Merciless

Album review

A four-track EP consisting of two old songs that have never before seen the light of day, one new remix and one track specifically recorded for this disc, Merciless is a bit of a change of pace for Godflesh. One of the things most apparent upon listening to Merciless the first time is that Justin Broadrick has changed the way he utilizes his voice in Godflesh's crushing mixes. In fact, the first vocals heard on the album are clean and uneffected. This is a bit shocking, because Broadrick's reverbed-out groans were such a characteristic of Godflesh's sound. The decision to alter the way the vocals are delivered can best be described as an unfortunate error in judgment, as they simply do not have the same power as the rest of the music. However, the other elements that make Godflesh one of the most unique and vital metal bands in the world are still there: the distinctive, driving drum machine grooves, and Broadrick's guitar, whose parts are never as dissonant as one may think upon first listen. Careful attention to detail reveals the close-voiced, almost jazz-like, chords that Broadrick favors in his guitar work. G.C. Green's subsonic, growling bass is way more present than usual, to good results. Broadrick has repeatedly stated in interviews that he is more influenced by hip-hop than by metal, and this influence can be seen in a remix of "Don't Bring Me Flowers" off of Pure. This track, titled "Flowers," is interesting because, in taking a submerged guitar melody from the original track and making it the focal point of the new song, the remix really plays up the fact that Godflesh's music, despite the distortion, ruthless grooves, and shouted vocals, actually can be quite beautiful. This, in turn, displays clearly that there is method in Godflesh's madness, that their peculiar brand of discord is carefully calculated, in the full knowledge that there is consonance lurking inside every dissonance. Although this is not an essential Godflesh record, that honor being reserved for 1989's Streetcleaner and to a lesser extent 1992's Pure, it is worth acquiring for fans if only for the spectacular remix, "Flowers."
© Daniel Gioffre /TiVo