Hymns (Godflesh album) explained

Hymns
Type:studio
Artist:Godflesh
Cover:Hymns_(Godflesh).jpg
Alt:A vibrant bloom of sparks resembling a sun against a black background
Recorded:June 2001
Studio:Foel Studio, Llanfair Caereinion, Wales
Genre:Industrial metal, sludge metal
Prev Title:In All Languages
Prev Year:2001
Next Title:Messiah
Next Year:2003

Hymns is the sixth studio album by English industrial metal band Godflesh. It was released on 23 October 2001 through Music for Nations and was the band's final album before breaking up in 2002. In 2010, Godflesh reformed and in 2014 released their comeback album A World Lit Only by Fire.[1] Hymns had a troubled production and was intended to be distinct departure from Godflesh's intensely regimented industrial sound to something more traditionally hard rock. It was the band's second and final album to feature a live drummer rather than a drum machine.

Background and composition

Following the under-promoted release of Us and Them (1999), Godflesh left Earache Records and was without their support for the first time since the band's self-titled debut EP in 1988. Despite already having some Hymns demos completed, Godflesh had difficulty finding a new label. After being repeatedly turned away, they eventually settled on Music for Nations, a "mainstream" label where frontman Justin Broadrick felt out of place.

Hymns was the first Godflesh album with Ted Parsons on drums, who Broadrick called the band's "driving force" and inspiration to continue, and was the group's second album (after 1996's Songs of Love and Hate) to feature a non-mechanical drummer.[2] It was also the band's first album since 1989's Streetcleaner to be recorded in a professional studio.[3] Parsons later revealed that the band recorded in the studio due to label pressure and described the decision as "a mistake".[4] Broadrick said he found studio jamming refreshing but simultaneously depressing. He called the comparatively traditional recording process "primitive."

Despite Broadrick preferring the album's original demos to the final products, the 13-track, 74-minute album was released on 23 October 2001. Broadrick stated that Hymns was a reaction to the previous album because he "lost sight of what Godflesh should be". In contrast, he described Hymns as "a new beginning" that was intended to counter the "watered down" rock associated with the popular nu metal genre. Musically, Hymns is a more conventional take on heavy metal than Godflesh had ever done before,[5] which was a deliberate choice, according to Broadrick.[6] Fact described it as "a strikingly spartan record, boiling the band to its bare bones and adding a little more light into the mix",[7] and Gary Suarez of Consequence of Sound said, "Hymns is as pure a hard rock record as Godflesh ever made." While Godflesh's sound is often described as minimal, the album was particularly highlighted as a turn to the simplicity of the classic "guitar, bass, human drummer lineup".

The final song on the album, "Jesu", became the name of Broadrick's next project after he dissolved Godflesh on 10 April 2002.

Live performances

Two weeks before Godflesh was set to tour in support of Hymns, G. C. Green, bass player and cofounding member, left the band to focus on his personal life. Broadrick, devastated by the departure, focused his efforts on finding a replacement. Killing Joke bassist Paul Raven ultimately filled the void, and he, Broadrick and Parsons played a handful of shows.[8] In these concerts, "Requiem", a cover of the introductory track from Killing Joke's self-titled debut album, was performed.[9] At one of those performances, Killing Joke singer Jaz Coleman joined Godflesh on stage. After those shows, a tour of North America alongside High on Fire and Isis was planned, but ultimately fell through when Broadrick experienced a nervous breakdown.[10] The Hymns era proved to be tumultuous, resulting in few concerts played and the end of Godflesh.

After the band reformed in 2010 and began to play shows again, the set lists were focused on early Godflesh material that Broadrick considered best. As such, no songs from Hymns were performed live, though Green suggested they rework and play "Defeated" and Broadrick was interested in playing "Jesu".

Release

Hymns was released on 23 October 2001 through Music for Nations. A remastered version of Hymns containing bonus tracks was released on 19 February 2013. Unlike most remasters, Broadrick's goal was to make the album closer to its original demos.[11] Regarding the final sound of the original Hymns release, Parsons said, "We were produced by this kind of typical metal producer. He had done a lot of Fear Factory, and bands like that, and you know, he kinda watered it down a little bit."[12] Included among the bonus tracks is the non-album song "If I Could Only Be What You Want", which was recorded during the Hymns session and was previously available on the Loud Music for Loud People compilation.[13]

Reception

AllMusic reviewer Jim Harper wrote, "If you can't stand Godflesh and their minimalist approach, then Hymns is unlikely to change your mind, but, for the already converted, this is the best album the band have released in recent years." In 2001, Chris Ayers of Exclaim! wrote that Hymns was Godflesh's "most ambitious album yet".[14] Blabbermouth.net said that Hymns is "often called [Godflesh's] finest album".[15] Iain Currie with Bring the Noise described Hymns as "brilliant" and contextualized the album as "a reminder of how bands of real calibre reacted to that nonsensical period ... when nu-metal was picking up its destructive and soul destroying pace".[16] In a retrospective review of the album, Treblezine writer Jeff Terich said, "Hymns sounds more relevant than ever, having perfected the art of the beautiful slaughter."[17] In a 2015 interview, Parsons reflected on the reception of Hymns, saying "It got good reviews and it got really bad reviews. But I liked the album. I thought it was good."

