Killing Joke (1980 album)

This article is about the 1980 music album. For other uses, see The Killing Joke.
Killing Joke
Studio album by Killing Joke
Released September 1980
Recorded 1980
Studio Marquee Studios
(London, England)
Genre Post-punk
Length
  • 35:10
  • 39:51 (US edition)
Label
Producer Killing Joke
Killing Joke chronology
Almost Red
(1979)		 Killing Joke
(1980)		 What's THIS For...!
(1981)
Singles from Killing Joke
  1. "Wardance"
    Released: February 1980
  2. "Change"
    Released: 17 March 1980
  3. "Requiem"
    Released: September 1980

Killing Joke is the debut studio album by English rock band Killing Joke. It was released in August 1980 by record label E.G. The album has been called "an underground classic" for fans of "heavy music",[1] and has influenced artists ranging from Nirvana[2] to Marilyn Manson.[3]

Recording

Killing Joke was recorded in early 1980 at Marquee Studios in London, shortly after a small tour promoting the Almost Red EP. The album was self-produced by the band.

Content

The lyrics of the album were written by frontman and vocalist Jaz Coleman, and expressed his opinions on issues such as politics, death, hypocrisy, human nature, pollution and exile.

The artwork was based on a photograph by Don McCullin of young rioters trying to escape from clouds of CS gas released by the British Army in Derry, Northern Ireland, on 8 July 1971 during the Troubles.[4] The original picture was taken a few months before the day now known as Bloody Sunday that took place in the same town in early 1972.

Release

Killing Joke was released in September 1980 by record label E.G.. It entered the UK Albums Chart on 25 October 1980, and reached number 39.[5]

The album produced three singles: "Wardance", "Change" and "Requiem".

The 2005 and 2008 reissues of Killing Joke featured several bonus tracks, such as previously released B-sides and demo tracks. The tracks were listed in addition to the UK original release, being that "Change" was track 9 instead of track 7, as it was in the original US release. The 2008 reissue was dedicated in memory of bassist Paul Raven, who performed on his last album with Killing Joke in 2006. Raven died of heart failure in October 2007. Since then, every reissue of Killing Joke's studio albums has been dedicated to him.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Austin Chronicle[6]
Drowned in Sound3.5/5[7]

In his retrospective review, Bradley Torreano of AllMusic praised the album, writing, "Since 1980, there have been a hundred bands who sound like this, but before Steve Albini and Al Jourgensen made it hip, the cold metallic throb of Killing Joke was exciting and fresh", calling it an "underground classic" that "deserves better than its relative unknown status."[1] The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[8]

Legacy

Dave Grohl has cited it as one of his favorite albums.[9] Several musicians, including Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Tool, Soundgarden, Metallica[2] and Marilyn Manson[3] have been influenced by Killing Joke.

"The Wait" was covered by Metallica on the The $5.98 EP: Garage Days Re-Revisited EP in 1987 and was later featured on Garage, Inc. "Primitive" was covered by Helmet in 1993 as the A-side to their "Primitive" single, and later added to their Born Annoying compilation album. "Requiem" was covered by Foo Fighters in 1997 as a B-side to the "Everlong" single.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Jaz Coleman, all music composed by Killing Joke (Coleman, Kevin "Geordie" Walker, Martin "Youth" Glover, Paul Ferguson), except as noted.

Side A
No. TitleMusic Length
1. "Requiem"    3:45
2. "Wardance"    3:49
3. "Tomorrow's World"    5:31
4. "Bloodsport"  
  • Walker
  • Glover
  • Ferguson
 4:46
Side B
No. Title Length
1. "The Wait"   3:45
2. "Complications"   3:08
3. "$,O,36"   6.52
4. "Primitive"   3:37
Note: The original US release featured the track "Change" in between tracks "Complications" and "S.O.36". "Change" was later released as an unofficial single.

Personnel

Killing Joke

Charts

Year Chart Peak
position
1980 UK Albums Chart 39[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Torreano, Bradley. "Killing Joke". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 Knowles, Christopher (1 October 2010). The Secret History of Rock 'n' Roll. Cleis Press. p. 182. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  3. 1 2 Hartmann, Graham (2 March 2012). "Marilyn Manson Calls New Album His 'Grandest Concept Record' + Disputes 'Shock Rock' Label". loudwire.com. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  4. ↑ Williams, Olivia (30 December 2011). "Don McCullin: Celebrated War Photographer on the Value of His Craft". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Official Charts: Killing Joke Page". Official Charts. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  6. ↑ Gray, Christopher (16 December 2005). "Review: Killing Joke, What's THIS For ...?, Revelations, Ha! – Music – The Austin Chronicle". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Lancaster, Nick (11 July 2005). "Album Review: Killing Joke – Reissues / Releases / Releases // Drowned in Sound". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  8. ↑ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
  9. ↑ "Conspiracy of two". Kerrang!. 12 April 2003

External links

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