Customer Reviews

Us And Them

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here we find that Godflesh explores the ground between Songs of Love and Hate and Love and Hate in Dub. While it contains many elements familiar to Godflesh, we find that they are applied in new ways, bringing about a sound unlike previous Godflesh albums, while remaining true to what we've come to love about the band. This is an album that will please Godflesh fans, possibly disappoint those still waiting for the sequel to Streetcleaner (that was Songs of Love and Hate guys), and moreso than most of their work, stands to win new fans - primarily due to the more immediate electronic presence. On a tangent- (if it's within the guidelines) I'd like to make mention of the similiarities between some of Godflesh's work and the older material by the Swans. If you are a Godflesh fan and are not familiar with the Swans (and many aren't)- you really should check them out. I'm not kidding, they were great. Waste no time and check out some of the samples from Cop/Young God, Real Love, or Kill the Child. Hearing the heavy plodding pace of the music along with Michael Gira chanting "Stick a knife in me, I'm worthless..." over and over again always reminds me of Godflesh. I'm not kidding, do it. You'll like it.

Once again, Godflesh manages to keep they're signature sound while, at the same time, they explore other directions that they haven't gone in before. "Us and Them" has shorter songs than on previous Godflesh CDs. Most the songs clock in at around 5 minutes, in contrast to the usual 9-20 minute songs on their previous efforts. On this CD, the emphasis seems to be really exploring break-beats and seeing what the band can do with interesting syncopated rhythms and samples. There also seems to be quite a bit of vocal experimentation going on this time around. In each song the voice takes on it's own character.

There are still quite a few traditional Godflesh tracks thrown into the mix, such as "Bittersweet", which is a track that will please any old school GF fan. Of course, the high feed-back guitar and low pulsating and distorted bass are ever-present. "Us and Them" is by far one of Godflesh's most interesting CD's that I underestimated when I first bought it. Compared to their previous CD's, it's a bit of a challenge, but well worth the effort.

Godflesh are an amazing band. They're a band for Metal fans, fans of Drum and Bass, even for fans of Techno. I tend to think it's all 3 of those genre's in one, just not as much emphasis on the Techno. I think even fans of the Prodigy could really enjoy Godflesh. They seem most popular with the Industrial Metal fans though, along with bands like Ministry and even Nine Inch Nails to some extent.

Every song on this album "Us and Them" stands out. .."I, Me, Mine" starts off the Album, and is a pretty heavy opener. "Us and Them", the title-track, is also pretty heavy, with a significant riff that grabs your attention all the way through. Reminds me of an alarm, but different sounding. For the first 3 minutes 40 seconds, the riff is there, then it changes into something that you can almost dance too. The vocals in the song echo too, which sound great and adds another type of atmosphere to the song.

"Endgames" sounds very Drum and Bass-like, but with low, almost growling, vocals. It's also a great song, along with "Witchhunt", which is very Godflesh-like. "Whose Truth Is Your Truth" and "Defiled" are probably the slowest, and least exciting songs on this Album, but are still very worthy tracks.

After "Defiled", one of the best tracks, in my opinion, comes on. "Bittersweet". The song is great to bang your head too, and is just a great song to follow-on from "Defiled". "Nail" is a song that starts slowly, with the riff fading into your speakers. The riff actually reminds me alot of something the band Soulfly would play. "Descent" and "Control Freak" are good songs too, albeit less memorable than others on this album after you listen to them.

Then comes "The Internal". Going for 6:33mins, this song is 'dream-like' in it's riffing. Creating a nice atmosphere that you can just relax into. The vocals sound sort of far away too, and they echo. The song changes around the halfway mark a little bit, then slowly loses it's 'dreamy' feel, and the song fades away with a dark sort of atmosphere. Definitely not as comfortable as when the song started. It's a great song, and totally one of the best on here.

