Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Godflesh - Hymns (2001)
Hymns would mark the last Godflesh album before their decade-long split-up. They've definitely had more industrial metal in their earlier works. While this one does not have as much industrial, there's barely any weakness. Most of the keyboards are dropped with more emphasis on guitar, bass, and real drums, and it actually sounds strong. This trio actually worked pretty well, unlike other trios that end up sounding boring as a tea party (both the band and literally). Why did they have to break up with a steady lineup?!
For this album, the industrial beat is more of a background aspect. This group of geniuses know how to add small amounts of drum loops and keyboard into the songs and somehow make them sound so big. It's great for the music's diversity!
The album opener "Defeated" starts slow in the intro. Despite the guitar strums and hit-hats, you might start to fall asleep until your jolted awake at around the one and a half minute mark where things get more interesting as the action begins. After that slow fitting intro, the heavy beats and guitars are brought forward and continue from there. Then there's hip-hop-inspired riffing in "Deaf, Dumb & Blind" (3 things I don't wanna be altogether). "Paralyzed" would have you paralyzed by the industrial metal groove. An interesting highlight is "Anthem". After 3 songs of shouted vocals, this one focuses on clean singing. Such an amazing anthem! A haunting vibe is added to the guitar thanks to those vocals. Sadly, "Voidhead" doesn't really work well when it comes to those clean vocals.
The tyrannical aggression returns in "Tyrant" when the cleans are replaced with the shouts. I enjoy the atmospheric sludge anthem "White Flag", but the clean vocals sound so terrible that there's no chance it would ever be a highlight. However, "For Life" is a heavy groove track that would become a fan favorite for life. Then we swing into even more groove with "Animals" with great riffs.
"Vampires" has a darker vibe. Same with "Antihuman". However, reigning over them is the most triumphant song here, "Regal". However, what really deserved mentioning is "Jesu" (pronounced "yay-zoo", like when you say "Hey kids, we're going to the zoo!" and your kids are like "YAY, ZOO!!!"). Not many of the other songs can surpass this one, it's so beautifully haunting. The beauty is especially found in the clean hidden track, a good hint at the project Jesu, which Justin Broadrick would start in the aftermath of losing everything including his main band, money, house, and marriage, but with that project, he would slowly get his life and Godflesh back on track.
While many sound repetitive, they all have a unique identity despite lack of the elements that made their signature sound. Still, Hymns is pretty solid, though not as great as their classic releases. I understand how far this duo (for the most part) of technical industrial metal had come to that point, to fill your ears and drums with heavy hymns....
Favorites: "Defeated", "Anthem", "Tyrant", "For Life", "Regal", "Jesu" and the hidden track