407) Killing Joke - Pandemonium

Killing Joke had a loyal live following but the record buying public had started to lose interest from Night Time peaking at number eleven in 1985. Outside the Gate scrapped in at number ninety-two just three years later, members left and the band, although not officially breaking up, went into hiatus.

Original bassist Youth had left the band in 1982 and had become a well-known producer and met up and worked with guitarist Geordie on a compilation album and then suggested the band reform, he also signed them to his record label and produced the record, can’t fault his commitment.

Sadly, original drummer Paul Ferguson did not return, and several drummers perform on the record. Now Killing Joke are not a band who do things by halves, and they decided to record part of the record in a pyramid, who the bloody hell decides to record in a pyramid.

So, first album in six years with returning members, no permanent drummer, and a pyramid as a recording studio, this will be good.

Here’s the thing it isn’t good, it’s excellent. We have ten tracks over an hour-long album and there is not a dud on it.

Opener Pandemonium is monumental from the start the band storming in before stepping back and Jaz isn’t shouting before they hit the chorus then the band and Jaz beat us into submission, unrelenting but they were setting out their stall.

Millenium was an actual hit with Eastern instruments alive in the background and the band producing an uplifting chorus and Geordie leads Communion with a guitar that is aggressive, powerful and just plain exciting and Black Moon has one of those head down choruses that has this old man pumping his arthritic feet as he listens along.

Jana shows that the band in a lighter moment, Coleman only growling on occasion and Geordie restrained over a hypnotic rhythm and Whiteout starts like a rave track and is all rhythm although I do find Jaz’s vocal on the chorus a bit annoying but that’s a minor complaint.

Mathematics of Chaos Youth leads the band to a more dance-based sound but not without a dazzling guitar sound from Geordie and Jaz working with the beat, it’s over seven minutes long but does not overstay its welcome.

If you don’t like Killing Joke then there’s probably not much I can say to convince you as we have do have the usual shouting, gargle with gravel vocals of Coleman (see Exorcism here) and Geordie slamming his riffs for our approval but if you have maybe only heard Love Like Blood and thought “aye that’s quite good” then you really should give this a go. Keep going back occasionally and the eastern sounds, the pounding drums and bass, the intoxicating riffs and the sheer passion of the vocals should win you over.

9/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Millenium