Killing Joke  

A long overdue addition to these pages, Killing Joke is one of those "not-really metal bands that kind of sound like metal and that metal fans often like". The band dates back to 1979 and have embodied several styles over their career (indeed, several of their albums no doubt have little to do with conventional metal), though the phrase "post-punk" often comes up when describing their style. The basics of Killing Joke's music are rhythmic, repetitive hardened guitars, often tribal rhythms, synthesizers, and forceful vocals, though that description in itself probably doesn't do the band justice. They've released scores of albums, most of which are not reviewed here and many of which are likely outside the scope of this site. But a special mention must be made for two of their albums, the first being their most recent, Hosannas From The Basements Of Hell. It's simply a classic, and it has to be said that while Ministry often gets the acclaim as industrial metal pioneers, one listen to Hosannas should convince the listener that Killing Joke deserves similar accolades (lest one think that Killing Joke is riding on Ministry's industrial metal bandwagon, it's really the other way around -- Killing Joke predates Ministry and in fact Al Jourgenson has listed Killing Joke as an influence). The other album of note (meaning, the other one reviewed here) is 1994's Pandemonium, an album quite different from Hosannas even though it, too, contains many of the trademark Killing Joke characteristics. The lineup, aside from the core duo of Jaz Coleman and Geordie Walker, has fluctuated over the years, with several notables including the late great Paul Raven (Prong, Ministry) taking part in the band. 2008 sees a return of the original lineup, with a new album and extensive tour planned.

Current Members Jaz Coleman vocals/keyboards Geordie Walker guitars Martin "Youth" Glover bass Paul Ferguson drums

Former Members/Guests Paul Raven bass (Ministry, Prong, Treponem Pal) RIP: October 20, 2007, heart attack Nick Holywell-Walker keyboards Dave Kovacevic keyboards Jimmy Copley drums Martin Atkins drums Geoff Dugmore drums David Grohl (guest) drums (Nirvana, Probot, Queens Of The Stone Age) Ben Calvert drums (Kill II This) Jeff Scantlebury percussion

Discography

---

Killing Joke 
1980 E.G.

Requiem Wardance Tomorrow's World Bloodsport The Wait Complications S.O. 36 Primitive

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover Paul Ferguson

---

What's This For ... ! 
1981 E.G.

The Fall Of Because Tension Unspeakable Butcher Follow The Leaders Madness Who Told You How? Exit

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover Paul Ferguson

---

Revelations 
1982

The Hum Empire Song We Have Joy Chop-Chop The Pandys Are Coming Chapter III Have A Nice Day Land Of Milk And Honey Good Samaritan Dregs

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover Paul Ferguson

---

Fire Dances 
1983

The Gathering Fun And Games Rejuvenation Frenzy Harlequin Feast Of Blaze Song And Dance Dominator Let's All Go (To the Fire Dances) Lust Almighty

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Paul Raven Paul Ferguson

---

Night Time 
1985

Night Time Darkness Before Dawn Love Like Blood Kings And Queens Tabazan Multitudes Europe Eighties

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Paul Raven Paul Ferguson

---

Brighter Than A Thousand Suns 
1986 E.G.

Sanity Chessboards Twilight Of The Mortal Love Of The Masses A Southern Sky Wintergardens Rubicon Goodbye To The Village Victory

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Paul Raven Paul Ferguson

---

Outside The Gate 
1988

My Love Of This Land Stay One Jump Ahead Unto The Ends Of The Earth The Calling Obsession Tiahuanaco Outside The Gate

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Paul Raven Jimmy Copley Jeff Scantlebury

---

The Courtauld Talks 
1989

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Jeff Scantlebury

---

Extremities, Dirt And Various Repressed Emotions 
1990 Noise

Money Is Not Our God Age Of Greed Beautiful Dead Extremities Intravenous Inside the Termite Mound Solitude North Of the Border Slipstream Kaliyuga Struggle

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Paul Raven Martin Atkins

---

Laugh? I Nearly Bought One!  COMPILATION
1992

Turn To Red Pssyche (live) Requiem Wardance Follow The Leaders Unspeakable Butcher Exit The Hum Empire Song Chop-Chop Sun Goes Down Eighties Love Like Blood Wintergardens (new mix) Age Of Greed

---

Pandemonium 
1994

Pandemonium Exorcism Millenium Communion Black Moon Labyrinth Jana Whiteout Pleasures Of the Flesh Mathematics Of Chaos

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover

Reviews:   Lords Of Metal 

---

Democracy 
1996 Big Life

Freedom Democracy Prozac People Lanterns Aeon Pilgrimage Intellect Medicine Wheel Absent Friends Another Bloody Election

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover Nick Holywell-Walker Geoff Dugmore

