‘Control, divide, enslave, destroy.’
Nero, the Roman emperor between Claudius and Galba, was notorious for many a bad deed, including incest, arson and murder, although history has given us varying recollections and opinions about his character and actions. Whatever we have learnt about him, he was also an uncompromising, astute and unwavering personality, much like my fellow Brummies, Godflesh, who are back on the scene with ‘Purge’ and we can all breathe a gravity defying sigh that all will be well in the world.
Justin K Broadrick and B C Green are the brains behind this brooding entity, this hive of incessant industrial activity that never ceases to amaze and entertain, rupturing your veins and brain simultaneously.
Opening with ‘Nero’ we get a candid, forthright episode that will lead the way through this record, a light on the horizon, unobtrusive yet all observing. They access all genres and sub-cultures, culminating in ‘Darkrave’ – I just made that up – a hugely infectious contagion that has the looks and the sagacity to entice, to include and to overcome barriers. With words that attack you, they are the sticks and stones that will break your bones, the contents flowing like volcanic lava, dense, volatile, and viscous, a molten rock moisturiser. The addition of rhythmic, tribal beats, akin to a military tattoo are positioned at the start of ‘Lazarus Leper’ and continue throughout, like a backbone, or a rudder steadying a craft. With your ‘Permission’ we continue into the abyss and meet ‘The Father’ often maligned, never to be denied.
There is an unmistakable attraction in the cerebral, the analytical, in the process that Godflesh have undertaken to create an accomplished and attention worthy body of work.
No longer willing to hide your disdain, you pain or your shame, ‘You Are The Judge, The Jury and the Executioner’ to finish off what has been started. Godflesh come in waves, they crash against our anatomical shoreline, waves of sorrow, waves of joy, waves of derision and hate, waves of abandonment, and ultimately the waves of a heavy and weary heart. They encapsulate the negativity, their words in sync with our despondency, our isolation and our suffocation, we acknowledge their observations and promise to work together for a better world.
It’s taken six years, it’s about time these streets were cleaned.
Azra Pathan
Godflesh – Purge out now.