The final song, "Live to Lose", sounds much like "The Internal" but just a little more 'Grunge-y'. The vocals sound again like they're far away too. Once the song ends, you sort of have to pick yourself up from the floor because the whole Album leaves you drained. And that's a good thing. For as much as it's angry at the start of the Album, it slowly turns into a beautiful, atmospheric one..the last 2 songs you could almost fall asleep to, if you closed your eyes while listening to them.

This Album i believe is a must-have for fans of this band, Godflesh. I'm hoping to include alot more Godflesh albums into my collection, because Godflesh are truly a fantastic band. Do not miss out on them, or this Album either. Or any of their Albums for that matter, as they all seem great too.

Everytime i've listened to this Album, i've either needed to get a glass of water, or listen to it again. Most of the time i do both. This is definitely 5/5. A fantastic album that you'll always be coming back to. It's a must-buy for fans, and new fans as well.

This album is the temporary culmination of GF's immersion into actual techno and club sounds. "Us and them" is GF's most interesting and diverse record, showing the entire musical range of this group. On the other hand, this album is more "industrial" than "rock", and sometimes incoherent and overproduced. On tracks like "I, me, mine", the title cut, and "Control freak", JKB's vocals are heavily distorted and pitched, and it seems as if he wanted to turn out how evil and nasty he can be. The variety of styles, moods, and sounds is overwhelming, but it all sounds a little bit forced, too. I prefer the more rock-oriented tracks like "Bittersweet", "The internal", and "Live to loose". "The internal" is one of GF's best songs ever, with a slow, grinding drum n'bass rhythm, a gorgeous melody, and JKB's most friendly singing ever put to disc. If GF canalized and adjusted all their newly found influences and sounds, their next album will be a real crusher.

Short and sweet........ Their best!!!!!I have been an avid Godflesh fan since Streatcleaner (brilliant album), however, Us & Them is an industrial masterpiece. More "electronic" than any other Godflesh release, Us & Them ranks with any classic industrial release by the godfathers.....Ministry!

Justin surpasses himself yet once again ! must buy for any GF fan.

Curious to know what Jesu will sound like.

Once again, living proof of why Godflesh still satisfies, where other Noisecore bands have waned: they update their sound constantly, experimenting endlessly, while always keeping that core of groaning, gut-wrenching noise front and center. I love blasting this in my car while cruising... the subwoofer-friendly beats of "whose truth..." and "defiled" turn heads, but the soul-in-hell utterances (don't call them "vocals") and midrange-shredding guitars can harsh your average trunk-thumping cruiser's mellow in a jiffy. Stylistically, many tracks are, in an ironic twist, a slight return to the syncopated onslaughts of STREETCLEANER (see "bittersweet", esp.) By borrowing mixing and sampling bits from the world of Techno, Godflesh inject new life into the monster... and that's cause for great rejoicing. Top notch stuff.

This is the lp that takes for a bit of roller coaster ride. Granted it does have the GF trademarks like the drum machine,etc. But like other lp's shows experimentation. Each recording having it's own identity. Us and Them is no exception. From the nihilistic "I,ME,Mine" to the psychedelic title track to the melodic "Bittersweet" which is the answer to "Frail" off of Songs of LOve and Hate. There are some things here and there I wasn't really into. I don't like "Defiled" at all. Mostly I really enjoyed this. Not nearly the rank of Streetcleaner but what is? This is worth picking up if you are a fan of heavy industrial

The long awaited recording is here at last. Once again GODFLESH break new ground without selling out. From the opening track (i, me,mine) to Live to Lose, GODFLESH prove they still have it. Highlights - Us and Them and Descent. A must have for any fan.

Thank you Broadrick and Green for another exceptional album.

Please come back to Ohio

This Godflesh album is not only a industreal meatl CD but a grove one too! the intro of each song is alsome. vocals are blurry & sounds agresive. all songs on us and them are really good... just listen to "I Me Mine" "Defiled" "Witchhunt" i don't think thay are any dude songs on this CD "Live to lose" is a graet ending song! if your looking to get into Godflesh "us and them" is a good start.