Godflesh are coming to an end, but not just yet. Justin Broadrick, the industrial metal band’s frontman, wrote a long statement on Instagram explaining the decision and the band’s path moving forward. Broadrick recently underwent open abdominal surgery for a inguinal hernia that “was close to an emergency,” and part of his longterm recovery process includes refraining from shouting or screaming to prevent future hernias from developing. As such, Godflesh will cease to perform live starting immediately, and are wrapping up their remaining two albums that were already underway.
Broadrick explained the doctor’s orders in greater detail: “I had a huge hernia, and for it to be repaired, I had to endure a 6 inch incision in my groin. This unfortunately was not keyhole surgery. I have a very weak abdominal wall, which at being 57 yrs old this year, is not going to improve. If I continue to perform and shout/scream as I do with Godflesh, then I am at high risk for more hernias, and blowing out my abdominal wall entirely. Godflesh live ended the day of my surgery, and upon the surgeon making this statement.”
Godflesh already recorded what will now be their penultimate album, Decay. They’re eyeing a release on Relapse Records at the end of this summer for that follow-up to 2023’s Purge, pending the record’s mixing sessions. Godflesh’s final full-length LP was written “almost a year and a half” ago now; they aim to record that unnamed album near the end of this year. Afterwards, there will be no new studio releases or performances from Godflesh — although, Broadrick notes, the occasional dub or live album may roll out.
Broadrick isn’t done with music forever. He’s still allowed to write songs and perform live in Jesu and JK Flesh because those projects “do not require screaming/shouting nor a physically demanding performance.” He also wants to start a new solo project that will explore “the parameters of heavy/ugly music, featuring my guitars and electronics, and of course vocals, but NOT shouted vocals!”
It’s a sudden and serious end to Godflesh’s very long career. Broadrick formed the band with B.C. Green back in 1988 in Birmingham, England. Since then, the band has gone on to release nine studio albums, not including those upcoming two LPs. Last year, Godflesh played a handful of shows in Europe. Those now seem to have been, unknowingly, the band’s final live performances.
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