Reviews:   Lords Of Metal 

---

Wilful Days  COMPILATION
1995

Are You Receiving Follow The Leaders (dub) Sun Goes Down Dominator (extended) Me Or You Wilful Days Eighties (serious dance mix) A New Day Love Like Blood (gestalt mix) The Madding Crowd Ecstacy (the extended mix) America (extended) Change (re-evolution mix)

---

BBC In Concert 
1995

Twilight of the Mortals Chessboards Kings & Queens Darkness Before Dawn Love Like Blood Sanity Love of the Masses Requiem Complications Wardance Tabazan Tension Pssyche

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Paul Raven Dave Kovacevic Paul Ferguson

---

Alchemy - The Remixes  COMPILATION
1996

Requiem (A Floating Always Reaches The Sea Mix) 4 Stations of the sun (Hallucinogen Mix) Pandemonium (Dragonfly mix) Drug (Black Sun Mix) Millenium(Back to Orion Mix Exorcism(The Bretonic Revenge - Total Eclipse Remix Edit) Pandemonium(A Thread of Steel In The Suspension Bridge Of Time And Chaos)) Democracy(Russian Tundra Mix)

---

Killing Joke 
2003

The Death & Resurrection Show Total Invasion Asteroid Implant Blood On Your Hands Loose Cannon You'll Never Get To Me Seeing Red Dark Forces The House That Pain Built Inferno

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover Paul Raven David Grohl

Reviews:   Chronicles Of Chaos  Lords Of Metal 

---

XXV Gathering! 
2005

Communion Wardance Song and Dance Primitive Total Invasion Bloodsport Requiem Asteroid The Wait Pssyche The Pandys Are Coming Sun Goes Down Are You Receiving? Love Like Blood Pandemonium

Reviews:   Lords Of Metal 

---

Hosannas From The Basements Of Hell 
2006

This Tribal Antidote Hosannas From The Basements of Hell Invocation Implosion Majestic Walking With Gods Lightbringer Judas Goat Gratitude

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Paul Raven Ben Calvert

2006 BNR Top Ten album

Reviews:   Blabbermouth  Chronicles Of Chaos 

---

Live At The Forum Part 1 
2008

Requiem Wardance Tomorrow's World Bloodsport Complications S.O. 36 Primitive Eighties The Fall of Because Tension Unspeakable Who Told You How? Butcher Madness Exit Follow the Leaders The Wait Pssyche Love Like Blood Change Are You Receiving?

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover Paul Ferguson

---

Live At The Forum Part 2 
2008

The Hum Change Pssyche Love Like Blood Eighties Whiteout Exorcism Labyrinth Black Moon Turn to Red Communion Money Is Not Our God Asteroid Change The Wait Pandemonium The Pandys are Coming/Empire Song Wardance

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover Paul Ferguson

---

The Peel Sessions 1979 - 1981  COMPILATION
2008

Pssyche Wardance Nuclear Boy Malicious Boogie Change Tomorrow's World Complication Fall Of Because Tension Butcher Hum Empire Song We Have Joy Chop Chop Tension Unspeakable Exit

---

Duende (The Spanish Sessions) 
2008

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover Paul Ferguson

---

The Gathering 2008 Part One 
2009

Requiem Wardance Tomorrows World Bloodsport Complication S.36 Primitive Eighties The Fall of Because Tension Unspeakable Who Told You How? Butcher Madness Exit Follow The Leaders The Wait Pssyche Love Like Blood Change Are You Receiving?

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover Paul Ferguson

---

The Gathering 2008 Part Two 
2009

The Hum Change Pssyche Love Like Blood Eighties Whiteout Exorcism Labrynth Black Moon Turn To Red Communion Money Is Not Our God Asteroid Time Wave (Unreleased Track) The Wait Pandemonium The Pandy's Are Coming Empire Song Wardance

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover Paul Ferguson

---

(EP) In Excelsis 
2010 Spinefarm

In Excelsis Endgame Kali Yuga Ghost Of Ladbroke Grove Ghost Of Ladbroke Grove (Dub Remix by Clive Goddard) (bonus CD track)

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover Paul Ferguson

---

Absolute Dissent 
2010 Spinefarm

Absolute Dissent The Great Cull Fresh Fever from the Skies In Excelsis European Super State This World Hell Endgame The Raven King Honour the Fire Depthcharge Here Comes the Singularity Ghosts of Ladbroke Grove

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover Paul Ferguson

Reviews:   Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal 

---

MMXII 
2012 Spinefarm

Pole Shift Fema Camp Rapture Colony Collapse Corporate Elect In Cythera Primobile Glitch Trance On All Hallow's Eve

Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin "Youth" Glover Paul Ferguson