UMUR "Killing Joke" is the eponymously titled debut full-length studio album by UK post-punk/industrial rock act Killing Joke. The album was released through E.G. Records in October 1980. It was preceded by the October 1979 EP "Turn to Red/Almost Red". The material on the album was pretty much recorded "live in the studio", with very few overdubs.

Although there haven´t been any lineup changes between the 1979 EP and this release, there have been great stylistic alterations. While "Turn to Red/Almost Red (1979)" featured a sort of odd experimental new wave style, "Killing Joke" is much darker, hard-edged, and raw. It´s grim, bleak, and industrial tinged post-punk featuring lyrics full of despair about the state of the world we live in. Although this is not heavy metal in any shape or form, it´s obvious why many heavy metal and hard rock artists have either covered Killing Joke (the most famous probably being Metallica who covered "The Wait" from this album) or cite them as an influence on their music.

The tracks feature a restless energy, repetitive hard-edged riffs, almost tribal influenced rhythms, and Jaz Coleman´s distinct sounding voice on top. There is use of keyboards/synths but they are not omnipresent and sporadic use is a better description of their place in the soundscape. The album features a raw sounding production, which suits the raw nature of the material well. Although it´s predominantly a pretty bleak album and the repetitive nature of the tracks leave little room for hooks, there are some melodic moments on the album. A vocal hookline, a memorable riff/rhythm, an instrumental guitar/keyboard motif, which are often a light in the dark (or at least a slightly less bleak breather).

With time this has become an iconic release and it is indeed a rather original sounding album by an innovative young act. They would soon depart from the rawness of this release and venture into more melodic new wave territory, but by the end of the 80s they went back to the roots and this debut album is pretty much the blueprint of most of their output (save for the mid-to late eighties albums). A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

Warthur The first Killing Joke album is a true grab-bag of influences from the post-punk musical landscape. A gothic tone here, an industrial snarl there, and a dense, dark musical landscape suggested by the likes of Metal Box-era Public Image Limited, this would almost be a gothic rock album except it never, ever veers into the romanticism or poetry that gothic music often dabbles in - it's too bitter, too jaded, too hopeless even for that mild escapism. In this respect it's reminiscent of the harsh, stripped-down sound of the debut by Siouxsie and the Banshees, which it sounds like an infinitely uglier continuation of.

RuneWalsh2112 Let's talk about Killing Joke!

It wasn't that long ago that I was completely oblivious to their existence...well maybe with the exception of Danny Carey mentioning "Extremities, Dirt And Various Repressed Emotions" as one of his all time favorite albums. I began my exploration of the band with their 1985 classic "Night Time", which was definitely an excellent starting point of our relationship and I have since then acquired a few more of the Killing Joke releases.

Initially I was a bit skeptical of exploring the early post-punk records fearing that the music would be a complete disappointment to me. Luckily it was anything but that and the band's self-titled debut album was an excellent proof of just that. This 40 minute album is a pretty raw release with a very strong groove created by the band's rhythmic section featuring Martin "Youth" Glover on bass and Paul Ferguson on drums. Actually, I really think that both the vocalist Jaz Coleman and guitarist Kevin "Geordie" Walker are surprisingly low down in the mix, but I guess that it's for the better since the sound of this album would have been a lot more low-fi with them front and center.

There is really nothing complicated with this release and most of the compositions are as straightforward as they can get, but the rhythm really manages to grab a hold of me whenever I listen to tracks like "Wardance", "The Wait", "Complications", "Change"... well pretty much all of them! Overall, this recording definitely shows that the band members knew their strengths and weaknesses from the get-go so there aren't really any moments that feel all too surprising, but that doesn't mean that I love it any less.

Killing Joke, the debut album, is exactly the kind of record that bands should aim for whenever releasing a debut recording. This is definitely the type of statement that manages to cover a lot of ground but without actually feeling like there is a lack of direction. On contrary, this is probably one of the more straightforward recordings that Killing Joke have released over the course of their 30+ years as a band. Highly recommended to fans of groovy and raw rock music!

***** star songs: Requiem (3:44) Bloodsport (4:45) Complications (3:06) Change (4:00)

**** star songs: Wardance (3:46) Tomorrow's World (5:29) The Wait (3:42) S.O.36 (6:53) Primitive (3:36)