Accolades

YearPublicationCountryclass=unsortableAccoladeclass=unsortableRankclass=unsortable
align=center rowspan="2"2001Terrorizer United Kingdom"Albums of the Year"13[18]
Rock Sound"Critics' Poll 2001"32 [19]
2010Decibel United States"The Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums of the Decade" 91 [20]

Personnel

Credits for Hymns adapted from 2013 reissue liner notes

Godflesh

Additional personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Heller. Jason. Godflesh – A World Lit Only by Fire . . 6 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180704092848/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19896-godflesh-a-world-lit-only-by-fire/ . 4 July 2018 . live . dmy-all.
  2. Web site: Bromley. Adrian. Hymns of Progression. Chronicles of Chaos. 10 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140836/http://chroniclesofchaos.com/articles.aspx?id=1-390. 12 June 2018. dead. dmy-all.
  3. Hymns . CD liner notes . Godflesh . 2001. . CDMFN271.
  4. Web site: Bartkewicz . Anthony . Justin Broadrick . . 25 June 2013 . March 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080223185218/http://www.decibelmagazine.com/features/mar2007/justinbroadrick.aspx . 23 February 2008.
  5. Web site: Suarez. Gary. Voidhead: Justin Broadrick on the End of Godflesh. Consequence of Sound. 14 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143254/https://consequence.net/aux-out/voidhead-justin-broadrick-on-the-end-of-godflesh/. 12 June 2018. live. dmy-all.
  6. Web site: Teppo . Mark . Features: Godflesh . EarPollution . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20020612094617/https://earpollution.com/v2/vol4/features/interviews/godflesh/default.asp. 12 June 2002. 28 July 2018.
  7. Web site: Industrial Titans Godflesh to Reissue 2001 LP Hymns . . 12 December 2012 . 12 January 2019.
  8. Web site: Wiederhorn. Jon. Godflesh: Long Live the New Flesh. Revolver. October 2014 . 18 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090603/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/godflesh-long-live-new-flesh. 19 February 2018. live. dmy-all.
  9. Web site: Tfaaon. Justin K. Broadrick, Guitarist and Singer of Godflesh. La Grosse Radio. 14 October 2014 . French. 17 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180318131220/https://www.lagrosseradio.com/metal/webzine-metal/interview-metal/p10142-justin-k-broadrick-guitariste-et-chanteur-de-godflesh.html. 18 March 2018. live. dmy-all.
  10. Web site: Parks. Andrew. Godflesh and the Horror of Everyday Life . https://web.archive.org/web/20141118161702/http://www.wonderingsound.com/feature/godflesh-justin-broadrick-a-world-lit-only-by-fire-avalanche-recordings-interview/ . dead . 18 November 2014 . 10 October 2014 . . 17 March 2018. dmy-all .
  11. Hymns (Remastered) . CD liner notes . Godflesh . 2013. . TE254-2.
  12. Web site: Fernando. S.H.. Interview: Swans, Prong, and Godflesh Drummer Ted Parsons. Red Bull Music Academy Daily. 14 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171215110822/http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2015/01/ted-parsons-interview. 15 December 2017. live. dmy-all.
  13. Web site: Adams. Gregory. Godflesh Reveal Deluxe Reissue of Hymns. Exclaim!. 25 June 2013. 11 December 2012.
  14. Web site: Ayers . Chris . Godflesh: Hymns . . 12 January 2018.
  15. Web site: Godflesh: 'Hymns' Special-Edition Deluxe Remaster Reissue Due in February . 11 December 2012 . . 12 January 2019.
  16. Web site: Currie. Iain. Godflesh – Hymns (Reissue). Bring the Noise. 25 June 2013. 1 February 2013.
  17. Web site: Terich. Jeff. Godflesh : Hymns (Special Edition). Treble Magazine. 22 February 2013 . 14 December 2017.
  18. Web site: Terrorizer – Albums of the Year . 16 April 2008. Terrorizer.
  19. Web site: Rock Sound – Critics' Poll 2001 . 16 April 2008. Rock Sound.
  20. Web site: Decibel – The Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums of the Decade. Decibel. 28 January 2010 . 14 December 2017.