The English industrial metal band Godflesh have released 8 studio albums and 6 extended plays, along with a number of singles, compilations and remix and live albums. The group formed in 1982 under the name Fall of Because, but they did not release any music (outside of a 1986 demo tape titled Extirpate)[1] until 1988 when Justin Broadrick and G. C. Green changed the project's name to Godflesh and recorded a self-titled debut EP.[2] That EP, released through the independent label Swordfish, saw underground success[3] and has since been recognized as one of, if not the, first industrial metal releases.[4][5][6] Though the self-titled EP acted as Godflesh's introduction to innovation and experimentation, their next release and first through Earache Records, 1989's Streetcleaner, garnered even more recognition for its musical importance.[7][8][9] After the success of Streetcleaner, Godflesh recorded Pure in 1992, which has drawn retrospective recognition as a significant release in the post-metal genre.[10][11] The band's third album, Selfless (1994), was Godflesh's debut on a major label, Columbia Records.[12] The album sold under expectations,[13] and that coupled with MTV banning the music video of its lead single, "Crush My Soul", led to Columbia dropping support of Godflesh.[14][15] Regardless of the disappointing commercial performance of Selfless, Broadrick considers that album and all of the preceding releases as Godflesh's best material.[16][17]
In 1996, Godflesh, back on Earache, released Songs of Love and Hate, which featured Bryan Mantia on drums; this was a significant departure from the band's characteristic style, since all of their previous releases had been structured around programmed industrial beats from a drum machine.[18] Broadrick later described this shift as a dilution of Godflesh's original goal, which was to meld human and machine music.[19]Love and Hate in Dub, a remix album released in 1997, saw Godflesh again experimenting, this time with hip hop, breakbeats and dub.[20][21] Those experiments continued and heightened with the 1999 studio album Us and Them, which again featured mechanical percussion.[22] After Us and Them proved creatively dissatisfying for Broadrick,[23] the band again found a live drummer (this time in Ted Parsons). 2001's Hymns was recorded in a professional studio, which led to a great deal of frustration for the band.[24][25] Shortly after Hymns' release, Green quit Godflesh, and Broadrick officially ended the band not long after that.[26]
Godflesh reformed in 2010 as Broadrick and Green.[27] After performing scattered shows for four years, the band's return album, A World Lit Only by Fire (2014), was released to critical acclaim[28] and appeared on several critics' year-end lists.[29] It was a notably heavy industrial metal album focused again on downtuned guitar, distorted bass and driving, artificial drums.[30][31] In 2017, Godflesh's eighth album, Post Self, was released. Like A World Lit Only by Fire, it drew critical praise and award recognition;[32][33] Unlike that previous album, however, Post Self proved introspective and experimental.[34] Despite regular acclaim from critics and fellow musicians, Godflesh has received only minor commercial success.
The first disc comprises a best-of collection, the second comprises a selection of rare and otherwise unreleased tracks and an additional DVD or VHS comprises the band's music videos[57]
First side features Loop covering Godflesh's "Like Rats", while the second features Godflesh covering Loop's "Straight to Your Heart" from Heaven's End (1987)[69]
^Bartkewicz, Anthony (March 2007). "Justin Broadrick". Decibel. Archived from the original on 23 February 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^Streetcleaner (2010 reissue) (CD liner notes). Godflesh. Earache Records. 2010. MOSH1501.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ abStreetcleaner: Live at Roadburn 2011 (Vinyl liner notes). Godflesh. Avalanche Recordings. 2013. AREC028.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Pulp" / "Christbait Rising" (Vinyl liner notes). Godflesh. Combat Records. 1989. ICPROLP-0908.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ abLoopflesh / Fleshloop (Vinyl liner notes). Godflesh and Loop. Clawfist. 1991. XPIG 07.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)