Killing Joke: 5 Albums 1981 - 2012

 

Like the armoured cockroaches crawling from bomb-blast wreckage, Killing Joke have spent the last 30

years providing the world with a suitably deep, dark, dogmatic soundtrack to its own calamitous descent into chaos, and as the momentum of the modern age gains ever more urgency, the band are once again poised to hit the philosophical nail squarely on the head…

               

Formed IN London, England, in October 1978, Killing Joke was the brainchild of classically-trained

musician & vocalist Jeremy ‘Jaz’ Coleman and drummer ‘Big’ Paul Ferguson, who eagerly recruited two like-minded comrades in the form of guitarist Kevin ‘Geordie’ Walker and bassist Martin ‘Youth’ Glover and set about establishing a brand new and highly idiosyncratic manifesto for reinventing the rock ‘n’ roll wheel. 
                     

Heavy and slow, Killing Joke (at least early in their career) were a quasi-metal band dancing to a tune of doom and gloom. They eventually became less heavy and more arty -- more danceable, even -- but

they made some urgent slabs of molten dynamite that oozed with the power of thick guitars, thudding drums, and over the top singing. The group's brutal sound emerged from U.K. punk and anticipated industrial, but the pummeling impact of their sound also endeared them to the distaff side of the metal community, and their uncompromising nature allowed them to stand on their own regardless of context.                 

1980's self-titled debut album was a ferocious statement of purpose, 1985's Night Time opened up their

sound, 2003's Killing Joke included longtime fan Dave Grohl sitting in on drums, and 2021's In Dub Rewind (Vol. 1) saw them radically revisiting their past work. The group returned to studio material with 2022's Lord of Chaos EP. 
                    

Killing Joke have inspired artists of many genres. They have been namechecked by several heavy metal

and rock bands such as Metallica and Soundgarden. Metallica covered "The Wait" and James Hetfield picked Coleman as one of his favourite singers. Soundgarden cited them as one of their main influences when they started playing. Jane's Addiction said that the group was one of their influences; singer Perry Farrell was inspired by the percussive and tribal aspect of their music.
                       

The band called their sound "tension music". Co-founder Ferguson described it as "the sound of the

earth vomiting. I'm never quite sure whether to be offended by the question of 'are we punk' or not, because, I loved punk music, but we weren't. And I think our influences were beyond punk. Obviously before punk, there was Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and there was Yes even and King Crimson, and those had all influenced me as a player, and the other guys would say other things, but I'm sure they were all part of their history as well".
                          

LINE - UP

                      

Jaz Coleman (lead vocals, keyboards, drums), Geordie [Kevin Walker] (guitar, bass, 1978-2023), Paul Ferguson (drums, vocals, 1978-87, 2008-present), Youth [Martin Glover] (bass, keyboards,

1978-82, 1994-2002, 2008-present), Paul Raven (bass, 1982-87, 1990-91, 2003-07), Martin Atkins (drums, 1988-91), Andy Rourke (bass, 1988), Dave "Taif" Ball (bass, 1988-90), Geoff Dugmore (drums, 1994-96), Nick Walker (keyboards, 1994-2005), Troy Gregory (bass, 1996), Dave Grohl (drums, 2002-03), Ted Parsons (drums, 2003-04), Ben Calvert (drums, 2005-08), Reza Udhin (keyboards, 2005-present)

                           

01. KILLING JOKE - WHAT'S THIS FOR...! 1981

               

What's THIS For...! showed that Killing Joke could maintain their frenetic, doom-wracked intensity

while experimenting with their already strongly established style. Jaz Coleman's vocals go through even more treatments and tweaks than before, chorus shout-alongs swathed in deep echoes, hidden behind Geordie Walker's punishing riffs and the steroid-driven rhythm section. Big Paul Ferguson in particular lays down some absolutely skull-crushing drum slams and Youth is no less intense at most parts, and

often they rather than Coleman or Geordie dictate the song, as the lengthy death-groove of "Madness" makes perfectly clear. Elsewhere Geordie shows a calmer (comparatively) side, soloing on songs like "Butcher" making common cause with the guitar work of Bernard Sumner in Joy Division days -- indeed, the song as a whole could almost be a tribute to that band, and one of the better ones at that. 
                 

Killing Joke – What's This For...!
Label: Virgin – 00946 312224 2 9, Virgin – KJRE2 
Series: Killing Joke Remastered – KJRE2
Format: CD, Album, Limited Edition Dec 21, 2005
Released: 1981    
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Post-Punk

TRAXS

                

01. The Fall Of Because    5:12
02. Tension    4:33
03. Unspeakable    5:19
04. Butcher    6:13
05. Follow The Leaders    5:37
06. Madness    7:43
07. Who Told You How?    3:37
08. Exit    3:44

BONUS TRAXS        

    
09. Follow The Leaders (Dub)    4:06
10. Madness (Dub)    7:28
11. Brilliant    3:58

LINE - UP

                   

                                 
Jaz Coleman – vocals, synthesizer, production
Kevin "Geordie" Walker – guitar, production
Martin "Youth" Glover – bass guitar, production
Paul Ferguson – drums, vocals, production

NOTES

Tracks 1-9 originally ℗ 1981, Track 11 originally ℗ 1982. 

