Customer Reviews

Outside the Gate (Reis)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Killing Joke fans generally tend to agree on the dismissal of this album as the most weak and uninspired of their repertoire. I became a great admirer of the music of Jaz Coleman and friends just starting from a vague, yet powerful image of the "Love like Blood" videoclip, the only real KJ hit that made its way to Europe and my native Italy.
So, starting with "Nightime" I bought all the KJ albums. The greatness of the group relies in the synergy that you experience between music and lyrics. People tend to judge more on music, but you can't take the two things apart.
Outside the Gate is among my favorite KJ albums. Being a 1988 release it has astonishing lyrics that sport, as usual, a vibrant social and ethical consciousness and commentary. The single, "America", is a powerful portrait of a nation's obsession and illusory values that becomes day by day more poignant and truer than before. "Unto The Ends Of The Earth" anticipates the desire of moving away from the nevrotic rites of modern "civilization" fully expressed in the masterpiece "Pilgrimage" from the "Democracy" album.
"Obsession" is one of the most amazing KJ songs ever: written 15 years ago it seems the soundtrack of today: the recent terrorist warfare fostered by religious fanatism (how does it sound "we build the tower, tower falls down?"), the sinister power of the multi-nationals, the anxiety of the big cities, the tension between west and east, both on a religious and cultural level.
The music is great but I could understand it might not fully appeal to nostalgic Killing Joke fans. At least they might be satisfied by the recent "Pandemonium" and "Millennium" where the band has finally successfully meld all their musical precedents, ranging from "pop" to "trash metal" if we insist on using labels with KJ.
This album, no matter your tastes, is a must have.

Killing Joke has always been one of the most underrated and under-appreciated bands of the last two decades. In the collective works of 10 full-length albums and several "collections" discs, there has never been a single US radio hit. Some tracks off 1994's "Pandemonium" received limited radio play on late-night programs showcasing non-mainstream music, but that was about the extent of the fame during Kill Joke's 17-plus year domination of the underground music scene.

But within Killing Joke's repertoire, "Outside the Gate" is probably the biggest hidden gem. Invisible to the popular music world and disregarded even by many hardcore KJ enthusiasts, this incredible album is, in my opinion, one of their best. Since it is rather difficult to find, this was the last KJ album I added to my collection, and boy was I disappointed that this album has been around since 1988 and I didn't pick it up until 13 years later. Heck, I was only 8 years old when this album was released! But the incredible thing about virtually all of KJ's music is that it doesn't age at all. Songs off their 1981 debut are still as modern, if not moreso, than a lot of what is played heavily on the radio today. Killing Joke set the stage for countless bands to follow, and as a result, they are the unsung heroes who deserve the fame so many other bands received instead (Metallica and Nine Inch Nails come to mind).

I've heard this album referred to as "disastrous", "a disgrace", among other things. To those of you who think that, I ask this: Have you actually listened to the album? The only bad tracks on the album are the sloppy remixes at the end that sound as if the only thing changed was the addition of some samples from the 1980's news. The first 8 songs are incredible and rank right up there with the unforgettable lyrical tracks of the previous album, "Brighter Than A Thousand Suns." Every track is excellent, beginning with the cynically pride-filled "America" and culminating in the mystical title track, "Outside the Gate." "Obsession" and "Tiahuanaco" are also excellent songs, though it's hard to pick out any one song as a favorite.

Musically, "Outside the Gate" seems a logical progression in the life of KJ. "Night Time" and "1000 Suns" practically discarded KJ's tribal musical roots in favor of a more mainstream, though still completely unique, rock sound. This album began the progression back toward the heavier KJ of "Extremities" and "Pandemonium." As a result, the fans of the more venomous KJ present in "What's THIS for..." and "Revelations" might be disappointed with this album's musical beauty. But KJ transcended many genre's of music throughout their life, and this album doesn't seem out of place at all when you look at KJ as a whole.

To put it simply, this album got lost in the shuffle of Killing Joke, and it is an album that needs to be rediscovered. It's fairly hard to get ahold of, but if you can manage, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Every single track could have been written last week, not in the big-hair days of the 80's. Killing Joke has withstood the test of time, and it's my belief that perhaps the world is still waiting to truly discover them.

Nearly all Killing Joke fans will cite this album as their worst, some even dismiss it as not worth purchasing. In my view while its synth soaked bombast is hard to access the album has value. Colemans lyrics are poignant and as always probe at western values like an icepick to the brain. Outside The Gate is an operatic album and unlike their other albums is tellingly of its time and place being 80's Britain.

