Since a superb self-titled 2005 debut, original Napalm Death guitarist/Godflesh founder Justin K. Broadrick has been refining Jesu's increasingly honed catalog of "shoegaze metal" (even if he chaffs at the term), dispatching heavy fuzz with a fragile inseam. Dude's recorded some of the most gorgeously crunchy albums of any given year -- including 2007's Conqueror and the airier just-released Lifeline EP -- and he's not afraid to be GBV productive: Between splits and comps and propers albums and EPs he's managed five releases in 2007 alone.
All this to explain why Jesu's less-than-excellent set at Gramercy was more than a bit confusing (especially because they killed at SXSW, etc.). Replacing his trusted drum machine with Black Noise Cannon's Phil Petrocelli sounds great on paper ... but, well, not so much on Saturday night's stage. Actually, the drums started blending in more nicely a few songs into the set, but once those levels (and Petrocelli's timing) were repaired, the vocals lost their bottom: Conqueror standout "Old Year" sounded nearly perfect until Broadrick started sighing a bit too thinly. He has the laptop and bassist churning-out layers beyond his own voice and guitar, but the overall mix often sounded too tiny. Between tracks someone yelled, "It's too fucking quiet." Agreed: As a friend pointed out, you could talk to your neighbor without raising your voice. Love the direction Jesu's going on record -- subtler and subtler gradations -- but live it needed more torque (or, well, the dynamics of Torche).
Can't blame the acoustics on the venue -- before Jesu took the stage, Miami stoner quartet Torche absolutely slayed amid a rainbow of lights, Earth-sized heaves, crazy-ass drum signatures, and extended/indulgent breakdowns. It was pure doom-y eardrum (smashing) candy. But when Ozzy-enunciating vocalist Steve Brooks yowled "War is beautiful" during a blistering "Charge Of The Brown Recluse," the sludge grew poignant in a way you rarely experience at levels of bonged Sleepiness. In fact, the guys were so much fun, we forgot to take pics. So, if you will, close your eyes -- like Torche did for most of their set -- and imagine it all instead. Sweet.
A little more Jesu after the jump.
