Killing Joke are back.
With the original lineup from their classic first three records.
They haven’t worked together since 1982.
They have a new EP, In Excelsis, out June 21 on Spinefarm. An album, XIII: Feast of Fools, is scheduled for release on September 6.
Here is a quote from Jaz Coleman:
In the light of the fact that the magnetic North Pole has left Canadian territory and is rapidly moving towards Siberia, volcanoes and earthquakes are becoming monthly events. The biggest oil spill in the history of mankind has still not been effectively capped, not to mention the threat of nuclear confrontation or the Korean peninsula. It is glaringly obvious that Killing Joke is more relevant now than ever before.
Here is “Endgame”, a song from the new EP.
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To download “Endgame” and see full details about Killing Joke’s activities, see here. For upcoming tour dates – including North American shows in December – see here.
Such glee from that press paragraph. If there’s a band that I’d expect that from is Killing Joke. The world didn’t end back when they thought it would have so now they’re all giddy with excitement at the second chance.
The song posted is a welcome detour from the last few ‘metallized’ Killing Joke records. Which I liked but speaking as someone who’s first – and fondest – exposure to Killing Joke was through ‘Fire Dances’ I find the above song, if indicative of their future material – a fitting middle point between that record’s alien dance music and their recent take on ‘apocalyptic/paranoiac’ quasi-metal. As with most Killing Joke records I do not anticipate a no-filler release but lovers of the band will probably find one or two cuts to put into their ‘Apocalypse, Finally’ 4-disk best of.
Great track, definitely a welcome return to the abrasive post-punk sound of their first two records. Which is fitting, I suppose, seeing that this is the reunited original lineup and all. Looking forward to the actual album! (though Paul Raven’s basslines will be missed)
Geordie is such an underrated guitarist, he sounds in classic form on this song.
So, to clear that up. The North Pole wandering is a natural event and not a harbinger of the end times. They say the pole has moved 685 miles in the last 100 years. And “rapidly” refers to 25 miles a year.
Earthquakes and volcanos aren’t really a monthly event. It just seems that way when people have become fixated on them. Like the year of the Tornado when everyone thought the world was ending, or the year of the Hurricanes, or the year of the Shark Attacks.
The oil spill was man made and man made greed is to blame, not Mayan predictions or even global warming.
This confrontation with North Korea is the same scenario that has been playing out for years and everytime we think “oh this is the big one” Could it happen, yes. Will it happen, don’t know. Will it happen because of some grand convergance of natural and unnatual powers that are tearing the plant apart, not likely. You might as well assume that India/Pakistan will destroy the earth as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_border_incidents_involving_North_Korea
To me it’s glaringly obvious that they could have picked any year between 1982 and 2009 and found a few newspaper headlines that would have justified this reunion.
Otherwise, the song is alright.
@Adrien Yes, Geordie is a very under rated guitarist. His style has been borrowed from everyone like Kurt Cobain to Tommy Victor. I saw them live five years ago and they were amazing. Killing Joke’s music is timeless. R.I.P. Paul Raven
Cryzthormagnusian – are you trying to fuck up Jaz’s copy?!
It definitely helps to set the vibe, though. I like this but I LOVED “Hosannas from the Basements of Hell”. My favorite Killing Joke record easily.
@Cryzthormagnusian +1
After listening to this song for what seems like hours, I think I get why it grabs me musically – it spends little time on its root chord and instead mostly goes through a series of changes that seem like one pre-chorus/bridge after another. The song constantly feels like it’s in flux, so when it does land on its root chord riff, the release is powerful. I’m amazed at how much they do here with so little.
Invisible Oranges: totally agree, its probably why I can keep listening without getting sick of it.
I’m curious as to waht people think of the last album (Hosannas)…its probably the one I listen to most (gasp), for reasons unbeknownst to me
Hosannas is the one I listen to most, as well. Such a huge and dirty sound, and I really get into the drawn-out, repetitive compositional style given that riffs/melodies/etc. that they cycle through are awesome. “Implosion” and “Walk with Gods” are probably my favorite Killing Joke songs. Great singing, amazing power-riffage, demonically regal keys, godly reverb…
this song sounds cool, can’t wait to sink into Feast of Fools (which is a super-violent and nightmarish claymation film about evil clowns, too!).
To be honest, I’m a little underwhelmed. The song is alright, a reaction I haven’t had to a Killing Joke song since “Democracy.” That song grew on me so maybe this will too. But the last two KJ albums were so spectacular that I am somewhat apprehensive. The delays aren’t helping. That said, seeing the original line-up live last year was a revelation. Whatever happens, I am glad Killing Joke are still around to give us another wardance.
Cryzthormagnusian -1