The darkness is coming. Or so they'd like us to believe.
Godhead are the first signing to Posthuman Records, Marilyn Manson's label. The Evil One is rearing his very own evil fledglings. You may be expecting something scary - and, heaven knows, Godhead look scary. But this record isn't.
There's no screeching about slaughtering people, no chug-chugging guitars; it's not even particularly loud. How un-evil is that?
The band look like the long-lost relations of the Addam's Family and sound like Depeche Mode on a gloomy day, drinking the odd pint of petrol whilst the Glam godfather himself, Bowie orchestrates over the whole electronically-modified affair. Not a million miles away from Manson's work.
It would be unfair to say that Marilyn Manson is the puppet master, but he is certainly pulling a lot of strings - he is the executive producer, the title is a very Manson-esque phrase and, by sheer coincidence, he co-wrote the title track. The requisite acerbic social commentary is laid thick on this track, talk of "conglomeration of lies" and the witty "Another flock of sheep to mislead"- a dead give-away of Manson's involvement.
But it does make a change that Godhead are an American band who aren't forcing a tired brand of big short-wearing nu-metal down people's throats. Where the likes of Korn, Limp Bizkit, et al, wallow in their self-hatred and fury, Godhead tread a line which is closer in spirit to the politically aggravated rock of Amen.
Covering a classic song by any band is always treading dangerously. Picture Soundgarden or Nine Inch Nails desecrating the Beatles 'Eleanor Rigby'. Then laugh when you hear Godhead singer Jason Miller snarling, "Darning his socks in the night while there's nobody there". They don't exactly appear to be sock-wearing band.
Where the original version is a gentle, haunting song, Godhead rough-up the guitars and turn it into a futuristic cyber-fest. A quote by Beethoven adorns the inside sleeve. It reads: 'Do not merely practice art but penetrate to the very heart of it, for only art and science elevate man to the godhead.' Whether a statement of intent of self-aggrandisement, the reality is clear. Godhead have not elevated to the 'godhead' yet - but with Manson as their mentor, it could go either way.
