Conqueror

Jesu | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 20, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hydrahead Records
• ASIN: B000LC4XZK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,944 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Jesu returns with nearly an hour of weighty, otherworldly heaviness that defies the default designation of metal. The opening titular cut has as much in common with early Pink Floyd as it does with band member Justin Broadrick’s other outfits, Napalm Death and Godflesh. That said, there's plenty here to enrage the savage beast, such as the dark and detuned opening of "Old Year," the icy epic "Mother Earth" and the recording's centerpiece, the restless and imaginative 10-minute Flaming Lips-esque "Weightless and Horizontal," which displays the band's debt to space rock without apology and without any sacrifice of aforementioned heaviness. As good as Conqueror is, it's hardly the band's masterpiece. The work laid here suggests that Jesu has much more exploring and refining to do but this recording is as good a place as any for listeners to begin anticipating the moment when this outfit climbs up from the underground to reap the rich rewards it so clearly deserves. A fantastic and darkly inspiring work.––Jedd Beaudoin

Product Description

Japanese pressing of Jesu's 2007 album, 'Conqueror'. Includes two Japan only bonus tracks, 'Sundown' and 'Sunrise'. Comes packaged in a digipak. Dynamare. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First Impressions: WOW!, February 21, 2007

By 

J. Holmes "blood+whiskey" (yokohama, japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conqueror (Audio CD)

i had been long curious about this band and had read lots of praise for the past records. the adjectives used in the reviews drew me into a world of curiosity and interest. all the things that i had heard about Jesu proved to be true, but even more so. could it be that somethings are better than the hype can even allow?

usually, no. but, with Conqueror; all my expectations were surpassed.

first off all, hat's off to the album's designer. it's gorgeous. stark white glossy digipak with silver metallic ink printed on the transparent slipcase. the profile of a shadowy insustrial landscape against a blank sky signals the signs of things to come upon putting the cd into the stereo. a somewhat cold and detached sound..but full of style, grace and much warmth.

as the title track gently buzzes into play, i could feel my heart racing...as if i was listening to the sounds of white light being glazed over a kaleidescopic hourglass and reflecting through the multicoloured sands contained within. and within moments, a huge guitar riff that is pulverizing in it's crushing heavy slog, yet completely sweet and embracing a pop sensibility.

the production on Conqueror is nothing short of audio perfection. the tone of the guitars is handled with a diamond cut precision. the bass and drums obey within each song's structure and yet shine on their own with ease. all this would be just grand, but if the songs were crap, then what would it matter?

well, that's the real good news about this album...the songwriting is a delight to hear. it's catchy enough to easily creep into your head, but never so catchy that you'll be awake at night trying to get "that darn Jesu song" out of your head. this is part of the magic that this album holds. it is simple, gorgeous melodic songs that are easy to digest, yet demand repeated listens.

if i was forced to make reference points, i would point out M83, My Bloody Valentine,

or quite simply, Black Sabbath with a whole lot of sunlight.

**by the way, mine is the Japanese version of this album which includes an entire BONUS DISC with two long songs (approximately 30 extra minutes of music). these two songs are great; but differ quite a bit structurally then the main album. there are less vocals and lots of fuzzy, warm drones sneak in and take over the music for extended periods of time...really nice and worth the extra cash.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars first Impressions: WOW!, February 21, 2007

By 

J. Holmes "blood+whiskey" (yokohama, japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conqueror (Audio CD)

i had been long curious about this band and had read lots of praise for the past records. the adjectives used in the reviews drew me into a world of curiosity and interest. all the things that i had heard about Jesu proved to be true, but even more so. could it be that somethings are better than the hype can even allow?

usually, no. but, with Conqueror; all my expectations were surpassed.

first off all, hat's off to the album's designer. it's gorgeous. stark white glossy digipak with silver metallic ink printed on the transparent slipcase. the profile of a shadowy insustrial landscape against a blank sky signals the signs of things to come upon putting the cd into the stereo. a somewhat cold and detached sound..but full of style, grace and much warmth.

as the title track gently buzzes into play, i could feel my heart racing...as if i was listening to the sounds of white light being glazed over a kaleidescopic hourglass and reflecting through the multicoloured sands contained within. and within moments, a huge guitar riff that is pulverizing in it's crushing heavy slog, yet completely sweet and embracing a pop sensibility.

the production on Conqueror is nothing short of audio perfection. the tone of the guitars is handled with a diamond cut precision. the bass and drums obey within each song's structure and yet shine on their own with ease. all this would be just grand, but if the songs were crap, then what would it matter?

well, that's the real good news about this album...the songwriting is a delight to hear. it's catchy enough to easily creep into your head, but never so catchy that you'll be awake at night trying to get "that darn Jesu song" out of your head. this is part of the magic that this album holds. it is simple, gorgeous melodic songs that are easy to digest, yet demand repeated listens.

if i was forced to make reference points, i would point out M83, My Bloody Valentine,

or quite simply, Black Sabbath with a whole lot of sunlight.

**by the way, mine is the Japanese version of this album which includes an entire BONUS DISC with two long songs (approximately 30 extra minutes of music). these two songs are great; but differ quite a bit structurally then the main album. there are less vocals and lots of fuzzy, warm drones sneak in and take over the music for extended periods of time...really nice and worth the extra cash.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Justin's Opus?, May 12, 2007

By 

C. McBane "The spice must flow." (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conqueror (Audio CD)

This album took a little adjusting for me. I admit I really liked the debut self-titled album with it's dark and gloomy atmosphere. This is NOT that album. Conqueror is much brighter and optimistic. I went into it expecting a return to the darker (not sure why now that I think about it) and thus took several listens to figure out if I liked it. I don't like it, I LOVE it. Each song is as beautiful as it is unique. Tracks to pay attention to are Transfigure, Weightless & Horizontal and Stanlow.

On a different note. I had purchased the US release which was either misplaced or stolen shortly after recieveing it. When I went to re-order it found that there was an import version that had the Sunrise and Sunset tracks that were not going to be released in the states. I thought what the hell and bought the import. It was worth every penny. If it is still available by the time you are reading this, by all means get the two extra tracks. You won't be disappointed.