Flac Size: 367 MB

02. KILLING JOKE - REVELATIONS 1982

               

The chief criticism many Killing Joke fans level at Revelations is that it is underproduced. When compared with later albums such as Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions and Pandemonium, Revelations does seem to lack some sonic kick, but only for listeners not digging deep

enough into the dusty labyrinth herein. Criticism of the production ignores the reality that the album is a joyous, original world unto itself. Sounding as if it was recorded in some mad, dub chamber, Revelations reveals many artsy, staccato pleasures. "Dregs," "Land of Milk and Honey," and "The Pandys Are Coming" blend stream-of-consciousness lyrics with blaring, distorted guitars and punchy drumming. Jaz Coleman has never sounded more confused and happy. This translates to the listener in the form of dark, fun soundscapes. 
                   

Killing Joke – Revelations
Label: EG – EGCD 59
Format: CD, Album 1986
Country: UK
Released: 1982    
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Post-Punk

TRAXS

                  

01. The Hum    4:59
02. Empire Song    3:19
03. We Have Joy    2:57
04. Chop-Chop    4:20
05. The Pandys Are Coming    4:27
06. Chapter III    3:14
07. Have A Nice Day    3:14
08. Land Of Milk And Honey    2:38
09. Good Samaritan    3:29
10. Dregs    4:53

LINE - UP

               

                    
Jaz Coleman – vocals, synthesizer
Kevin "Geordie" Walker – guitar
Martin "Youth" Glover – bass guitar
Paul Ferguson – drums, vocals

Flac Size: 232 MB

03. KILLING JOKE - FIRE DANCES 1983

                  

After stalling a bit with their 1982 album Revelations, Killing Joke nearly split up, with lead singer Jaz Coleman disappearing to Iceland in order to "survive the apocalypse." By the time Coleman returned to

the band, bassist Youth was gone and replaced by Paul Raven, a perfect fit who would stay on board as the band found its way up the charts over the next few releases. As a reaction to all these comings and goings, this is a decidedly tribal album that opens with a track called "The Gathering," follows it with the "join the mob" anthem "Fun & Games," and features words like "we" and "us" throughout the album. 
                     

Killing Joke – Fire Dances
Label: Virgin – 50999 5 10639 2 4, Virgin – KJRE 5
Series: Killing Joke Remastered – KJRE 5
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered Jan 28, 2008
Country: Europe
Released: 1983    
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Post Punk

TRAXS

                     

01. The Gathering    3:12
02. Fun & Games    4:06
03. Rejuvenation    4:01
04. Frenzy    3:47
05. Harlequin    3:57
06. Feast Of Blaze    3:33
07. Song & Dance    5:11
08. Dominator    4:28
09. Let's All Go    3:19
10. Lust Almighty    3:57

BONUS TRAXS        

    
11. Me Or You    3:13
12. Wilful Days    5:03
13. Dominator (Version)    5:34
14. The Gathering (Original Alt. Version)    3:27
15. Dominator (John Peel Session - 12/7/83)    5:30
16. Frenzy (John Peel Session - 12/7/83)    3:39
17. Wilful Days (John Peel Session - 12/7/83)    5:58
18. Harlequin (John Peel Session - 12/7/83)    3:54

LINE - UP

                     

Jaz Coleman – vocals, synthesizer, production
Kevin "Geordie" Walker – guitar, production
Paul Raven – bass guitar, production
Paul Ferguson – drums, vocals, production

NOTES

Tracks 1-10 & 13 recorded at Basing Street Studios, London during February and March 1983. Tracks 11 & 12 recorded at Basing Street Studios, London, August 1983. Track 14 recorded at Strawberry Studios, September 1982. Tracks 15 to 18 recorded at BBC Maida Vale Studio No. 4 on 4th July 1983 for the John Peel Show, BBC Radio 1. Transmitted on 12th July 1983.
Mastering and Remastering at Abbey Road Studios, London.

Flac Size: 496 MB

04. KILLING JOKE - NIGHT TIME 1985

                          

Marking the full return from the band's out-of-nowhere hiatus in 1982, Night Time, following after a couple of test-the-waters EPs, finds the reconstituted Killing Joke, with Paul Raven in on bass but

otherwise unchanged, caught between their earlier aggression and a calmer, more immediately accessible approach. At this point, however, the tension between the two sides had a perfect balance, and as a result Night Time is arguably the quartet's freshest album since its debut, with a warm, anthemic quality now supplementing the blasting, driving approach that made the band's name, as songs like "Kings and Queens" demonstrate.
                

