Killing Joke
 

Still going after nearly 30 years,releasing good albums (2006's Hosannas From the Basements of Hell was excellent) and are now reunited with the original line up resulting from long time member Paul Raven's Death. Their post punk sound has diverged over the years taking in commercial keyboard led sounds (Love Like Blood) to chugging metal (Pandemonium) yet their jagged tribal rhythmns and Geordies unique and solo free guitar riffs have kept the legions of fans happy. They have influenced so many artists and bands ranging from Ministry to Big Black. If you have never heard of them before or have limited knowledge then feast on these vid's representing their different phases.

Essential albums:

Killing Joke (1980)
Night time (1985)
Pandemonium (1994)

The Wait (1980):


Love Like Blood (1985):


Hossanas From The Basement Of Hell (2006)


MySpace.com - Killing Joke - UK - Rock / Industrial / Punk - www.myspace.com/killingjokeofficial

I only have the debut, and I can't get massively into it. There's nothing wrong with it at all, I just think maybe it's been ripped off so many times since. Mood pending, sometimes there just isn't enough going on in Killing Joke's music to hold my attention :(

I could almost say the same as Molecules.
I only have Pandemonium , good enough album but it didn't really do enough for me to check out their other stuff.
I probably should hear their debut.

You have never heard their debut? One of the best post punk releases ever! I think both of you should start with the compilation Laugh ...I nearly Bought One compilation which was pre Pandemonium and will give you a good idea of what they are about. PM

I had Night Time on vinyl, until it fell victim to the great garage flood of 1989.*


*Leaky roofs, heavy rainfall and cardboard boxes don't go. :(

^ Thats a hint btw

Good album too.

About time there was a thread on this great, great band. I'm seeing them in October and I'm already really hyped up about it! My favourite album is probably Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions as it's got some of the most ferocious material they ever wrote. Oh and RIP Paul Raven, who also played in Ministry, Prong and Godflesh.

Their debut is pretty great, haven't heard it in a little bit.

It looks like I'm going to be seeing them in October too.

I just grabbed their debut... it's high time I heard these guys.

They're debut is pretty good, but not their best. It's more of a fan's album than anything else

My two picks are from their early heavy period. One is Revelations the other is Fire Dances. Both those will give you a real taste of what they're known for. It's NOT for the faint of heart :bowdown:


Here's a few clips I grabbed off YT

I only have the 2003 self-titled, which is alright, pretty varied in its styles but the songs drag on a bit.

Not to be a snob, but I can't believe you don't have "What's THIS For...?" under the essentials, OP. That album is easily KJ's most complex and defiant.
Anyone who's interested in these guys should pick up a copy ASAP :)

Managed to get a ticket for a London show @ forum in October. Well happy. There are rumours that Youth might be back on Bass too.

^ cool man. i've got my tickets to see 'em in Glasgow as well, should be a good show.

Pandemonium was a great album, if you are into hard Industrial music. I loved it, but would probably say I prefer the moodier music from the early 80's. "Love Like Blood" and "Eighties" were two fantastic songs. Jaz Coleman was definitely a genius, and possibly one of the most frightening individuals in Pop music.

It's got a hard-tinged industrial sound, but I don't think it could be classified as such. Very cool band, though, I'll check out those suggested albums.

Amazing band. They've always managed to be one step ahead musically.

Killing joke are amazing
i have the whole disco
i think like their first album the most
and night time im surprised there isnt more on this band
jaz is awesome, lol he was on the Mulan soundtrack

They were terrible when I seen them a few weeks ago in london.

im sorry
....
what was their setlist?
did they just **** off and not play well?

They played all their singles and it was a reunion of sorts but it just did'nt work.

oh
odd id be upset it must have cost you a bit eh?

About £100 altogether. The chance you take sometimes. it does'nt dtract from what I personally feel about them though. I still think that they are an awesome band.

Has anyone else heard their new EP? It's called In Excelsis and it's pretty decent, but not as heavy as Hosannas From the Basement of Hell, still thought it's a great sneak peek at what their new album will sound like.

To be fair they have always criss crossed genres a bit and are not always heavy. I really like that though. Big Dub influence going on. What's the line up on the recording now that Raven has left us?

http://musicshares.org/wp-content/up...-dissent-1.jpg

Just because they are an older band doesn't mean that they don't deserve a few more posts regarding their new album.

Original line up (first time since 1982) sounding absolutely phenomenal. Metallica, Megadeth, Nine Inch Nails, Ministry,Napalm Death, Tool, Opeth, Faith No More, Godflesh and Foo Fighters (whether they are liked or not) all cite them as a massive influence on their music.

From the new album. Not bad for a bunch of 50 year olds who have worked with everyone from David Gilmour, Paul McCartney, London Symphony Orchestra, to a whole host of musicians involved in the Pigface project; Trent Reznor, Danny Carery, Flea, Genesis P-Orridge, Dean Ween etc etc

I have to admit after giving it a few more listens I think it actually surpasses Hosannas From the Basement of Hell (2006) in terms of quality. I don't think there were any songs off it that I didn't like, and it was nice to hear that Jaz Coleman can still hit those notes, despite his age. It's also awesome to see a 30+ year old band that can still put out quality albums that far surpass everything they've ever inspired. If this album doesn't create some new Killing Joke fans then I doubt anything ever will.

I really need to make getting this album and their last EP a priority here. What the hell kind of Killing Joke fan am I anyway?

Yeah, seriously, me too.
Jackhammer: That song made me happier than almost all music that I've heard that was made in 2010. Fucking great

It took me a little while to get into Absolute Dissent, as is usually the case for me with KJ albums for whatever reason, but I'm really digging it. And even though I tend like KJ the best when they are at their loudest, I think my favorite tracks so far on this album are the two most low-key: "European Super State" and "Ghost of Ladbroke Grove".

I got into it on first listen and I'm the opposite with KJ, I find their albums easy to get into.

European Super State, This World Hell, The Great Cull and Raven King are my favourites.

I found Absolute Dissent really easy to get into - and there's a lot of Killing Joke that I don't even much like.

On this new one almost all of the songs have an almost-too-derivative sound but none of them ever bore or irritate me and I even find most of them really moving.

Pandemonium was one of those albums that I discovered and absolutely adore it

Why is it that nobody here feels the need to talk about this band? So many people here like alternative rock and post-punk and this band is that just slightly heavier, but not heavy enough to be considered metal. Your favourite bands are from the '90's? This band was probably one of their biggest inspirations. You like to see a band from the late '70's still be able to keep up or rock harder than bands today? This band is for you. What is it going to take people?

Well you know I love them at least. :)

I know you do. You, Jackhammer, and I are the 3%

I have masses of time for Killing Joke, there are a lot of bands I love but don't talk about all the time, but I can say with absolute sincerity that the S/T is one of the most cherished vinyls I own.

They've got a new album out next year too, I believe.

That's encouraging news, albeit a little surprising, their release schedule over the decade or so has been 3-4 years in between each album. I'll not complain though, I may get to actually see them this time when they tour.

Their new album has leaked and it is pure sex for my ears. Every other album I'm anticipating this year could blow gonads and I wouldn't give a damn because I have this.

Discovered this band a few years ago and have been hooked ever since. I have all their releases up to “Brighter Than a Thousand Suns” as well as the Pandemonium album. My favourite is probably the s/t followed closely by Revelations but pretty much everything is quality.
Definitely a very unique band for their time and without them we may not have industrial metal like Godflesh and early Pitchshifter.