A
Interview with Justin K. Broadrick (mainman of Industrial, Dark 'n'
Harsh Abrasive Metallers, Godflesh).
We caught up with Justin before his blasting half-hour set at Rock City,
Nottingham (supporting Fear Factory) on 5th November to have a good
old chat about the return of Godflesh, Touring, the new album Hymns
and much more more. We hope you enjoying reading this as much as we
enjoyed conducting the interview. So here we go in its entirety - take
it away Metalliville Interviewer, Tony Watson:
1.So what have you been up to leading up to the
new album, 'Hymns'.
Well around the mid to late 80's, I wasn't entirely sure what we wanted
to be - or what I wanted to be. I've had an identity crisis. I was just
making music in different projects (outside Godflesh). I realised what
I was lacking in my own project.
There was also a lack of promotion from 'Earache Records'. We actually
lost track of who we were as artists. In fact, I hadn't picked up a
guitat in over a year. It wasn't until the writing of the 'Hymns' album
that I went back to it again.
2. What types of projects were you involved in,
outside Godflesh?
I experimented a lot when I left the guitar for a year - doing techno,
drum 'n' bass and jungle. Basically, it was good to get away from rock.
3. How did you get 'Godflesh' going again?
Ted (Drummer) came over and we wrote the songs for the 'Hymns' album.
It took us over a year to get off 'Earache'. 'Music-For-Nations Records'
believed in us and they were really into promoting us.
4. How did you get the support slot to 'Fear Factory'?
Fear Factory loved the band, they wanted us on the Tour which is for
a full month in various parts of Europe including France, Belgium, Holland
and Switzerland. Then we are coming back to Britain and Ireland with
Devin Townshend, playing various dates which include Nottingham and
Sheffield. I've been big friends with Burton since '96. They couldn't
look after us enough.
It's like we've been invisible and many people are happy we're back
- it's like J*sus, it's Godflesh. This happened last night (5th November)
when we were in Newcastle.
5. Why have both albums (the compilation and the new studio album) been
released at the same time?
I guess that
was down to Earache who released the compilation album at the same time
that Music For Nations released our studio album. We didn't want both
albums at the same time at all.
6. Tell me about the styles of Godflesh -
The older stuff is real important - it's got that (Heavy Industrial)
sound and also the messing about with break beats. I like hip-hop and
jungle.
We have a mash up style and I'm influenced by bands like The Swans,
Killing Joke and of course Black Sabbath - even Public Enemy. We have
a heavy depressive, bleak, hopeless outlook that we like to achieve
7. Where do you live?
Well a the moment in each others pockets - it's the only way it can
do it to make it work financially.
I live on the Welsh Border. Raven lives in Ireland and Ted's from Oslo.
It's all about survival.
8. Tell us about your comeback -
It's fantastic - it's like we've had a re-birth - we've had more chances
than ever for an underground band. It's real interesting in Godflesh
as we have our own brand of Rock music.
9a. How long do you get to play on stage?
With Fear Factory we get around 30 minutes - I would have preferred
40 mins - not too long but long enough. We like to make an impact and
don't want the crowd to get tired of it - which could happen after over
an hour plus.
b. What's it feel like to be on-stage?
Weird really. I feel defensive for the music when it comes to the audience.
I have an angry feeling. When I'm there I go numb, I don't say anything.
I make the music and present and let the music speak for itself. I don't
see a need to all the talking on-stage.
10. What exactly do you do on tour when you aren't
on stage?
We find it's so removed from reality (touring) so we try and keep healthy.
I started this tour being ill - which doesn't help. I like to relax,
listen to music, play games on the computer and compose music.
For that half hour on-stage, there's like 23 1/2 hours where our emotions
are trapped so we like to release that in the 30 mins or so we have
up there on stage.
11. What's the U.S like to tour in?
Mixed - sometimes it's amazing - the kids go wild - they get so into
it - other times they don't - it's how it goes. We've just toured with
Slayer and Type O Negative and some of the kids didn't get us !!!
12. Where did you record the 'Hymns' album?
I started it off at my studio - but couldn't get that sound we wanted,
so we recorded it at Dave Anderson's studio (Ex-Hawkwind).
We produced it ourselves - we have a clear vision of what we want to
hear. It was all totally hands-on. I'm obsessed with mixing desks -
I'm a big fan. We backed up copies many times.
Since this Interview took place Godflesh have toured late November 2001
in the with Devin Townsend (which included dates at Nottingham Rock
City and Sheffield's Leadmill). Justin also informed us that they could
possibly touring alongside Machine Head in the U.S. in 2002.