Merciless (EP)

Merciless is the fourth EP by English industrial metal band Godflesh, released in 1994 through Earache and Columbia. In 1996, the EP was reissued along with the Selfless (1994) album as the compilation Selfless/Merciless.[1]

Merciless
EP by
Godflesh
Released23 August 1994 (1994-08-23)
Recorded1991–1994
GenreIndustrial metal
Length28:20
Label
ProducerGodflesh
Godflesh chronology
Pure
(1992)		 Merciless
(1994)		 Selfless
(1994)
Audio sample
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Content

Recorded from 1991 to 1993, Merciless comprises one rerecorded song, two previously unreleased songs, and a remixed song.[2] The EP's title track, recorded in December 1993, is an updated version of a 1986 Fall of Because song.[3] "Blind" and "Unworthy", tracks 2 and 3 respectively, are both labeled as "Biomechanical Mix" in the EP's liner notes, though no original versions are publicly available.[4] This is the same tag that Godflesh frontman Justin Broadrick applied to the remixes he made for Pantera in 1993. Track 4, "Flowers", is a stripped-down remix, or "demix", of the song "Don't Bring Me Flowers" from Godflesh's 1992 studio album, Pure.[4] After the EP was mastered and completed, Columbia brought in Bob Ludwig to refine the release. Broadrick said Ludwig's changes improved the sound.[5]

The EP's cover is taken from the 1943 experimental film Meshes of the Afternoon by Maya Deren.[6]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

AllMusic reviewer Daniel Gioffre wrote that the EP "displays clearly that there is method in Godflesh's madness, that their peculiar brand of discord is carefully calculated, in the full knowledge that there is consonance lurking inside every dissonance."[2]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Merciless"6:16
2."Blind"7:16
3."Unworthy"7:13
4."Flowers"7:34
Total length:28:20
Merciless 12-inch promotional[7]
No.TitleLength
1."Unworthy" (Biomechanical Mix)7:13
2."Blind" (Biomechanical Mix)7:16
3."Flowers"7:34
4."Merciless"6:16
Total length:28:20

Personnel

References
  1. Sendra, Tim. "Godflesh – Selfless/Merciless". AllMusic. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  2. Gioffre, Daniel. "Godflesh – Merciless". AllMusic. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  3. Life Is Easy (CD liner notes). Fall of Because. Invisible Records. 1999. INV 9042. Retrieved April 4, 2018.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. Merciless (CD liner notes). Godflesh. Earache Records. 1994. MOSH 116 CD. Retrieved April 4, 2018.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. Kinski, Klaus. "an interview with Justin K. Broadrick". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  6. "Godflesh artwork". godflesh.com. Crumbling Flesh. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  7. Merciless (12-inch promotional) (vinyl liner notes). Godflesh. Columbia Records. 1994. CAS 6269. Retrieved April 4, 2018.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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