Killing Joke ‎– Killing Joke CD

By the time of their debut LP, Killing Joke sounded a bit like early Wire in an alternate universe where The Ramones never happened. Understand? Wire began their career as arty punks (or punk artistes); Killing Joke sound like arty Led Zeppelin fans with a synthesizer. Great stuff, though! Real tight arrangements combine the sterile fuzzy sound of industrial keyboard buzz with the tough raw sound of electric guitar rock and dub-touched bass before being clobbered over the head with throat-stripping (and occasionally electronically enhanced) British vocals singing depressing ditties like "Requiem," "Wardance," and "Bloodsport" (which, perversely enough, are BY FAR the poppiest tunes on the record). The mix is fantastic and, even today, everything still sounds very fresh and danceable, even when the guitar is chuggin' out vicious Nazareth riffs like "Primitive" (later covered by Helmet!) and "The Wait" (later covered by Metallica!).

Not every song registers unfortunately, but the mix of guitar-driven rock and roll and arty cold wave is an interesting one indeed. Don't get all excited, though - they never recorded another album that sounded anything like this (except possibly Pandemonium). The band line-up for these first three records was Jaz Coleman on vox/keys, Kevin "Geordie" Walker on guitar, Martin "Youth" Glover on bass and Paul Ferguson on drums.

Bonus Tracks

9 Change 4:01

10 Requiem (Single Version) 3:47

11 Change (Dub) 4:00

12 Primitive (Rough Mix) 3:34

13 Bloodsport (Rough Mix) 4:50

Label: Virgin Music ‎– 00946 312216 2 0

Country: Europe

Media Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)
Sleeve Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)

Reissue. Remastered.