“Killing Joke [1980]” by Killing Joke - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1980Album Chart of the Decade: 1980s1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die external-link.png

TJR says

The debut album from the 2-year-old London group arrived in October, 1980, and included both of their preceding singles from the year; “Wardance” (reworked for the album) and “Requiem”, neither of which troubled the UK's chart compilers. They lined-up: Jaz Coleman (20, lead vocals, synthesizer), Geordie Walker (21, guitar), Martin 'Youth' Glover (19, bass guitar) and Paul Ferguson (21, drums, backing vocals). A certain mood is set via the bleak and violent cover, and the aggressive post-punk content doesn't disappoint, coming on like a muscular Stranglers / Gang Of Four hybrid pumped on steroids. Neither a strike, note nor word is wasted between the four of them and, whilst nothing stands out for me as a classic, there's not a bad song in among-st the album's heavy groove. Best of the lot is “The Wait”, screaming against man-made pollution: “I look at the river, White foam floats down, The bodies poisoned, Got to sit tight, The wait!” As the group's lyricist Jaz Coleman explained: “That song was written after we played up north in England, and we saw this river that was so polluted. It had detergent floating down in it, and there was dead fish everywhere. I'll never forget it. It was just heartbreaking.” The menacing tone amplifies the message; woe betide anyone caught polluting in front of Killing Joke. They were a political force for good throughout this strong debut and, making up for the lack of single success, the album hit #39 in the UK charts, giving them a solid enough commercial start.

The Jukebox Rebel
21–Nov–2016

Tracklist
A1 [03:45] 6.9.png Killing Joke - Requiem (Jaz Coleman, Kevin Walker, Martin Glover, Paul Ferguson) Post-Punk
A2 [03:49] 7.3.png Killing Joke - Wardance (Jaz Coleman, Kevin Walker, Martin Glover, Paul Ferguson) Post-Punk
A3 [05:31] 6.9.png Killing Joke - Tomorrow’s World (Jaz Coleman, Kevin Walker, Martin Glover, Paul Ferguson) Alternative Rock
A4 [04:46] 6.4.png Killing Joke - Bloodsport (Paul Ferguson, Martin Glover, Kevin Walker) New Wave
B1 [03:45] 7.8.png Killing Joke - The Wait (Jaz Coleman, Kevin Walker, Martin Glover, Paul Ferguson) Post-Punk
B2 [03:08] 6.7.png Killing Joke - Complications (Jaz Coleman, Kevin Walker, Martin Glover, Paul Ferguson) Post-Punk
B3 [06:52] 6.2.png Killing Joke - $,O,36 (Jaz Coleman, Kevin Walker, Martin Glover, Paul Ferguson) Post-Punk
B4 [03:37] 6.9.png Killing Joke - Primitive (Jaz Coleman, Kevin Walker, Martin Glover, Paul Ferguson) Post-Punk

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