Killing Joke – Night Time
Label: Virgin – 50999 5 10892 2 1, Virgin – KJRE 6
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2007
Country: Europe
Released: 1985    
Genre: Rock
Style: Post Punk, New Wave

TRAXS

                 

01. Night Time   4:57
02. Darkness Before Dawn    5:19
03. Love Like Blood    6:49
04. Kings And Queens    4:37
05. Tabazan    4:34
06. Multitudes    4:57
07. Europe    4:34
08. Eighties    3:59

BONUS TRAXS        

    
09. Eighties (Kid Jensen Session 17/4/84)    2:51
10. New Culture (Kid Jensen Session 17/4/84)   3:10    
11. Blue Feather (Kid Jensen Session 17/4/84)   4:29    
12. All Play Rebel (Kid Jensen Session 17/4/84)   3:18    
13. A New Day (7")   4:11
Mixed By – Brian Magee
14. The Madding Crowd   5:14
Engineer – Tim Armstrong, Toby Allington
15. Blue Feather (Joke Mix)   4:00
Mixed By – Killing Joke
16. Love Like Blood (Gestalt Mix)   5:13
Mixed By – Chris Nagle
17. Kings And Queens (Geordie's Dub Mix)   4:58
Mixed By – Geordie

LINE - UP

                 

Jaz Coleman – vocals, keyboards
Kevin "Geordie" Walker – guitar
Paul Raven – bass guitar
Paul Ferguson – drums, vocals

NOTES

Tracks 1-8 & 15 -17 recorded at Hansa Ton Studios, Berlin during August and September 1984.
Tracks 9-12 recorded at BBC Maida Vale Studio no.5 for Kid Jensen's Evening Show on Radio 1 on 5th April, 1984 and transmitted on 17th April, 1984.
Track 13 recorded at The Hit Factory, NY, May 1984.
Track 14 recorded at Olympic Studios, February 1984.
Mastering & Remastering at Abbey Road Studios, London.

LOVE LIKE BLOOD LYRICKS

                  

We must play our lives like soldiers in the field
The life is short
I'm running faster all the time
Strength and beauty destined to decay

So cut the rose in full bloom
'Til the fearless come and the act is done

                   

A love like blood
A love like blood
'Til the fearless come and the act is done

A love like blood
A love like blood

Everyday through all frustration and despair
Love and hate fight with burning hearts
'Til legends live and man is god again

                

And self-preservation rules the day no more
We must dream of promised lands and fields
That's never fade in season
As we move towards no end
We learn to die
Red tears are shed on gray
'Til the fearless come and the act is done
'Til the fearless come and the act is done

Flac Size: 510 MB

05. KILLING JOKE - MMXII 2012

                       

Although it may seem strange, the until now latest work can be considered the masterpiece of Killing Joke, after 33 years of career. The successor of the magnificent 'Absolute Dissent' (2010), which marked the reunification of the original line-up, deals with a dark and disturbing vision of society (chaos, desolation, anti-capitalism, social criticism), with the Mayan prophecy of the end of the days

surrounding the main theme. An irate industrial rock is the main musical base, while ceding territory to gothic densities ("Primobile", "In Cythera") and even progressive atmospheres, impregnated in the impressive "Pole Shift" that brilliantly opens the album (in a clear reference to the apocalyptic effect that predicts the Mayan prophecy). "Rapture", "Fema Camp", "Trance" or the dizzying "Corporate Elect" are clearly representative pieces of the frenetic, visceral, disturbing and wild tone of this prodigious album. 
            

Killing Joke – MMXII
Label: Spinefarm Records – 2796310
Format: CD, Album, Stereo
Country: Europe
Released: Apr 2, 2012
Genre: Rock
Style: Post-Punk, New Wave

TRAXS

                  

01. Pole Shift    8:57
02. Fema Camp    5:02
03. Rapture    4:16
04. Colony Collapse    5:05
05. Corporate Elect    4:00
06. In Cythera    4:30
07. Primobile    4:44
08. Glitch    4:48
09. Trance    6:09
10. On All Hallow's Eve    3:22

BONUS TRAX

11. New Uprising

LINE - UP

                   

Jaz Coleman – vocals, synthesizer, production, cover design
Kevin "Geordie" Walker – guitar, production, cover design
Martin "Youth" Glover – bass guitar, synthesizer, production, cover design
Paul Ferguson – drums, production, cover design

Flac Size: 421 MB

KILLING JOKE: KILLING JOKE 1980 on Urban Aspirines HERE