Killing Joke 2003 (album)
Encyclopedia
Killing Joke is the twelfth studio album by Killing Joke
, released on July 28, 2003 by 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 long-time Killing Joke fan Dave Grohl
on drums. This is also Killing Joke's second self-titled album, as an effect of the hiatus.
The song "The Death & Resurrection Show" was featured as part of the soundtrack of the video game Need for Speed Underground 2 and The Covenant
movie soundtrack.
and drummer Grohl originally intended to title the album Axis of Evil, in reference to the political lyrical themes: "It's the beginning of the American Empire. They're taking over the world. That's what's happening, and here we are at the heart of the fucking enemy. I never thought I'd see the day." The Death & Resurrection Show, the title of the opening song on the album, was also a working title
.
Bassist Paul Raven had recently met Grohl, who expressed an interest in working with the band. According to Coleman: "The original idea was to have three of our favorite drummers play on the album, Dave [Grohl] being one of them. We also wanted John
[Dolmayan] from System of a Down
and Danny
[Carey] from Tool
. But when Dave heard the songs, he said, 'I want the whole thing.'" Dolmayan worked with the band during early recording sessions, but the drumming on the final album is entirely by Grohl. Grohl declined to be paid for his work.
Bass guitar
is played by original member Youth
, guitarist Geordie Walker
, and other longtime bassist Paul Raven, who performed on the tour supporting the album. Walker claims to have played "half the bass on the record."
During the recording of the song "Asteroid", Dave Grohl commented on the album:
), Killing Joke have provided an adrenaline shot to the nerve of thinking man's metal music."
John Robb of Playlouder
said the album "may well be the best rock record you'll hear all year." Alec A. Head of Satan Stole My Teddybear said, "One of the best albums of the year? Most definitely." David Jeffries of Allmusic said, "While Killing Joke's discography has more than its fair share of awkward and overly ambitious albums, they've once again returned to the fury and focus of their classics." Rolling Stone
gave the album a 2 out of 5, saying that "all the humorless gloom and doom feels oppressive after a while." Q Magazine also gave a score of 2 out of 5, claiming that the album was "patchy." The album holds a score of 79 out of 100 on Metacritic
.
The US CD Bonus release included a new recording of "Wardance
," which had originally appeared on the band's first self-titled album
.
UK CD Bonus release
The UK CD Bonus release included the song "Inferno" which was previously unreleased.
Japanese CD Bonus release
The Japanese CD Bonus release included the song "Inferno", but also included the song "Zennon", which was featured on the "Loose Cannon" DVD.
Additional Personnel
Killing Joke
Killing Joke are an English post-punk band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England; other sources report the band formed in early 1979.Related news articles: Founding members Jaz Coleman and Geordie Walker have been the only constant members.A key influence on industrial rock,...
, released on July 28, 2003 by 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
Andy Gill
Andy Gill is a founding member and guitarist for the English rock group Gang of Four, considered among the most influential post-punk bands...
of Gang of Four
Gang of Four
The Gang of Four was the name given to a political faction composed of four Chinese Communist Party officials. They came to prominence during the Cultural Revolution and were subsequently charged with a series of treasonous crimes...
, the album featured long-time Killing Joke fan Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
on drums. This is also Killing Joke's second self-titled album, as an effect of the hiatus.
The song "The Death & Resurrection Show" was featured as part of the soundtrack of the video game Need for Speed Underground 2 and The Covenant
The Covenant (film)
The Covenant is a 2006 American action supernatural thriller written by J. S. Cardone, directed by Renny Harlin, and starring Steven Strait, Taylor Kitsch, Toby Hemingway, Chace Crawford, Sebastian Stan, Laura Ramsey, and Jessica Lucas...
movie soundtrack.
Production
Vocalist Jaz ColemanJaz Coleman
Jeremy "Jaz" Coleman is a musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is notable for his vocal contributions to rock band Killing Joke...
and drummer Grohl originally intended to title the album Axis of Evil, in reference to the political lyrical themes: "It's the beginning of the American Empire. They're taking over the world. That's what's happening, and here we are at the heart of the fucking enemy. I never thought I'd see the day." The Death & Resurrection Show, the title of the opening song on the album, was also a working title
Working title
A working title, sometimes called a production title, is the temporary name of a product or project used during its development, usually used in filmmaking, television production, novel, video game, or music album.-Purpose:...
.
Bassist Paul Raven had recently met Grohl, who expressed an interest in working with the band. According to Coleman: "The original idea was to have three of our favorite drummers play on the album, Dave [Grohl] being one of them. We also wanted John
John Dolmayan
John William Dolmayan is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American songwriter and drummer. He is best known as the drummer of System of a Down. Dolmayan is also the drummer for the band Scars on Broadway and Indicator....
