we dip further down the spiral, ‘The Father’ begins a more maudlin path to the slower and doom-laden sound of the band. It has a drab feeling conceived in childhood upbringing of industrial Birmingham and could well be a chapter in a book looking back on the time by its creators. Something that would no doubt be a compelling read if ever envisaged. ‘Mythology Of Self’ has discontented death doom at heart, slab like granite slow riffs and thundering bass along with crushing and brooding antagonism make a somewhat uncomfortable listening experience for all but the devoted to wallow in as it swallows whole. Verbosely entitled closer ‘You Are the Judge, the Jury, and the Executioner’ is not going to take you out on a high note as it smothers with minimalist gloom, unravelling kind of like an approach to a breakdown or maybe as the title suggests a bout of vigilantism against those corrupters who have led to bleak destruction of psyche and spirit. Godflesh cleaning up the streets, now there’s a thought! The trail to silence is guaranteed to leave you in a contemplative mood as you take things in and whether ideas are rightly or wrongly interpreted here ‘Purge’ is ultimately an album that is going to dwell in your thoughts long after it has descended.
(8.5/10 Pete Woods)
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