Jesu (band)
British experimental metal band formed by Justin Broadrick.
Jesu (pronounced "yay-zoo") is a British experimental metal band that Justin Broadrick started in 2003 after his previous group, Godflesh, went on hiatus. The name comes from the final track on *Hymns*, Godflesh's last album before their hiatus. The music is dense and layered, pulling from many different styles. Broadrick has said it's "very loosely speaking pop/rock/metal/electronica."
The band's first release, the *Heart Ache* EP, came out in 2004 with Broadrick playing everything himself. Four months later, the self-titled *Jesu* LP followed, featuring bassist Diarmuid Dalton and drummer Ted Parsons on some songs. For a European tour, Roderic Mounir of Knut filled in for Parsons. Broadrick explained he wanted to take a certain rhythm and "weld it to the Godflesh sensibilities of abstract, surreal, mutated metal."
In 2006, the *Silver* EP took a more melodic, layered direction, drawing comparisons to shoegaze band My Bloody Valentine. Most of it featured Broadrick and Dalton, with Parsons joining on the title track. The full lineup recorded the second album, *Conqueror*, released in February 2007. Broadrick and Dalton then made the *Sun Down/Sun Rise* EP without Parsons, which had already come out in Japan as a bonus disc with *Conqueror*. Jesu returned to a solo act for a split 7-inch with Eluvium in July 2007.
December 2007 brought *Pale Sketches*, a collection of unreleased songs Broadrick recorded alone between 2000 and 2007, released on his own Avalanche label. That same month, the *Lifeline* EP, again just Broadrick, came out on Hydra Head in the US and Daymare in Japan. The band made their US live debut in March 2007 opening for Isis, though work permit issues made them miss the first three weeks. Parsons and Dalton couldn't tour, so Danny Walker (Intronaut) on drums and Dave Cochrane (Head of David, God, Ice) on bass filled in. Jesu also played South by Southwest as part of a Hydra Head showcase.
Later in 2007, Jesu headlined tours in the UK, Japan, Europe, and the US, with Phil Petrocelli (Black Noise Cannon) on drums. In July 2008, a split with Japanese post-rock band Envy came out exclusively in Japan through Daymare. A split with Battle of Mice, engineered by Joel Hamilton, followed in August 2008 on Robotic Empire, after being delayed since 2006 due to cover art issues. In September 2008, Hydra Head released *Why Are We Not Perfect*, a CDE
- formed
- 2003
- origin
- United Kingdom
- genre
- Experimental metal
- founder
- Justin Broadrick
- notable_releases
- Jesu (2004), Conqueror (2007), Ascension (2011), Everyday I Get Closer to the Light from Which I Came (2013), Terminus (2020)
Lore & Background
Jesu's first release, the Heart Ache EP, was released in 2004 and featured Broadrick performing all instruments and vocals alone. It was followed four months later by the full-length Jesu LP, which included contributions from bassist Diarmuid Dalton and drummer Ted Parsons on select tracks. A tour of Europe featured Roderic Mounir of Knut filling in for Parsons. With their third release, the 2006 Silver EP, Jesu took a more melodic and layered approach, gaining comparison to shoegazing band My Bloody Valentine.
The full lineup recorded the second full-length album, Conqueror, released in February 2007. Broadrick and Dalton recorded the Sun Down/Sun Rise EP without Parsons. Jesu returned as a solo act with a split 7" vinyl with Eluvium in July 2007. December 2007 saw the release of Pale Sketches, a collection of previously unreleased songs performed entirely by Broadrick.
Reader's Guide
Jesu's significance lies in their fusion of heavy, layered textures with pop and electronic sensibilities, bridging the gap between extreme metal and accessible songwriting. Broadrick's stated intention to write "coherent 'pop' songs" within a metal framework challenged genre boundaries and influenced a wave of experimental metal acts. The band's extensive discography, including collaborations with artists like Sun Kil Moon and remixes for bands such as Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky, demonstrates their broad impact. Jesu's legacy is marked by their ability to evolve from guitar-driven metal to incorporate electronica, while maintaining a distinct, melancholic atmosphere. Their work continues to be a reference point for artists exploring the intersection of heavy music and ambient, shoegaze, and electronic elements.
Did You Know?
- Jesu's name comes from the last song on Godflesh's final album Hymns.
- The band's first release, Heart Ache EP, was performed entirely by Justin Broadrick alone.
- Jesu made their United States live debut in March 2007 as an opening act for Isis.
- Broadrick works from a studio in Abergele, Wales.
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