[Dolmayan] from System of a Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
and Danny
Danny Carey
Daniel Edwin "Danny" Carey is an American drummer best known for his work in American Grammy Award-winning rock band Tool...
[Carey] from Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
. But when Dave heard the songs, he said, 'I want the whole thing.'" Dolmayan worked with the band during early recording sessions, but the drumming on the final album is entirely by Grohl. Grohl declined to be paid for his work.
Bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
is played by original member Youth
Martin Glover
Martin Glover, also known as Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of the UK band Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman along with Paul McCartney. Glover was born in Africa.-Early career:...
, guitarist Geordie Walker
Geordie Walker
Kevin "Geordie" Walker is a rock musician, best known as the guitarist from the post-punk group Killing Joke.-Life and career:...
, and other longtime bassist Paul Raven, who performed on the tour supporting the album. Walker claims to have played "half the bass on the record."
During the recording of the song "Asteroid", Dave Grohl commented on the album:
Reception
Critical reaction to Killing Joke has been mostly positive. Outburn Magazine gave it a perfect 100 score, calling it "the most vicious album of the year." Billboard awarded it an 80 out of 100, noting that "Grohl's furious playing fits perfectly with the wall of rage erected by Joke vocalist Jaz Coleman and fellow founders Geordie Walker on guitar and Youth on bass." Justin Press of the Dallas Music Guide gave the album an 8 out of 10, saying: "Though not their best work (that still goes to Fire DancesFire Dances
Fire Dances is the fourth studio album by English post-punk group Killing Joke and the first to feature new bass player Paul Raven. The album was remastered and reissued in 2008, with eight bonus tracks....
), Killing Joke have provided an adrenaline shot to the nerve of thinking man's metal music."
John Robb of Playlouder
PlayLouder
Playlouder is a digital music and media company. It is a music site which provides news, reviews, and other related content. It also claims to be the world's first Music Service Provider or MSP — a broadband, Internet Service Provider that bundles access to music content with broadband...
said the album "may well be the best rock record you'll hear all year." Alec A. Head of Satan Stole My Teddybear said, "One of the best albums of the year? Most definitely." David Jeffries of Allmusic said, "While Killing Joke's discography has more than its fair share of awkward and overly ambitious albums, they've once again returned to the fury and focus of their classics." Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
gave the album a 2 out of 5, saying that "all the humorless gloom and doom feels oppressive after a while." Q Magazine also gave a score of 2 out of 5, claiming that the album was "patchy." The album holds a score of 79 out of 100 on Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
.
Track listing
US CD Bonus releaseThe US CD Bonus release included a new recording of "Wardance
Wardance (song)
Wardance is Killing Joke's first single off their debut album Killing Joke. It was released under Malicious Damage in February, 1980 as a 7" single. A small number of copies from the original Malicious Damage pressing came with a pre-typed folded form comprising military 'call-up papers' to be...
," which had originally appeared on the band's first self-titled album
Killing Joke (1980 album)
Killing Joke is the debut studio album of the London post-punk band Killing Joke. Released in August, 1980 worldwide under E'G Records, Killing Joke was self-produced and was considered an underground album. The album was recorded in early 1980, shortly after a small tour promoting the Almost Red EP...
.
UK CD Bonus release
The UK CD Bonus release included the song "Inferno" which was previously unreleased.
Japanese CD Bonus release
The Japanese CD Bonus release included the song "Inferno", but also included the song "Zennon", which was featured on the "Loose Cannon" DVD.
Personnel
Killing Joke- Jaz ColemanJaz ColemanJeremy "Jaz" Coleman is a musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is notable for his vocal contributions to rock band Killing Joke...
- vocals, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Kevin "Geordie" WalkerGeordie WalkerKevin "Geordie" Walker is a rock musician, best known as the guitarist from the post-punk group Killing Joke.-Life and career:...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Martin "Youth" GloverMartin GloverMartin Glover, also known as Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of the UK band Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman along with Paul McCartney. Glover was born in Africa.-Early career:...
- bass guitar - Paul Raven - bass guitar
- Dave GrohlDave GrohlDavid Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Additional Personnel
- Andy GillAndy GillAndy Gill is a founding member and guitarist for the English rock group Gang of Four, considered among the most influential post-punk bands...
- additional guitar feedback, rhythm producer - Katie Summers - voice on track 2
Charts
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
43 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Independent Albums | 30 |
| France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
108 |
| Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
100 |