Leeds is a city with a strong link to England's industrial past. In the past the city was one of the key wool trading cities in the North of England. Leeds is also renowned for its links to Rock and Metal music. It was in this city where the Who recorded their first live album, "Live at Leeds" in 1970; it is the site of the annual Damnation Festival, which has played host to many of Extreme Metal's key players, from CARCASS to SIKTH. Where better then for a band like Industrial Metal titans GODFLESH to play.
 

By the time openers LOOP hit the stage, the venue is almost completely packed to its capacity. They play a decent set, although it definitely feels like it lasts about twenty minutes too long, and at times they seem a little self-indulgent in their performance. In particular, the heavy reliance on feedback is at times quite over-powering and grating, and it's often too hard to tell what the songs are like because all of the amps are too loud for such a small venue. Nonetheless, they play well and their brand of Alternative Rock gets them a great response from the crowd. Singer Robert Hampson has plenty of witty responses for the drunken hecklers.
 

By this point, there is an air of anticipation in the Cockpit for GODFLESH's imminent arrival. The excitement is almost palpable in the air in the minutes prior to them hitting the stage. And when it is time for GODFLESH to take to the stage, they are greeted enthusiastically by cheers from the crowd. They roar through their set with energy and ferocity. Newer tracks such as "Ringer" sit well alongside established classics such as "Streetcleaner", "Like Rats" and "Bigot". Their set consists a single song from their new EP, "Decline & Fall", to whet our appetites for the new music to come,  as well as a decent mix of songs from "Selfless", "Pure" and "Streetcleaner"; arguably their most well-loved albums. It is very much a celebration of GODFLESH's classic material, and it is designed for hardcore fans. Regardless, everyone in the room has a great time, and by the time they wander out into the darkened streets of Leeds at the end of the show, they all appear to be extremely satisfied with what they have just borne witness too.
 

With any luck these sort of shows will only be precursors to upcoming live excursions to come once their seventh record, "A World Lit Only By Fire" is unleashed upon the world later this year.

Setlist:
1. New Dark Ages
2. Ringer
3. Like Rats
4. Christbait Rising
5. Streetcleaner
6. Spite
7. Mothra
8. Monotremata
9. Bigot
10. Crush My Soul