Pandemonium

Killing Joke | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 12, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cooking Vinyl
• ASIN: B0009QZ4LU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,925 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece., August 9, 2005

By 

Michael Stack (North Chelmsford, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pandemonium (Audio CD)

After a messy few years filled with trouble-- including the loss of original drummer Paul Fergeson, a Jaz Coleman solo album forced out by the record label as a Killing Joke album (and rushed to be finished at that), and a disasterous reunion with industrial drummer Martin Atkins that broke the band up, Killing Joke looked done for good. But when guitarist Geordie called original bassist Youth while assembling a "best-of" compilation (the superb "Laugh? I Nearly Bought One!"), they talked about working together again. The result, after getting in touch with vocalist Jaz Coleman, is probably the strongest Killing Joke album in a long time.

"Pandemonium" is really a reflection of what the band members have been up to since the last time the three of them worked together-- the more industrial edged sounds of the previous album ("Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions") and side project Murder, Inc. (Martin Atkins-assembled group of all the KJ members past and present minus Coleman) is apparent ("Exorcism", "Black Moon"), but so is the Middle Eastern music that has so heavily influenced Coleman's compositional works ("Pandemonium", "Millenium" and "Communion" in particular, all among the best of the Killing Joke catalog) and the Youth's techno/ambient production work ("Labyrinth" and the relentless "Whiteout"). Its really a standout album-- sort of tribal Killing Joke sounds meets Middle Eastern percussion meets industrial. Lyrically, Coleman is largely concerned with his belief that the world will reduce into tribes (a theme that would reoccur on the followup), although some songs are far more human in nature-- notably the swirling "Jana", about a woman with A.I.D.S. There's a couple moments that aren't particularly exciting ("Pleasures of the Flesh"), but these are few and far between.

This reissue is remastered with a couple bonus tracks and at least one unexpected surprise. Sonically, by and large there's minimal differences to the original issue-- the bass is somewhat subdued (it was positively thunderous on the album), but there is one key difference. "Pandemonium" hasn't just been remastered, its been remixed-- guitar lines that were previously not there or well buried rise and fall and the main riff drops out during the verses, which it never did before. Honestly, I'm not so pleased with this, though I may change my mind.

The bonus tracks include two remixes-- the "A Thread of Steel in the Suspension Bridge of Time and Space Mix" of "Pandemonium" is largely disposable-- its like the old dub mixes Killing Joke used to do, but adds a dance beat to the mix. I'm generally not looking for that, and the "Portobello mix" of a piece called "Another Cult Goes Down". Same deal with the sound, though I'm not familiar with the original (is it released?).

This album is essential for any Killing Joke fan, or any industrial fan, or anyone interested in genre-fusing music. Its a great record, highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favourite album ever?, August 2, 2006

By 

Mr. C. Barton "Caesar" (Europe) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pandemonium (Audio CD)

I can honestly say that no album comes close to Pandemonium for pure sonic diversity and thus remains my favourite twelve years after it's release. If you have the original CD release don't bother with this reissue as the couple of bonus tracks are not so great and probably spoil the "balance" of the original track-listing. In a world where people listen to acts simply because they are fashionable Killing Joke remain an individual listening choice...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Are A Metal Fan BUY THIS!, August 2, 2005

By 

Mike Smith - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pandemonium (Audio CD)

A nice addition to the music collections of Metal fans everywhere. A rarity that is like a cherry on top of your sundae. I know no other band that is like Killing Joke. Their style is welcome in my book. I cannot comment on their other albums because I don't own them, but Pandemonium is killer good. This is the newer version with a couple extra tracks. Buy it!