Streetcleaner, the 1989 debut album by Godflesh, stands as a seminal work in the industrial metal genre. The album's fusion of heavy metal and industrial music, characterized by programmed drum loops, overdriven bass, and distorted guitar, created a bleak and oppressive soundscape. This innovative approach distinguished Godflesh from their contemporaries and set a new standard for the genre.
The album's impact has been recognized by various publications. Pitchfork included Streetcleaner in their list of "The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s," noting its use of "repetitive percussion, violent samplers, jagged guitar noise, overdriven bass, and distorted vocals" to create a sound filled with "existential rage." Rolling Stone Australia highlighted the album's revolutionary use of samplers and drum machines, stating that it gave the late-Eighties metal scene a "titanic and revolutionary clobbering." AllMusic praised the album's ability to deliver the apocalyptic impact of metal without resorting to traditional themes, emphasizing the precision of its execution.

Reviews

"Using repetitive percussion, violent samplers, jagged guitar noise, overdriven bass, and distorted vocals, Godflesh hollow ... ." Pitchfork

"Officially terminating metals historical aversion to instruments other than guitars and drums, Godfleshs abrasive samplers and thudding drum machine gave the rapidly evolving late-Eighties metal scene a titanic and revolutionary clobbering." Rolling Stone Australia

"Streetcleaner was met with positive reviews upon release, and its acclaim grew with time; several publications now list it as one of the best metal albums." AllMusic

Review

A1 Like Rats
A2 Christbait Rising
A3 Pulp
A4 Dream Long Dead
A5 Head Dirt
B1 Devastator / Mighty Trust Krusher
B2 Life Is Easy
B3 Streetcleaner
B4 Locust Furnace