INDUSTRIAL
UK

Released 25th of September, 2026

Do we really need to explain who GODFLESH are and what they represent?

Well, of course we do…

Like every band in the heavy music sphere, it is only proper that we, who know of these people and their music, should not fall foul to gatekeeping and always impart those new and and less experienced some context.

Formed as GODFLESH in 1988, the duo of guitarist and singer JUSTIN BROADRICK and B.C. GREEN on bass, they pioneered the industrial metal sound along with artists such as Ministry, Nine Inch Nails and Die Krupps, ushering a sound that went against the metal formula by using samples and drum machines, while staying true to its ethos with dark themes and an aggressive and distorted attack.

From this sound came those inspired by such a pushing of boundaries. Industrial metal in the 90s gained momentum with Ministry and Die Krupps adding more traditional elements to their sound, while younger bands Fear Factory and White Zombie embraced the sampled, machine like stylistics and grooves.
Also at this time, Korn, Marilyn Manson, and even The Prodigy were laying the groundwork for a more accessible style of the Godflesh blueprint with the repackaged alt rock/metal and nu metal monickers. All the while, GODFLESH continued to explore varying avenues of music, tapping into dub, hip hop and drum & bass with atmospheric dissonance.

Nowadays, the GODFLESH influence can be heard far across the extreme music spectrum.
From Poppy to Meshuggah, Bong-Ra to Iggorr…
Even the doom of Kulk, the slam brutality of Peeling Flesh and the memes of Venjent all contain some of that DNA.
The GODFLESH legacy is far reaching, but after thirty eight years, it is one where the originators are soon to be stepping away.

DECAY is the ninth, and penultimate, studio album from GODFLESH. With health reasons preventing JUSTIN BROADRICK from playing live anymore (recording vocals has become difficult for Justin as well), the decision to stop while ahead is wise and respected.
Within this album is the pair’s wish to bring back their ever evolving sound to its genesis.
As if to counter their supposed disdain for stagnation, the album is almost a return to the lo fi, bare bones approach of the Streetcleaner album, while retaining the dark soul of later albums Hymns and A world Lit Only By Fire.

DECAY begins with the two singles, MASTER AND SLAVE and LIVING/ENDING. Each encapsulating both sides of the bands approach to nihilism, with the doomy dread of the former and mechanical angst of the latter.
Later on, moments of almost upbeat gothic leverage find their way on FERAL COLONY, while FEAR OF MAN and FODDER delve into stripped back soundscapes of dense, seemingly simplistic beauty.
The final track on the album, CONSUME ME, is an eleven and a half minute, haunting funeral march that is meditative and mesmerising in equal measure.

Coming away from this album is a jolt, but not a sharp reality check. One may feel a certain separation anxiety after the dying notes. GODFLESH write music so eloquently and paint vistas with a brooding eye for darkness that is hard not to fall into it headlong.
You find yourselves cleansed in the smoke and dust of a slow motion apocalypse with a sense of resolve that beckons repeated visits.
If this is to be their penultimate album, it is hard to envisage what the swansong could contain.
Decay is an album that sounds like a band in the throes of an artistic peak. The sad day is coming, but at least we can brace ourselves with this output with reverence.

DECAY is out now and available on Relapse Records on digital and physical formats through the GODFLESH Bandcamp page (HERE).

Or, go to Relapse Reacords’ website for black vinyl (HERE), white vinyl (HERE), CD (HERE), and cassette (HERE).

Also available on all major streaming sites.