Associated Entries: Final, Godflesh
After the breakup of Godflesh in 2003, Justin Broadrick decided to form another project and leave behind some of the extremity associated with his previous bands (Godflesh, Napalm Death). Jesu sound is a mix of shoegaze, ambience and doom and is often described as “avant-pop”.
Jesu first release – 2004 “Heart Ache” EP – featured Broadrick playing all instruments, while first self-titled LP featured contributions from Dermot Dalton and Ted Parsons, both of whom were also in Godflesh. Jesu second album “Conqueror” was recorded as a trio, while Parsons was absent during a recording of “Sun Down / Sun Rise” EP.
All Music Guide pointed out that “There is so much more to Conqueror than initially meets the ear — particularly at eardrum-melting volume — because while these are songs, they are also bits of a bleak tapestry of longing, grief, warm tear-staining beauty and surrender, and it’s worth the album’s dragging weight a thousandfold in syrupy, metallic reverse and inside-out bliss and bombast.”
The band toured extensively through US, UK, Japan and Europe – they opened for Isis, although neither Parsons, nor Dalton were able to participate and were replaced by Danny Walker (Intronaut) and Dave Cochrane (God, Ice).
Jesu recorded few split with fellow bands Eluvium (where, again, Broadrick played all instruments), Envy and Battle Of Mice. They also contributed a number of covers to various compilations – one is Pink Floyd’s “Chapter 24”, which was featured on “Like Black Holes In The Sky: The Tribute To Syd Barrett” and another one is Cure’s “Funeral Party”, recorded for Cure tribute album “Perfect As Cats”.
Update: 2009 saw the release of new album “Infinity”, as well as 4-track EP entitled ” Opiate Sun”, which is scheduled for an October release.
Band Members:
Justin K. Broadrick (Council Estate Electronics, Curse Of The Golden Vampire, Cylon, Eraser, Fall Of Because, Final, God, Greymachine, Ice, Jesu, Krackhead, Napalm Death, Saskwatch, Sidewinder, Solaris, Sub Species, Sweet Tooth, Tech Level 2, Techno Animal, White Viper, Youpho, Zonal)
Dermot Dalton (Cable Regime, Line, Saskwatch)
Ted Parsons (Crazy Hearts, Foetus Corruptus, Neccesary Intergalactic Cooperation, Of Cabbages And Kings, Prong, Swans, Teledubgnosis, Treponem Pal)
Discography:
Heart Ache LP / CD (Dry Run, 2004 / Avalanche, 2008)
Jesu LP / CD / 2xCD (Hydra Head, 2004 / Daymare, 2004 / 2007)
Silver 12″ / CD (Hydra Head, 2006 / Conspiracy, 2006 / Daymare, 2006)
Conqueror CD / 2xCD / 2xLP (Hydra Head, 2007 / Conspiracy, 2007 / Daymare, 2007)
Lifeline 12″ / CD (Hydra Head, 2007 / Daymare, 2007)
Pale Sketches CD (Avalanche, 2007)
Jesu / Eluvium Split LP (Temporary Residence Limited / Hydra Head, 2007)
Sun Down / Sun Rise 12″ (Aurora Borealis, 2007)
Envy / Jesu Split CD (Daymare, 2008)
Jesu / Battle Of Mice Split 12″ / CD (Robotic Empire, 2008)
Why We Are Not Perfect CD (Hydra Head, 2008 / Daymare, 2008)
Infinity CD /2XCD (Avalanche, 2009 / Daymare, 2009)
Compilation Tracks:
“We All Faulter” on Elegy Magazine Sampler #35 (2005)
“Tired Of You” on Music With Attitude, Volume 70 (Rock Sound Magazine, 2005)
“Conqueror” on Elegy Magazine Sampler #46 (2007)
“Silver” on Warm & Scratchy (Adult Swim, 2007)
“Chapter 24” on Like Black Holes In The Sky: The Tribute To Syd Barrett (Dwell, 2008)
“The Funeral Party” on Perfect As Cats: A Tribute To The Cure (Manimal Vinyl, 2008)
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