In a perfect world we’d be writing about the triumphant 16th studio album from the legendary Killing Joke instead of a new EP 7 years out from their last release of all new material, 2015’s Pylon. But it’s not a perfect world so what we get is two brand new Killing Joke songs along with two remixes to tide fans and the world over while that 16th full-length is being completed. And in a perfect world there’d be no need for Killing Joke’s apocalyptic aural symphonies anyhow so celebrate what we have and buckle up for Lord Of Chaos!
The title track is pure, incendiary Killing Joke and to paraphrase a line from the brilliant The Death And Resurrection Show documentary by Shaun Pettigrew from 2013 (Which you can watch for free here), Killing Joke is not only an outfit that gets better with age but also gets angrier. “Lord of Chaos” isn’t so much the sound of an outfit that is so in tune with themselves and their sound but more four individuals who are continually catching lightning in a bottle and making magic whenever they’re together. From the instant Paul Ferguson’s thunderous drumming locks into the uncanny sound of Geordie Walker’s guitar tones and Martin “Youth” Glover’s throbbing bass lines, “Lord Of Chaos” is instantly recognizable as a new Killing Joke classic even before Jaz Coleman utters a word. Because they’re that good.
The other new track here, “Total”, is glorious. Grandiose in scale and scope, ethereal and atmospheric, and cathartically chaotic like only Killing Joke can do. Walker has never sounded more on fire or inspired, Ferguson more brutal yet melodic, and Glover more resounding. Add Coleman’s lush bravado on top and you have the makings for another instant classic from a band that’s produced legions of memorable instant classics.
“Big Buzz (Motorcade Mix)” is transcendent with its’ reimagining of this modern KJ staple off Pylon, taking it to a new stratosphere and inserting some Gothic overtones into the Post-Rawk soup along with bigger grooves along the lines of Reverend And The Makers circa @Reverend_Makers (Coincidentally produced by Youth). And finally, Youth does what he does best (Besides killing it on the regular with the bass) with the “Disco 45 Dystopian Dub” of “Delete” (Say that mouthful three times fast) which, in the vein of the In Dub album or the “Ghosts Of Ladbroke Grove” remix from Absolute Dissent, shares a slightly more relaxed facet of the Killing Joke personality but no less soaked in a suppressed rage.
Lord Of Chaos arrives on March 25th through Spinefarm. You can find your copy to pre-save or pre-order now by clicking here and for the latest on Killing Joke, follow them across the information superhighway when you head here, here, or here.