To each individual tune though. Tiahuanaco is the only essential song from Outside The Gate, reminiscient of Love Like Blood, its haunting and bleak, as it tells the tale of visit to Peru and rather than wondering at the accient ruins, being troubled over the poverty and despair of the countries poor. America is bombastic and the over dramtics of the synth give could be the backing music to a camp Horror film. My Love Of This Land, is a simmering gothic tune and is probably worthy of more respect, its the second best track on the album. Stay One Jump Ahead reminds me of nothing as much as early Faith No More, though it is a weak song, no where near the standard of We Care A Lot.

Buy this album last on your list of Killing Joke albums, or simply get Tiahuanaco from somewhere else, its not on the greatest hits "Laugh? I Nearly Bought One", so that might be hard. Seek it out anyway, worth the admission price alone.

First thing that needs to be said right away about this cd is that it isn't the one to exemplify Killing Joke as a living, extraordinary, influential band. There are a few holes, namely in the two remixes at the end. Even parts of "Stay 1 Jump Ahead" and "Outside The Gate" can lose their hold on the listener quickly. But most of the album is decent enough to enjoy, sometimes. As an album that had to come out before Extremities, it becomes more sensible and a fair bridge between that and 1000 Suns.

Leadoff track, "America", opens with a heavy synth sound, which still reigns supreme throughout the cd. However, there's a slight pulling away of synths and hints of the leaner, meaner Killing Joke that would rule the releases that came after. "My Love Of This Land" and "Tiahauanco" retain the spirit of 1000 Suns in style and sound. Other tracks like "Ends Of The Earth" mix the moodier touch with a slight rage that would become heightened in Extremities.

As a fan, it is a fine cd to listen to. Not as much as their other efforts. But still it has a place in my cd shelf as well as a place in the KJ legacy.

"Outside the Gate" is really quite a spectacular misfire-- its not quite as bad as its made out to be, and it has its strengths, but a bit of background first.

After the shimmering new wave/synth pop album, "Brighter Than a Thousand Suns", Jaz Coleman began work on a solo record, with guitarist Geordie along to help out. The record label heard the tapes, prepped release, and Colemand was forced to scramble to get the album done. The result sounds pretty much like that-- it feels rushed, incomplete, a bit spacier some areas than it should be, but there's other perspectives as well.

The first thing obvious is that the album is beginning the recession of the endless synth washes that the previous record had-- its still largely synth driven, but whereas they were everywhere on "Brighter Than a Thousand Suns", they're far more tastefully used here. Addditionally, Coleman sings in a number of styles, and the first signs of the roar he used to have on the older material comes back again. There's a fire to this music and a sort of biting sarcasm to the lyrics-- almost a dream gone bad for home and country. Some of the material is superb-- "My Love of this Land" is just lovely, a somewhat bizarre rhythm, and a great, wide open sound and production, and the title track is superb, a bit long, but a monsterous rhythmic exercise.

Now mind you, there's some spectacular misfires as well, "Stay One Jump Ahead" is just awful, beyond description really, and much of the rest of the material is either ill-conceived ("Unto the Ends of the Earth", "Obsession", "Tiahuanaco") or feels really incomplete (the otherwise superb "America", "The Calling"). And the remixes tagged on the end of the CD are really quite extraneous.

The CD isn't nearly as bad as its made out, but it is kind of clumsy. Still, after checking out other Killing Joke material, this may be a good place to look.

This album started out as a solo project for Jaz Coleman collabarating with Killing Joke guitarist Geordie but the record company got hold of the uncompleted demos and decided to release it as a Killing Joke album to cash in on the name. Jaz had to finish the tracks in a rush and we can therefore safely assume that the album is not as complete as he intended it to be. Having said that I actually enjoy this album - it's a little bombastic and pretentious but this only adds to it's charm. The subject matter delves into politics (America, Stay one Jump Ahead), the occult (The Calling, Outside the Gate) and on the lighter side songs that deal with nature and the splendour of the earth (My Love of This Land, Unto the Ends of the Earth, Tiahuanaco).

After the release of the album a lawsuit was launched against the record company which only served to dishearten the band members and drain their money. On the bright side the band reformed in 1990 and channeled all their anger from this experience into the apocalyptic "Dirt, Extremities and Various Repressed Emotions" which for me is one of the rawest most honest albums i've ever heard.

This album won't appeal to everyone but give it a go and you may be suprised.

