Godflesh- "Hymns" Double Deluxe Edition Re-Issue (The End, 2013)

2001 was a year that altered the course of human history and will be chronicled as the true beginning of the Bush-era. Wars were waged, fear mongering became standardized, the dismantling of civil liberties was underway, and the polarization between left and right was widening more so than ever before. Music and art took on new and more profound meanings during this turbulent time and, as they had done for so long before, Justin Broadrick and Godflesh released an album. This would be Godflesh's last will and testament before the birth of Jesu, a melancholic and emotive wave good bye as the foundation they once stood so proudly on seemed to crumble around them. Although we selfishly tried to cling to Godflesh, we knew the extent of their inspiration and the inevitability of their transcendence into knew and uncharted territories.

Musically, Hymns embodies the period and emotional state mentioned above. From the powerful beauty of "Anthem" and "Regal" to the paranoia and rage expressed in "Paralyzed" and "Deaf, Dumb, and Blind," Hymns chronicles the journey of a lost soul through a strange and unforgiving place. Lost, old, tired, but proud, this journeyman clings for dear life as he tries to escape the clutches of animals and vampires only to be left defeated and hopelessly awaiting the arrival of some kind of savior, a savior that only comes after it's all too late and the damage has been done. Broderick, Green, and Parson's playing on Hymns was tight and bold with a keen attention to detail and cultivation of certain elements. Green's bass playing created a pulse, a life force that allowed songs to exist in and of themselves as statements against the pedestrian and stale metal genre that seemed to be a shell of its former self. Broadrick's guitar was a backbone for this upright creature, a support system of thick tones and riffs that accented the mood set by the rhythm section. Although viewed as an end, ironically Hymns marked several new beginnings for Godflesh including the debut of drummer Ted Parsons and the first Godflesh album to be recorded in a professional studio. Hymns in many ways is a stand alone album for the band, one that is best appreciated and understood out of context rather than comparatively in relation to the band's catalog.

 

The deluxe re-issue of this masterpiece contains as many surprises as the original and is definitely worth purchasing for the wonders contained in many great re-releases. Demo mixes completed in 2012 of various tracks breathe new life into the songs and allow listeners to truly appreciate and listen to the lifespan of Broadrick's creations. "If I Could Only Be What You Want," a track not included in the original album, is the perfect musical bridge between Godflesh and Jesu and an important piece of history for any fan of either to possess. Standing as proudly and majestically as it did in 2001, Hymns could easily again be voted Album of the Year by Terrorizer and Rock Sound and once again reminds bands how high the bar truly is raised.

- Joe