What was happening to Godflesh?! A cover with more than one colour... The music was branching out even further from the days bygone... And... and... it's actually damn catchy here and there?! Well, life goes on, and I guess exactly that is what happened. It makes me chuckle when people spazz out and scream: "Betrayers!!!" Fuck me if this is easy music... Hell, even 'Christbait Rising' from the debut album was playing on MTV back in the day. I'll put it this way: If the Sun was "mainstream", then 'Streetcleaner' (their debut album from 1989) was Neptune and 'Selfless' was Uranus (no pun intended).
So, this, the third Godflesh full-length album (plus they have a few EP's hitting close or over half an hour), was another step to something else, but it does not disregard the roots of Godflesh. Extremely apocalyptic tone of the early Godflesh releases is gone, but this certainly isn't "flowery"; it pretty much continues the band's trend via 'Pure' album (1992), which is much more musical than 'Streetcleaner', and 'Merciless' EP (also from 1994; although recorded a few years earlier). Compared to 'Pure's trebly soundscapes, 'Selfless' is one of the heaviest, tone-wise, and most metal albums, thanks for being more riffy and a tad groovier, by this Brummie duo. That good ol' industrial trait is still in, but not quite as strongly as on their earlier material. This is not an industrial groove metal album. It carries those elements, but they are happening just here and there, in a few songs.
Godflesh are known for compositions that are more or less repetitive, but hardly droning. Even the shorter songs on this album are repeating same few parts, but every piece is spiced with various elements that pop out here and there, making them thrilling listening. Groovier bits remind me of Prong whose 'Cleansing' album was released January of 1994, while 'Selfless' came out in September. However, this album was recorded in between January and May, so Prong could have been an influence; Fear Factory's 1992 debut album 'Soul of a New Machine' could have been another one (funny how Godflesh influenced FF and maybe the other way around here!).
The album's musical arc was fantastically created. The opener is inviting with its heavy groove and somewhat "chirpier" atmosphere. It does not take long for dissonance to crawl in, which starts dragging a listener deeper and deeper into the realm of Godflesh. 'Bigot' presents way more doomier and eerie approach, appearing as a total opposite to the lighter nature of 'Xnoybis'. The beginning of 'Black Boned Angel' is actually a very beautiful-sounding, further evoking the album's theme about spiritual transcendence. This kind of heavier song / slower song alteration continues until the last two songs, which are the longest ones here, and also kind of leading a listener towards being something more. It is a testament for the band's dangerousness and unpredictability.
As I have listened to the album (the same original CD edition) on various systems, I have heard something new at times. Or is it the Mandela Effect causing changes here?! Well, I am not ruling out any possible anomaly in physics, really, but my different observations are or feel absolutely real. It is not as if I have not listened to the album much at all, because it has been on regular listening since it came out, and I've had many different systems during them 3 decades. This shows how multifaceted 'Selfless' really is.
Justin Broadrick (Jesu, ex-Napalm Death) played guitars. They are mostly dissonant in nature. There are riffs, but a lot of free-form playing occurs during other times. One should not expect guitar solos. That way, this breaks the rock music mould, among other ways. The bass guitar by Ben Green (also Vitriol) is heavy; mauling like a ten-ton hammer. It's heavy in a way that listener feels it, as it resonates and clanks its way by vibrating into a human body. Sadly I've never witnessed Godflesh live, but if this is anything to go by, I am missing something special. A drum machine was utilized once again, and there are more positives in this than negatives. The main thing is that there are various suitable sounds used; some like, some don't want any changes. Many unusual beats were programmed, and I believe some like this variety and peculiarity, some don't. There are rather straight beats here and there, but many songs carry loads of experimental ones.
Mr. Broadrick handles the vocals. This time around most of the vocals aren't effected, except multi-tracked. There are angrier vocals, snarled and gnarled (I am hearing Napalm Death's Barney Greenway sometimes), plus clear ones which are rather angelic at times, reminding of Fear Factory's Burton C. Bell. The lyrics are of course not printed in the booklet, but there aren't many lines per song and the vocals are intelligible. The booklet does include typical unsettling imagery that the band have always been known for. The soundscapes vary a lot. Generally, the band combined heavy metal stuff and trebly industrial vibes. The whole ends up being a very heavy thing to listen to, and also grating. However, this was not made for comfortable listening experience anyway.
'Selfless' is an album of extremities. Sometimes calm and easier to digest, sometimes heavy and very laborious. Both abrasive and serene elements often happen concurrently. It feels simplistic yet it's filled with emotions and atmosphere. 'Anything Is Mine' is the band's most metal song I think; a good stepping stone between the worlds for those who want to try Godflesh, marrying early 1990's alt-metal thing with the band's unique approach. The band came up with many wrenching riffs for this album, but didn't forget the dissonant side. This was the most humane album by the band when it came out. Still, a fucking dark album, too.
I find the album still a very exhilarating album to listen to, after 31 years, but also very, very demanding; that is the reason for my score, the volatile nature of it, or is it my brain... I remember I bought it because I heard 'Xnoybis' and 'Anything Is Mine' on Earache's 'Earplugged' CD sampler; first listening sessions to the album were pure pain, but its magic and weirdness won me over. 'Selfless' is a fantastic alloy of industrial and metal music styles. Godflesh have carried their own thing for decades and no-one can get near it even if wanted. They are simply unique. 'Selfless': Another Godflesh, and an utter classic release. Their third classic album in a row...
Rating: 9½ (out of 10) ratings explained
Reviewed by Lane
06/02/2025 19:15