Killing Joke fans generally tend to agree on the dismissal of this album as the most weak and uninspired of their repertoire. I became a great admirer of the music of Jaz Coleman and friends just starting from a vague, yet powerful image of the "Love like Blood" videoclip, the only real KJ hit that made its way to Europe and my native Italy.
So, starting with "Nightime" I bought all the KJ albums. The greatness of the group relies in the synergy that you experience between music and lyrics. People tend to judge more on music, but you can't take the two things apart.
Outside the Gate is among my favorite KJ albums. Being a 1988 release it has astonishing lyrics that sport, as usual, a vibrant social and ethical consciousness and commentary. The single, "America", is a powerful portrait of a nation's obsession and illusory values that becomes day by day more poignant and truer than before. "Unto The Ends Of The Earth" anticipates the desire of moving away from the nevrotic rites of modern "civilization" fully expressed in the masterpiece "Pilgrimage" from the "Democracy" album.
"Obsession" is one of the most amazing KJ songs ever: written 15 years ago it seems the soundtrack of today: the recent terrorist warfare fostered by religious fanatism (how does it sound "we build the tower, tower falls down?"), the sinister power of the multi-nationals, the anxiety of the big cities, the tension between west and east, both on a religious and cultural level.
The music is great but I could understand it might not fully appeal to nostalgic Killing Joke fans. At least they might be satisfied by the recent "Pandemonium" and "Millennium" where the band has finally successfully meld all their musical precedents, ranging from "pop" to "trash metal" if we insist on using labels with KJ.
This album, no matter your tastes, is a must have.

I think that this is the BEST Killing Joke album. Took a while to get into but since then I rate it highly. Bought 'Extremities' afterwards and I was disappointed. This is one I play again and again. Have '1000 suns' too but its not as good as this.

Killing Joke has always been one of the most underrated and under-appreciated bands of the last two decades. In the collective works of 10 full-length albums and several "collections" discs, there has never been a single US radio hit. Some tracks off 1994's "Pandemonium" received limited radio play on late-night programs showcasing non-mainstream music, but that was about the extent of the fame during Kill Joke's 17-plus year domination of the underground music scene.

But within Killing Joke's repertoire, "Outside the Gate" is probably the biggest hidden gem. Invisible to the popular music world and disregarded even by many hardcore KJ enthusiasts, this incredible album is, in my opinion, one of their best. Since it is rather difficult to find, this was the last KJ album I added to my collection, and boy was I disappointed that this album has been around since 1988 and I didn't pick it up until 13 years later. Heck, I was only 8 years old when this album was released! But the incredible thing about virtually all of KJ's music is that it doesn't age at all. Songs off their 1981 debut are still as modern, if not moreso, than a lot of what is played heavily on the radio today. Killing Joke set the stage for countless bands to follow, and as a result, they are the unsung heroes who deserve the fame so many other bands received instead (Metallica and Nine Inch Nails come to mind).

I've heard this album referred to as "disastrous", "a disgrace", among other things. To those of you who think that, I ask this: Have you actually listened to the album? The only bad tracks on the album are the sloppy remixes at the end that sound as if the only thing changed was the addition of some samples from the 1980's news. The first 8 songs are incredible and rank right up there with the unforgettable lyrical tracks of the previous album, "Brighter Than A Thousand Suns." Every track is excellent, beginning with the cynically pride-filled "America" and culminating in the mystical title track, "Outside the Gate." "Obsession" and "Tiahuanaco" are also excellent songs, though it's hard to pick out any one song as a favorite.

Musically, "Outside the Gate" seems a logical progression in the life of KJ. "Night Time" and "1000 Suns" practically discarded KJ's tribal musical roots in favor of a more mainstream, though still completely unique, rock sound. This album began the progression back toward the heavier KJ of "Extremities" and "Pandemonium." As a result, the fans of the more venomous KJ present in "What's THIS for..." and "Revelations" might be disappointed with this album's musical beauty. But KJ transcended many genre's of music throughout their life, and this album doesn't seem out of place at all when you look at KJ as a whole.

To put it simply, this album got lost in the shuffle of Killing Joke, and it is an album that needs to be rediscovered. It's fairly hard to get ahold of, but if you can manage, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Every single track could have been written last week, not in the big-hair days of the 80's. Killing Joke has withstood the test of time, and it's my belief that perhaps the world is still waiting to truly discover them.

This album is beautiful. Perhaps it hasn't that rocker strenght from the past albums, but it has all the Killing Joke spirit in it. You can easily recognise the essence that characterises this great band! Actually I prefer this album than any of the nineties albums. If you've born in the eighties, you know what I mean. Recommended dark, nihilistic and also totally different album fromo KJ!