Watch Godflesh prove they’re one of metal’s heaviest bands with this destructive festival headline set

Pro-shot footage of Godflesh ’s full set at Sonic Rites 2024 has been published online.

The Birmingham industrial metal pioneers played a 12-song headline performance at the Helsinki festival on May 17.

Watch the complete show and see the setlist below.

Godflesh were formed by ex- Napalm Death member Justin Broadrick (vocals/guitars) and Ben “G.C.” Green (bass) in 1988.

With their 1988 self-titled EP and 1989 debut album Streetcleaner , the duo became notable for playing extreme metal without a traditional drum kit, instead using a drum machine for percussion.

Broadrick spoke about the inspiration behind the idea in a 2023 interview with Whynow .

“I have one of those early compilations by [British dance music label] StreetSounds, where most of the tracks just sounded like a drum machine and a rapper,” he explained.

“I was like, ‘Fuck! This is just amazing!’

“When that sound exploded, the first thing to really hit me was Run-D.M.C’s [1985 single] King of Rock on The Old Grey Whistle Test . It felt so fresh hearing metal guitars with a big, chunky hip-hop beat.”

Broadrick deactivated Godflesh in 2002, after having a nervous breakdown the day before a North American tour, and started the post-metal outfit Jesu.

Godflesh reformed in 2009. Broadrick continues to perform with Jesu as well.

Godflesh released their latest album, Purge , to rave reviews last year. Metal Hammer named it one of the 50 best metal albums of 2023 .

The magazine wrote: “Polar-cold mechanised beats with equal ties to classic hip hop and industrial wastelands set the table for a chest-caving bass thump and guitars that drove a shoegazing stake into doom metal’s heart, as mainman Justin Broadrick tersely spilled his guts

“Kudos all round for making a 30-plus-year-old blueprint work to stunning effect on Purge .”

Godflesh’s Sonic Rites set was part of a brief festival tour in May 2024. The band currently do not have any further live dates announced.

Godflesh setlist: Sonic Rites Festival, Helsinki, Finland – May 17, 2024

Land Lord
Army Of Non
I, Me, Mine
Ringer
Towers Of Emptiness
Post Self
Tiny Tears
Streetcleaner
Avalanche Master Song
Like Rats
Spite
Crush My Soul