KILLING JOKE — Killing Joke (Debut) (review)

KILLING JOKE — Killing Joke (Debut) album cover Album · 1980 · Non-Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Killing Joke" is the eponymously titled debut full-length studio album by UK post-punk/industrial rock act Killing Joke. The album was released through E.G. Records in October 1980. It was preceded by the October 1979 EP "Turn to Red/Almost Red". The material on the album was pretty much recorded "live in the studio", with very few overdubs.

Although there haven´t been any lineup changes between the 1979 EP and this release, there have been great stylistic alterations. While "Turn to Red/Almost Red (1979)" featured a sort of odd experimental new wave style, "Killing Joke" is much darker, hard-edged, and raw. It´s grim, bleak, and industrial tinged post-punk featuring lyrics full of despair about the state of the world we live in. Although this is not heavy metal in any shape or form, it´s obvious why many heavy metal and hard rock artists have either covered Killing Joke (the most famous probably being Metallica who covered "The Wait" from this album) or cite them as an influence on their music.

The tracks feature a restless energy, repetitive hard-edged riffs, almost tribal influenced rhythms, and Jaz Coleman´s distinct sounding voice on top. There is use of keyboards/synths but they are not omnipresent and sporadic use is a better description of their place in the soundscape. The album features a raw sounding production, which suits the raw nature of the material well. Although it´s predominantly a pretty bleak album and the repetitive nature of the tracks leave little room for hooks, there are some melodic moments on the album. A vocal hookline, a memorable riff/rhythm, an instrumental guitar/keyboard motif, which are often a light in the dark (or at least a slightly less bleak breather).

With time this has become an iconic release and it is indeed a rather original sounding album by an innovative young act. They would soon depart from the rawness of this release and venture into more melodic new wave territory, but by the end of the 80s they went back to the roots and this debut album is pretty much the blueprint of most of their output (save for the mid-to late eighties albums). A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Everything Hurts And I'm Dying Atmospheric Sludge Metal
NEGATIVE BLISS
Buy this album from MMA partners
L'impôt du sang Melodic Black Metal
CONIFÈRE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Pleroma Progressive Metal
ORGONE
Buy this album from MMA partners
n​ê​bam​Ω​ejn Atmospheric Black Metal
TRHÄ
Buy this album from MMA partners
∫um'ad​∂​ejja cavvaj Atmospheric Black Metal
TRHÄ
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Origin Of Infinity - Chronosphere (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)
ORIGIN OF INFINITY
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Kingdom of Heaven - “Pleasures of Pain”
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Bosh66· 1 day ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 18 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 18 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 18 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed