Killing Joke

Killing Joke | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 5, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Red Int / Red Ink
• ASIN: B0000AGWK8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,653 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Death & Reurrection Show

2. Total Invasion

3. Asteroid

4. Implant

5. Blood On Your Hands

6. loose Cannon

7. You'll Never Get To Me

8. Seeing Red

9. Dark Forced

10. The House That Pain Built

11. Wardance (Bonus Track)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The comeback album, part 2..., September 20, 2003

By 

Bighairydoofus "-" (Brooklyn Park, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Killing Joke (Audio CD)

Of all the bands in the world, Killing Joke is the only one of which I consider myself a true fan. I was a relative latecomer to the Joke, I discovered them in '84 and rapidly bought every title I could find. Tribal drums, lyrics depicting the nature of man as wild pack animal denying his true self in modern society, along with the fortelling of the coming apocalypse (remember, this was in '84), heavy stuff indeed. It spoke to me more than any other band had before or since. Jaz Coleman was the mad shaman exhorting us all to go to the fire dances, to shed our safe and secure world for one more in step with the true creatures that we're all down deep inside.

Then KJ came out with Brighter Than a Thousand Suns, a good but not great album. After that, Jaz and Geordie put out the excreble Ouside the Gate. Everyone including myself, thought they were done. But then came Extremities, Dirt and Various Repressed Emotions, their first "comeback album". With Big Paul Ferguson replaced by Martin Atkins, this album restored my faith in the Joke. While different than what came before, the album was hard, brutal and truthful, even if it lacked the lyrical subtlety of the early albums. I'll touch on the next two albums, Pandemonium and Democracy some other time. But again, after those two albums, I thought KJ was over and done.

I should have known better.

This album kicks ass and STOMPS! Paul Ferguson (Paul, we miss you!) still absent, Dave Grohl fills in admirably on drums for this album. Geordie's guitar style has changed a bit, it sounds as though he's not using a hollow body electric so much on this album. Both Raven and Youth play on different tracks on the album. Jaz is in his usual fine form here, though his lyrics are still a bit preachy and not as subtle as the earliest Joke albums. It's also a bit hard to take lyrics about asteroids and implants terribly seriously, but Jaz sings them with utter conviction. I could have done without the over the top growling and hissing vocalizations throughout Total Invasion and at the beginning of Dark Forces. It might have been okay on one track, but doing it twice was too much.

Oh, and the new version of Wardance is excellent. Uptempo, but still dark and sinister, it's different from the original, and yes, I do like the original better. But I think it was worthwhile.

I guess the best thing I can say about this album is that I don't think it's possible to play it loud enough. Ignore my fellow grumpy oldsters, this album is among their best and a must for any fan.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comeback Album of the Year!, August 13, 2003

By 

Ian Curtis "joydivision8" (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Killing Joke (Audio CD)

Wow! For 7 years, Killing Joke fans have been wondering if the band would ever return. And now they have...triumphantly. Let me first of all say that I am a die-hard Killing Joke fan- but an objective one. I was unsure at first if they could still pull it all off. Don't believe any of the negative reviews- this album is amazing. It is absolutely mind-boggling that these guys in their mid-40's can rock so ferociously and passionately. And how the heck can Jaz Coleman sing like that at his age??? Unbelievable. The original members are all in top form here, and as if that wasn't enough, Dave Grohl dropped by and played drums on all the songs. Here's a blow-by-blow rundown w/ ratings out of 10 (top score):

1. Death & Resurrection Show - 10/10. Awesome first track. Jaz uses a couple different vocal styles while Grohl pounds away and Geordie uses an almost ethnic-sounding chord progression. Raw and heavy, yet focused and clear.

2. Total Invasion - 11+/10. Yes I score this 11 out of a possible 10. This is the most wicked sounding Killing Joke song I have ever heard, and I believe I have heard all of them! The guitars are so crunchy and tight and Jaz introduces a brand new vocal style- you have to hear it to believe it, I don't know how a human voice would produce the sounds he makes during the first few lines of each verse. The chorus is melodic and classic Killing Joke. I can't stop listening to it!

3. Asteroid- 9/10. Very heavy fast song. Has the same punky drive of very early Killing Joke songs. Jaz howls about an Asteroid destroying mankind while the band maniacally pounds away. Somewhat repetitive, but very intense.

