Logo
DiS Needs You: Save our site »
  • Logo_home2
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • In Photos
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Search
  • Community
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • Blog
  • Community

THIS SITE HAS BEEN ARCHIVED AND CLOSED.

Please join the conversation over on our new forums »

If you really want to read this, try using The Internet Archive.

Jesu

Opiate Sun EP

Label: Caldo Verde Release Date: 27/10/2009

54366
domgourlay by Dom Gourlay October 29th, 2009

As a founder member of Midlands based noise experimentalists Godflesh, Justin Broadrick has a history of creating uncompromising passages of sound in the name of music. Despite Godflesh coming to an end six years ago, Broadrick has continued in a similar vein with Jesu, and in that time managed to establish a reputation for being one of the heaviest, loudest outfits currently sitting amongst the post-rock/metal genres. His most recent long player, Infinity, consisted of just one piece of music lasting just under an hour, which probably gives you some idea of what to expect here.

Opiate Sun is a project that has long been in the making, Broadrick first discussing his ideas online for the EP a good 18 months ago. Initially planned as a two-part project that would see the studio make-up of Jesu (Broadrick, ex-Swan Ted Parsons and Diarmuid Dalton) collaborate on two tracks with the live version of the band (Broadrick plus Dave Cochrane and Phil Petrocelli of fellow ambient experimental combo Transitional) contributing the other two, Opiate Sun is actually a solo piece, Broadrick laying down everything from guitars to vocals and rhythm section himself.

What this means is that Opiate Sun, for all its good intentions, seems bereft of any new or original ideas, and rather than show any signs of progress or inventiveness, its more a case of business as usual.

The opening sludge-metal of 'Losing Streak' sounds like Swervedriver slowed down to 33rpm, Broadrick's vocal actually none too dissimilar to that of Adam Franklin. 'Deflated' and the title track meanwhile both focus on Jesu's more ambient side, something that can often be lost - although some would argue for the better - in the context of their exceedingly loud live show. The closing 'Morning Light' - at five-and-a-half minutes the shortest piece on the EP - drifts along at a meandering pace, and while there's no disputing Broadrick's status as a virtuoso arranger and composer, Opiate Sun doesn't really add anything of note to his admittedly well-earned reputation.

  • 6
    Dom Gourlay's Score
Log-in to rate this record out of 10
Share on
   
Love DiS? Become a Patron of the site here »


LATEST


  • Drowned in Sound is back!


  • Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Year: 2020


  • Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter


  • Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing


  • Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alternative must sees


  • A Different Kind Of Weird: dEUS on The Ideal Crash



Left-arrow

Shackleton

Three EPs

Mobback
54436
54493

Bowerbirds at Sidecar, Barcelona, Thu 22 Oct

Mobforward
Right-arrow


LATEST

    news


    Drowned in Sound is back!

  • 106143
  • news


    Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Y...

  • 106141

    news


    Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter

  • 106139
  • Playlist


    Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing

  • 106138

    Festival Preview


    Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alterna...

  • 106137
  • Interview


    A Different Kind Of Weird: dEUS on The Ideal Crash

  • 106136

    Festival Review


    Way Out East: DiS Does Sharpe Festival 2019

  • 106135
  • Festival Review


    25 years of SPOT Festival: DiS Picks Its Best 11

  • 106134
MORE


    Interview


    Interview: Bjork talks piracy, punk, Lady Gaga ...

  • 79700
  • review


    Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence

  • 95999

    Interview


    With Nile and I: DiS meets Nile Rodgers

  • 98023
  • review


    Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions

  • 55003

    news


    The DiS Community's... 101 Favourite Albums

  • 85886
  • feature


    Panic Prevention: At the drink with Jamie T

  • 14183

    Staff-generated


    Reviewed: Shut Up And Play the Hits a documenta...

  • 83336
  • feature


    New Emo Goth Danger? My Chemical Romance confro...

  • 89578
MORE

Drowned in Sound
  • DROWNED IN SOUND
  • HOME
  • SITE MAP
  • NEWS
  • IN DEPTH
  • IN PHOTOS
  • RECORDS
  • RECOMMENDED RECORDS
  • ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
  • FESTIVAL COVERAGE
  • COMMUNITY
  • MUSIC FORUM
  • SOCIAL BOARD
  • REPORT ERRORS
  • CONTACT US
  • JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
  • FOLLOW DiS
  • GOOGLE+
  • FACEBOOK
  • TWITTER
  • SHUFFLER
  • TUMBLR
  • YOUTUBE
  • RSS FEED
  • RSS EMAIL SUBSCRIBE
  • MISC
  • TERM OF USE
  • PRIVACY
  • ADVERTISING
  • OUR WIKIPEDIA
© 2000-2023 DROWNED IN SOUND