Jes' folks

My first encounter with the recorded work of Justin Broadrick was Scum, the landmark debut from Napalm Death. I also picked up a few Godflesh albums, but hadn't really twigged to his latest project, Jesu. Compared to most of his other work, Conqueror seems to consciously strive for beauty. It's a lot less noisy than works like Merciless, and Justin's vocals sound like something off a shoegazer album. If I had to choose the band whose work Jesu seems closest to it would probably be My Bloody Valentine (I gather just about everyone else would choose MBV, too).



Diarmuid Dalton rocks the four strings.



A very murky picture of drummer Danny Walker ... I gather work permit problems kept regular skinsman Ted Parsons from joining the North American leg of the tour.



Justin bends!



The whole lot!



Jesu action!



And more Justin. Much more, actually.







I heard some grumbling about their set post-show, though at the time the audience seemed pretty receptive. I thought they were good, but I confess to preferring the music over the headphones.

Many heads

A, Hydra Head! The U.S.-based level is Isis mainman Aaron Turner's baby, and has produced an interesting slew of records that carry heavy music about as far from the pentatonic (and possibly pentacle-influenced) beginnings of such heavy music icons as Black Sabbath as it's been. Isis is still touring on the strength of their latest critically lauded effort, In The Absence of Truth (out on Ipecac) and brought labelmates Jesu (who just released Conqueror) and Zozobra (who also have a new effort, Harmonic Tremors, to usher about the globe) out with them to pummel eardrums throughout North America.

First up, Zozobra. Frontman Caleb Scofield is also in Cave-In and Old Man Gloom.



Next up, Jesu, the brainchild of Justin Broadrick. He's come a ways since Scum, I'll tell you.



Last but not least, Isis, in suitably oceanic green.



I overheard much philosophizing inside and outside Barrymore's on the meaning of "metal" of this show. All I know is I enjoyed Isis a lot more this time around.