2008 Woodie Awards
New Jesu brutally beautiful
By: Mike Fuksman
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Lifeline
- Page 1 of 1
The name "Justin Broadrick" has come to be synonymous with 'heavy' during the past 20 years.
First with his pioneering industrial band Godflesh, and now with his ambient/drone metal group Jesu. However, fans of previous Jesu releases may find themselves surprised at the sound of Broadrick's latest release, "Lifeline".
Though the EP only has four songs, it clocks in at about 23 minutes. The disc keeps in the Jesu tradition of long, drawn-out melodies that evolve over several minutes.
Broadrick's vocals are buried low in the mix, but you can make out his fragile voice even above the walls of guitar fuzz.
The song "End Of The Road" is classic Jesu material, with cascading waves of distorted guitar and airy synth lines fighting each other for dominance.
"Lifeline" also brings something entirely new to the Jesu lineup: female lead vocals.
Jarboe, former vocalist/keyboardist for influential New York industrial band Swans, provides lead vocals on the song "Storm Comin' On".
Broadrick's earlier band Godflesh took a great deal from Swans (including a drummer), so it's no surprise Jarboe has made an appearance on his new record.
Her ethereal vocals are mixed much louder than Broadrick's, giving the song a much more pop-oriented feel.
In fact, the entire record seems to be considerably more pop-oriented than previous Jesu releases.
Although the ever-present sludge-metal guitars still are there, they're not quite as loud this time. Broadrick's guitar work used to be the primary focus of his songwriting. But on "Lifeline," he delves more into the electronic side of things.
Even the drums aren't quite as powerful as in Broadrick's previous work. Electronic drums replace acoustic ones, synthesizers begin to take the place of guitars. This is not the Jesu you thought you knew.
"Lifeline" still retains most of the things that make Jesu great: solid, melodic songwriting, introspective lyrics, etc.
And Broadrick has never been one to sit still, in a musical sense. Godflesh experimented with several electronic music genres at once back in their heyday, and it seems that Jesu is poised to do the same.
Four out of five stars.
lifeline@cm-life.com
First with his pioneering industrial band Godflesh, and now with his ambient/drone metal group Jesu. However, fans of previous Jesu releases may find themselves surprised at the sound of Broadrick's latest release, "Lifeline".
Though the EP only has four songs, it clocks in at about 23 minutes. The disc keeps in the Jesu tradition of long, drawn-out melodies that evolve over several minutes.
Broadrick's vocals are buried low in the mix, but you can make out his fragile voice even above the walls of guitar fuzz.
The song "End Of The Road" is classic Jesu material, with cascading waves of distorted guitar and airy synth lines fighting each other for dominance.
"Lifeline" also brings something entirely new to the Jesu lineup: female lead vocals.
Jarboe, former vocalist/keyboardist for influential New York industrial band Swans, provides lead vocals on the song "Storm Comin' On".
Broadrick's earlier band Godflesh took a great deal from Swans (including a drummer), so it's no surprise Jarboe has made an appearance on his new record.
Her ethereal vocals are mixed much louder than Broadrick's, giving the song a much more pop-oriented feel.
In fact, the entire record seems to be considerably more pop-oriented than previous Jesu releases.
Although the ever-present sludge-metal guitars still are there, they're not quite as loud this time. Broadrick's guitar work used to be the primary focus of his songwriting. But on "Lifeline," he delves more into the electronic side of things.
Even the drums aren't quite as powerful as in Broadrick's previous work. Electronic drums replace acoustic ones, synthesizers begin to take the place of guitars. This is not the Jesu you thought you knew.
"Lifeline" still retains most of the things that make Jesu great: solid, melodic songwriting, introspective lyrics, etc.
And Broadrick has never been one to sit still, in a musical sense. Godflesh experimented with several electronic music genres at once back in their heyday, and it seems that Jesu is poised to do the same.
Four out of five stars.
lifeline@cm-life.com
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