VIDEO'S OF THE WEEK - KILLING JOKE Special

[Niels (Mod)]

VOTW - KILLING JOKE Special

I do have a few VOTW's already lined up, and ready to go, but just like I did, when I posted the Peter Gabriel-special, I will present a band/artist that's on my CD-player a lot at the moment. If you don't know these guys, and don't like New Wave, and a bit of noise (but it IS also "Riff-rock"), you'll probably hate these video's/songs, as I have a strong feeling, that RJHog and Scott will. Killing Joke is an English rock band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England. The original line-up included Jeremy Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), "Big" Paul Ferguson (drums), Kevin "Geordie" Walker (guitars) and Martin "Youth" Glover (bass).Their first album Killing Joke was released in 1980. After the release of Revelations in 1982, bassist Youth was replaced by Paul Raven. The band achieved mainstream success in 1985 with both the album Night Time and the single "Love Like Blood".A key influence on industrial rock, their early music was described by critics Stephen Thomas Erlewine and John Dougan as "quasi-metal [...] dancing to a tune of doom and gloom", which gradually evolved over the years, incorporating elements of electronic music, synthpop and gothic rock, though always emphasising Coleman's "savagely strident vocals". Killing Joke have influenced many later bands and artists, such as Metallica, Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden. Coleman and Geordie have been the only constant members of the band.

LOVE LIKE BLOOD

"Love Like Blood" is Killing Joke's second single from their fifth studio album, Night Time (1985). Produced by Chris Kimsey, it is perhaps the most recognized Killing Joke song to date, though that honor may well belong to "Eighties". The song was characterized by elements of gothic rock and New Wave.

DEMOCRACY

Democracy is the eleventh studio album by English rock band Killing Joke. It was released on 1 April 1996 by record label Big Life.

LOOSE CANNON

Killing Joke is the twelfth studio album by English rock band Killing Joke, released on 28 July 2003 by record label Zuma Recordings. Recording for the album in 2002 marked the end of a six-year hiatus that began in 1996 and it was Killing Joke's first studio album in seven years. Produced by Andy Gill of Gang of Four, the album featured former Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, who is also a long-time Killing Joke fan, on drums. This is also Killing Joke's second self-titled album, following their first in 1980, as an effect of the hiatus.

HOSANNAS FROM THE BASEMENTS OF HELL

Hosannas from the Basements of Hell is the thirteenth studio album by English rock band Killing Joke, released on 3 April 2006 by record label Cooking Vinyl.

I AM THE VIRUS

From the new album, Pylon. Not one of the very best tracks, though. The album is a must-have as a Deluxe-version (a double CD), since the best tracks are actually on the "bonus-CD. Killing Joke really got me with this album. I tried 3 years ago, with their last album, but I didn't like that one at all. Another year than 2015, and this had ended as my no. 1 album of the year, but now it probably will end up as no. 3?

[Scott]

LOVE LIKE BLOOD ...  1985 I was still tuning into Mtv but my viewership was fading fast and this band, if they made the American cut, slipped under my radar 100%. Definitely more of a New Wave slant IMO.  Also very much a product of the times as I can hear how they got lost in the bands of that era...  Interesting as a new listening experience.

DEMOCRACY ...  Suspected they were a social issue band in the first track, but they show their colors in this one a bit clearer.  The evolution I hear from 85-96 is minimal.  Less keyboards and a grungier sound, but the song structure isn't too different.  Maybe a bit more Cult like...

LOOSE CANNON ...  In 2003 Dave Grohl played on every album made in the new millennium... OK maybe not but you get my point.  Didn't help this band much though, at least stateside.  The evolution is getting darker and heavier but that's not equating to anything other than getting darker and heavier.  The interesting factor is missing.

HOSANNAS FROM THE BASEMENTS OF HELL ... For this song, I think you could write my thoughts for me...

IAM THE VIRUS ... Death, Misery and Tears...  Well that's a fine start!  Its the feel good song of the year!  hahaha... In all seriousness, bands that play this style have to be very special for me to engage.  Killing Joke doesn't feel that way to me.

Nice post as its always worthwhile hearing something I've never heard before.  Keep executing your plan my friend it is very interesting even if the music isn't in my wheelhouse (whatever that is)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Love Like Blood - Opening sounds great.  No screaming so far, so it's got that going for it.  It definitely has a new wave sound (hey, so does one of the songs on the new DL album).  I don't think that this is bad at all, but it is missing a hook for sure.

Democracy - Wow, this track has a lot of useless noise.  I guess it is intentional, but It sounds terrible.  Put me down in the "I don't care for this one" column.

Loose Cannon - Weird video, but it does kind of grab your attention.  This sounds much more like bad industrial metal than bad new wave.  It's just bad.

Hosannas - The video is cool.  Other than that, this is noise.  Bad noise.  To each his own, that's what I always say, but based on what I've heard, I will never buy a Killing Joke album.

I Am The Virus - Sorry, I just can't find anything redeeming here (other than possibly the first track). There is absolutely no way I could listen to this stuff for 90 minutes.

Funny thing is, it seems like I heard another song from the current album a couple of weeks ago and I thought it was very decent.  But your feature has shown me all I ever want to see or hear from KJ.