Customer Reviews

Fire Dances

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Why does it seem like this one isn't as important than other KJ stuff. I love the punk dance metal fusions of WHAT'S THIS FOR. Even more so than the first album. This was a return to that form for me. The bonus tracks make it even better. In my opinion they should have been on the original album in first place. And if they wanted to outdo themselves they could have added BIRDS OF A FEATHER and SUN GOES DOWN. How can I put this?....this is like grunge is cheating on metal while punk is cheating on rock and had this baby at a disco.

if you like heavy, rythmic music and you don't own firedances, get it now - this is quite possibly some of the most intense and original music ever - fantastic polyrithmic tribal drumming against atonal and dissonant post-punk proto-metal guitar playing , almost disco bass lines and the always surprising melodic attack of jaz - it may take a few listens to get used to this one but once you get it you're hooked forever

This was the first Killing Joke record to feature bassist Paul Raven. Whilst not as dischordant as the previous Revelations, Fire Dances has alot of power and intense rhythm. I classify this as the most 'primitive' KJ album, in that the lyrics and music actually sound like they are made by tribal warriors. Take a look at the firedances video, watch the people dancing round the fire! It captures the joy and exuberance of living life at it's simplest. Songs like The Gathering, Song & Dance and Feast of Blaze shine pure simple emotion. They have child-like innocence, and brutality that needs no justification. My favourite song on the album is Rejuvenation. The drums hit like thunder, the words speak of tribes forming and taking over the earth. This albums about being grateful for what youve got, and wil power!

I first got Fire Dances when it was originally released on cassette. The songs for the most part are great, a few are a little more mainstream in approach than some of their earlier works. KJ here dabble in funk, tribal sounds, and dance. Then again some are percussion-fueled, frenetic, atonal massive train wrecks of sound, rather like Public Image Ltd's Flowers of Romance. If you like KJ, you might like this. An update I am now very happy to report, the "HA!" ep that was included on the b-side of the cassette version I had of this is now available on cd. A terrific live cd, and in my opinion Killing Joke's finest record.

This album is really rather strange compared to other works by Killing Joke. It seemed to me that rather than an idea, they are trying to convey a feeling. They left behind that gloomy-doomy apocalyptic mood, making it more basic, as the lyrics suggest in some places. This doesn't make it any worse, it all appears much more positive, I might even say happy. And even if you have no ear for music you'll find it hard not to be absorbed by the rhythm. All the songs throb with energy. If you want to get something from Killing Joke, this is a good choice.

Tribal repetitive drumming and chant down singing with brilliant angular post-punk guitar that will shake the devil out of you. Hearing this in the early 80's was beyond my capacity to comprehend. Having listened to a massive variety of music since then, I still haven't heard an album like it. Compared to much of the cookie cutter Hardcore Punk of the time, this was a bombshell of originality. I was ecstatic that there was a new direction for punk. Alas, even Killing Joke didn't quite stick with this formula again after this album. An edgy punk album somehow reaching for tranced induced spiritual revelation instead of aggro reactionary violence. Music for Goths and Punks who have just spent 40 days and nights in the desert.

This is one of the best albums for Killing Joke fans and for anyone who loves music. It's dancy, punky and gothy sounding. Song & Dance, Dominator, Let's All Go (To The Fire Dances)...all very good songs. I play this album very frequently. There's nothing bad about this album except that it's too short. Clocks in at 39 minutes.

I hardly know what to say -- this album is wonderfully exciting, original, and serves to open up the darkness of their earlier records before Killing Joke really brought in the strong melodic element of the albums to follow. Though intense throughout, they mix it up and the album never gets dull ("Dominator" takes a turn to funk completely out of nowhere). Buy it if you like interesting rhythms. It's scary and fun.

Probably the most unique Killing Joke album for a variety of reasons. It is something of a concept album, basking in the theme of William Golding's "Lord Of The Flies" with added revelry. The 'sound' of it is strangely bright (which is even more apparent on cd) which makes me wonder what they did in the studio - it actually shimmers with light and heat. This album has a unique flavor that sets it apart from even their own works, and "Fire Dances" is the perfect title. Many anthemic favorites here, but check out "Frenzy" for its myopic pummelling. (They could really freak people out with this one onstage.) A must for anyone with ears, but too savage for the uninitiated to appreciate.

Well this album seems as if it has quite a few interesting things going on with it. We hear many catchy tunes such as "We go to the gathering" and I can't even tell what notes are being played in the verse of Fun and Games, but it's quite astounding! Rejuvenation reminds me how Ministry was heavily inspired by these guys, and for the longest time, I haven't had a riff stuck in my head for several days until I heard Frenzy. What a crazy lick of a song! Some of my other favorites include Feast of Blaze and Song and Dance, and the main riff from Let's All Go sounds a lot like something the Clash would do. The bonus tracks are definitely worth a listen, but Dominator is probably the weakest on here. Not bad at all, but it doesn't stand out at me by any means, so I'm still giving this 5 stars. The extra tracks include alternate versions of the album tracks, but I don't see why it was necessary to have 2 extra versions of Dominator. In any case, it's all still fantastic! They didn't do so well after the late 80s in terms of producing great albums, but this one's a keeper.