REVIEW FOR JANUARY 4, 2004

KILLING JOKE
KILLING JOKE (2003)
ZUMA RECORDINGS/COLUMBIA, 2003
 
So I'm reviewing an album from a major label.  Seriously, I could give half a shit about you overly-sensitive "underground" types (as opposed to the level-headed underground types, who know better).
 
Being the dabbler in music that I am, I'm not that familiar with Killing Joke.  I can't compare this album to their earlier efforts, having only heard "Love Like Blood" and shit else.  Still, this album has received major accolades since it came out last year and for once the comments aren't unfounded.  KJ2003 sounds rather commercial, to be honest, what with the focus on guitars instead of the more industrial sounds of their earlier period.  Still, these are ten strong songs with no major weaknesses to get between them.  Sure, Dave Grohl's drumming is a marketing tool (and the way the man's been whoring himself as of late, I won't be surprised to hear him drum for everyone before June 2004), but he puts out a credible effort.  The real strength is in Jaz Coleman's vocals and in the effort the band puts out here, because the band sounds truly of 2003 without being new metal, embarrassingly derivate (see: Metallica, Slayer, Jello Biafra, etc. ad nauseum) or weak.  Simply put, a band this old shouldn't sound like this.  Jaz Coleman is not supposed to sound this angry and his lyrics are not supposed to be as virulently anti-war and "contemporary" as they are.  Hell, their most obvious Ministry rip ("Asteroid" is basically "TV II" but with Armageddon as a focus) is not supposed to be better than the song they ripped off.
 
And on and on I go, with the overwrought "WOW THE 40-YEAR-OLDS DON'T SOUND 40" bullshit.  To be blunt, I can't say much about the 2003 edition of Killing Joke that everyone hasn't already said.  It's not death metal, granted, and the album's widely available.  Never mind all that.  KJ2003 is a great album, and that's all I need to say that matters worth two shits.
 
http://www.killing-joke.com/