Search - Justin K Broadrick, Andy Hawkins, Azonic :: Subsonic 3: Skinner's Black Laboratories

Stripped Flesh

Melkor | San Diego, CA USA | 01/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I will assume that anyone reading this review is a Godflesh fan, though I think absolutely any music fan would enjoy this CD. I am a huge Justin Broadrick fan. I think almost everything he touches turns to gold. Be it the intense sonic painting of Godflesh, the creative exploration of hip hop in Techno Animal, the angriest death metal album by Napalm Death, the ambient transcendence of Final, to the new evolution of Godflesh in the form of Jesu. I stumbled across this album by chance, when I did a search on his name on amazon. For any Godflesh fan, this CD will be a welcome addition to their collection.



Justin is on only four tracks here, but in typical Broadrick fashion, each track is eight to fourteen minutes long. For the most part, it is simply Justin and a guitar. There are no vocals, and very minimal rhythm tracks. This CD was recorded back in 1995, but it starts with elements that sound similar to songs on the Godflesh "Hymns" album from 2001. The clean guitar tone, tuned down with chords that bleed into each other, are such a wonderful signature of Justin's sound. This album clears away a lot of the distortion that he is known for in his other bands, and the listener is able to really piece apart the elements that we like about his music. As the CD progresses, elements of experimental electronic noise start to overtake the tracks in a way so subtle that I hardly noticed. It brought to mind some of the more experimental tracks by Skinny Puppy or Throbbing Gristle. The transition into the final tracks by Andy Hawkins are wonderful, and make for a very complete listening experience. I highly recommend this CD for all Godflesh/Justin fans, as well as fans of experimental electronic music."