Jesu (band)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jesu
Origin Abergele, Wales, United Kingdom
Genre(s) Experimental rock
Ambient
Drone doom
Post-metal
Shoegazing
Years active 2003–present
Label(s) Hydra Head
Daymare
Avalanche
Aurora Borealis
TRL
Dry Run
Website Official website
Members
Justin Broadrick
Diarmuid Dalton
Ted Parsons

Jesu is an experimental rock band formed in 2003 by Justin Broadrick following the breakup of Godflesh. Jesu was the name of the last song on the final Godflesh release, Hymns, and Broadrick decided to adopt it as the name of his new project.

Jesu's sound is heavily layered and textured, drawing from and incorporating an eclectic mix of influences, ranging from ambient music, post-metal and drone doom, to shoegazing, downtempo and industrial music. Their recent releases have been described as "avant-pop" and avant-garde doom.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Their first release, the Heart Ache EP, was released in 2004 and featured Broadrick playing all of the instruments. It was followed in 2005 by the full-length self-titled LP, which featured the addition of bassist Diarmuid Dalton and drummer Ted Parsons, although not every song featured both new members.

With their third release, 2006's four song Silver EP, Jesu took a more melodic and layered approach, gaining comparison to shoegazing band My Bloody Valentine.[1]

Their second full-length album, titled Conqueror, was released on February 20, 2007 in the United States, February 19 in the United Kingdom and Europe, and on February 2 in Japan. Broadrick and Dalton recorded the Sun Down / Sun Rise EP without Parsons for an April 23 release. Japanese editions of the Conqueror had already contained the album packaged as a bonus CD. A split 12" album with Eluvium was released on July 5, 2007, featuring Broadrick performing solo again for the first time since the Heart Ache release. A split 12" with Battle of Mice has been spoken of since 2006 but has yet to be released.

October 2007 saw the release of Pale Sketches, a collection of unreleased Jesu songs performed entirely by Broadrick and recorded between 2000 and 2007. The album was released on Broadrick's own label, Avalanche. That same month, a four song EP entitled Lifeline, once again featuring Broadrick as the sole member, was released by Hydra Head in the United States and Daymare in Japan.

The band made their United States live debut in March of 2007 as an opening act for Isis, although work permit problems caused them to miss the first three weeks of the tour. Neither Parsons nor Dalton were able to participate in the tour and were temporarily replaced by Danny Walker (of Intronaut) and long-time Broadrick collaborator Dave Cochrane (God, Ice), respectively. During this tour, Jesu also made its South by Southwest debut as part of a Hydra Head Records showcase.

In late 2007, the band embarked on headlining tours of the United Kingdom, Japan, Europe and the United States. During this tour, Phil Petrocelli of Seattle band, Black Noise Cannon, took over as the band's touring drummer.

A second split release, this time with Japanese post-metal band, Envy, is scheduled to be released through Daymare Records in June, 2008. Broadrick has also announced a new EP to be released through Caldo Verde as well as a CDEP named Why Are We Not Perfect that will feature the Jesu songs originally only available on the Eluvium split vinyl album, as well as new remixes. There are no scheduled release dates for these two recordings at this time.

[edit] Remixes

Using the Jesu name, Broadrick has also contributed remixed versions of songs by such bands as N.I.C., Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Explosions in the Sky, Fog, Maninkari, and Pyramids.

[edit] Members

[edit] Current members

Broadrick uses a seven-string guitar live and on the Silver EP.

[edit] Touring members

  • Danny Walker - drums
  • Dave Cochrane - bass guitar
  • Phil Petrocelli - drums

[edit] Session musicians

[edit] Discography

Date of Release Title Label
August 30, 2004 Heart Ache EP Dry Run
January 20, 2005 Jesu Hydra Head
Daymare
April 11, 2006 Silver EP Hydra Head
Daymare
February 19, 2007 Conqueror Hydra Head
Daymare
April 23, 2007 Sun Down / Sun Rise EP Aurora Borealis
Daymare
July 5, 2007 Jesu / Eluvium (split 12") TRL
Hydra Head
October 4, 2007 Pale Sketches Avalanche
October 23, 2007 Lifeline EP Hydra Head
Daymare

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jurek, Thom. "Silver". All Music Guide. Retrieved August 3, 2006.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Jesu
Justin Broadrick · Diarmuid Dalton · Ted Parsons
Albums
EPs
Split albums
Related articles