4. Implant- 9.9/10. Awesome song, about the fear of governments eventually implanting ID chips into humans. During the verses, Grohl perfectly plays a very intricate beat w/ some subtle keyboards and somewhat reserved vocals. Then all hell breaks loose- Great chorus(?) where Jaz shouts -"Tear up your ID cards, stick your Implant up your *ss, you just want to F---'ing control!!!"

5. Blood on Your Hands - 9/10. Another rocker, with a cool steady beat by Grohl. About corporations and stuff- "5 corporations earn more than 46 nations!" Jaz shouts during the chorus. A little repetitive and maybe 30 seconds too long, but a very solid song.

6. Loose Cannon- 9/10. The first single. This one is more electro-industrial with more sequencing and sounds. The verses have an awesome groove to them. The chorus is ok as Jaz repeats "I'm a loose Cannon". Personally I think Total Invasion would have been a better choice for the 1st single, but this song grows on you.

7. You'll Never Get to Me- 8.5/10. The most mellow song on the disc, slower but still with the crunchy guitars. Sort of a sing-along anthem. Good, but I think it could have been better. They could have backed off even a little more to contrast it with the other heavier tracks.

8. Seeing Red - 8.5/10. This song starts out and it really reminds you of older Killing Joke, with a perfect baseline and just flat-out cool. The only problem is, it never really varies at all. The chorus has the same progression as the verse but just heavier. Don't get me wrong, this song sounds super cool, but it's just that they should have had more changes.

9. Dark Forces - 8.5/10. Cool because it's different than the other songs. Almost gothic sounding, with eerie keys and vocals. Again some very unique Jaz vocals and a deceptively catchy chorus. Grows on you.

10. The House that Pain Built - 9.9/10. Very awesome song. Great riff and great beat. At first the riff sounds simple, but Geordie actually throws in some odd-sounding chords at times. Pretty heavy song, with the verse, build-up, and chorus all being great. My only tiny complaint is that the song basically cycles through verse-build-up-chorus 3 times through without any suprises. But it's really great as it is too.

11. Wardance (bonus track) 6/10. Very disappointing. This is one of Killing Joke's first songs, re-recorded with Grohl on drums. First off, Grohl screws with the original beat, which he should have left along. The bass and guitars are not as tight as the original, and Jaz delays on some of the verse lines like he's trying to change it up a little, but he didn't need to. Still, it's cool to hear a new version of a great song!

Overall, if you like intelligent heavy music for the mind, soul, heart, and any other part of your being- buy this CD and let's pray they follow through with that US tour!!!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What Would Jaz Coleman Do?, December 18, 2003

By 

Sacco (here there and everywhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Killing Joke (Audio CD)

Almost 25 years since they formed Killing Joke have returned with yet another album. And while some might be wondering why they don't just call it a day, there is a purpose to this album. Jaz Coleman is finally getting the chance to say 'i told you so'.

Since their debut album (also self titled) Killing Joke have been raging, with some considerable paranoia about the threats of the so called new world order/corrupt governments/occult/conspiracy theories. Coleman always claimed that the governments were out to get us, that secretly they were preparing to sieze all power. And now in 2003 it seems as if he has been vindicated.

Way back on "Whats This For..?" Jaz screamed "..crawling for oil, they were bleeding for gold..", a fairly accurate predication made all of 22 years ago. So now he takes the time, to warn of the potentially bleak future once again, and to vent the feeling of utter frustration and seething anger about the state of the world.

Musically this is different from previous albums, it doesn't have the layered space/prog rock guitars or the electronic synth bleeps and swirls. The drumming, provided by Dave Grohl, is harsh and more pounding and cruching than the rhythmic groove of 'Democracy' or 'Pandemonium'. Its a sparse album, which suits the angrier more abrassive mood.

"The Death & Resurrection Show" warns of history repeating, and the deception of the powers that be. While "Total Invasion" foreshadows the governments of the worlds attacks on their own people solve the problem of resource (and water in particular) shortages, using the situation of Mexico City as an example. The tone then shifts to an other worldly threat, and Jaz's favourite topic, the comming apocalypse, in "Asteroid". "Implant" and "Blood On Your Hands" seethe over government control, of the individual and the worlds economies respectively. All the while marching to an industrial pummel and shredding guitars.

The later half of the album is concerned with fighting back, and personal guilt at Colemans failure (from his perspecitve to do this so far, at least with violence). Finally on "House Of Pain" the band lets loose, swearing to hold on to freedom at all coasts, because the pain is far greater to betray himself than fight back.

WWJCD? I think we have the answer.