Godflesh - Kentish Town Forum, London - 16th June 2011 (Live Review)
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Written by Ben Bland
It’s safe to say that there aren’t many bands comparable to Godflesh. When the terrible twosome (Justin K. Broadrick and G. C. Green) released 'Streetcleaner' back in 1989 they decimated the ears of an unsuspecting audience. For the brand of industrial metal that Godflesh provided may not have been fast and it may not have even featured a live drummer half the time, but it was more brutal and packed with more ferocity than even the angriest hardcore band. Derisory though some may make such a statement seem, Godflesh made Broadrick’s previous band (grind legends Napalm Death) sound vaguely pleasant and hopeful, with a vision of the world that can only be described as utterly nihilistic.
It’s a little strange then, that after their demise in 2002, the band have not only returned but returned in such self-assured fashion. They were hardly top of the list of legendary nineties bands that you would expect to reform. Their return was originally just for a one-off show at Clisson’s Hellfest last year but since they have gone on to play other festivals and this London show marks their homecoming headline show in the UK. To see the band play to a fairly busy, if not by any means packed, Forum is rather pleasing; they are still an act of a firmly underground status after all and this is a fairly cavernous venue. To help with headlining such a major venue Godflesh have dragged along crossover legends D. R. I. and doom supergroup Goatsnake to warm up the assembled throng.
From what I hear, D. R. I. played a superb set but sadly they are on too early for me as the tube is determined I don’t arrive too promptly. Goatsnake are a rare live proposition and the amount of people who appear to have turned up purely to see the Californians is impressive. Fronted by ex-Scream vocalist Pete Stahl and featuring Sunn O))) legend Greg Anderson on guitar, Goatsnake are a tough act for anyone to follow. Their riffs may verge at times towards Kyuss mimicry, but when it’s done with as much confidence and skill as this band do it there is no room for complaint. The likes of 'Easy Greasy' and 'El Coyote' are truly epic propositions, dropping down on the Forum with the force of a twelve hundred ton hammer. Stahl’s voice is the perfect accompaniment to the doomtastic grooves and his harmonica parts are a welcome addition too.
Of course, Godflesh don’t try to follow Goatsnake. They just arrive, spend time setting up their own equipment and play. It is strange to see the Forum’s large stage populated by just two men with their guitars and amps but even stranger to hear the devastating noise these two men produce. Thankfully the Forum’s sound has improved of late and so the gut rattling thud of G. C. Green’s bass is perfectly audible but not to the extent that it overpowers the guitar and despairing screams of Justin K. Broadrick. The programmed drums are as relentless as on record; seriously, you don’t know how overpowering programmed drums can sound until you have heard Godflesh. Cuts such as 'Like Rats' and 'Pure' threaten to send Kentish Town into the bleak abyss with their walls of bulldozer riffs and atmospheric desolation. Sadly the impact of the performance is slightly lessened by visual problems. The DVD that is meant to be accompanying the performance doesn’t get very far, spending most of its time repeating the same scene over and over again, much to Broadrick’s annoyance. This does mean that the show lacks a certain level of visual interest and, whilst it is still immensely powerful, one cannot help feel that it could have been more so. That is not to take away from Godflesh tonight though. The end of the world has rarely sounded so good. Thank God they’re back.
Godflesh play Damnation Festival at Leeds University on 5th November 2011.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
