Killing Joke

Happy new year Bob!

I'm sure we've discussed Killing Joke before, but cant remenber what was said. I used to like them up until 'Outside the Gate' then gave up on them.

My favourite album is 'Brighter than a thousand Suns' although the early 'punk' albums like 'Whats this for' have a certain horrible charm..

Not sure I'd call them punk at all.

Ok I am sure......I wouldn't.

Even when they were often being refered to as punk, they were not pure punk. Even early songs like War Dance and Requiem had an 'intelligent' edge. Brutal...but somehow thoughtful. They exuded anger in a far more unsettling and disturbing way than any other 'punk' band. I think this was down to a combination of tribal drumming and Jaz Colemans bitter turn of phrase.

I still ocassionally play 'Whats this For' Tension and Fall of Because are great songs, and very original. Plus, they will clear a house of unwanted guests in a flash..

Great band!

I'm looking forward to their new album (will be released later this year).

AngelRat wrote: Great band! I'm looking forward to their new album (will be released later this year).

Yes I wonder if they'll continue with the really heavy direction of the last album or whether they'll try something new?

Bob Greece wrote: Jon The Impaler wrote: After The Stranglers , these are one of my very favourite bands . Killing Joke and The Stranglers are your favourite bands? Are you on the right forum?!

No  I am not  , but never made any issues about it . I visited here from the Punk77 website , mainly to put a few misconceptions about punk right , but as you can see , there is music that crooses all boundaries . I quite enjoy the discussions here , though some bands I don't have a clue about . Anyway , its all very quiet and boring on the punk77 site at the moment and I have to have something to do

Jon The Impaler wrote: I think Jaz once referred to them as a punk band , in their very early days ....but they do defy definition into any one category . After The Stranglers , these are one of my very favourite bands . Their mid 90's material is very much worth a listen  , very powerful . It tends to be the drumms more than anything that make the KJ sound ....the beat they have is unique to them .

Nice to hear from you again Jon! Who or what is Jaz?

Bob Greece wrote: Hemispheres wrote: im a big post punk fan and i heard there first album and i thought it was ok but not great is there any better albums by them I think that they really started to get good from 1985 onwards. Here are the albums I would recommend: Night Time (1985) - containing their one hit single Love Like Blood Brighter Than a Thousand Suns (1986) Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions (1990) Pandemonium (1994) Democracy (1996) Killing Joke (2003) - their heaviest album. Intense.

Night Time I think is superb , but for me ,surprisingly , Pandemonium is the pick of their albums . Surprising I say because I like punk music and though all their material would go well beyond simple punk ( I think KJ have often been described as Industrial music ) , Pandemonium is powerful but also uses a lot of technology and style punk would never approach .At their best , these can be brilliant , even their early stuff stood out from the run of the mill punk stuff .