Killing Joke - Absolute Dissent (2010)

1. Absolute Dissent
2. The Great Cull
3. Fresh Fever from the Skies
4. In Excelsis
5. European Super State
6. This World Hell
7. Endgame
8. The Raven King
9. Honour the Fire
10. Depthcharge
11. Here Comes the Singularity
12. Ghosts of Ladbroke Grove


Killing Joke’s True Comeback – 9,5/10

Oh how a feast it always is when an ‘old’ band reunites in its original line-up again. It’s often even most successful. See the return of Dickinson to Iron Maiden, the return of Halford to Judas Priest, the reunions of Black Sabbath, Kiss and many more acts. Killing Joke has never been truly gone as they continued making high quality records even on different line-ups. Nevertheless, after the somewhat disappointing Hosannas from the Basement of Hell from 2006, you’d like to think the reunion is the best that could’ve happened to the band.

The last record Coleman, Geordie, Youth and Ferguson played together was 1982’s Revelations. Youth’s last appearance was on the heavy self-titled release from 2003, while Ferguson was last heard on 1986’s Brighter Than a Thousand Suns. Killing Joke has always been known for that punch and drive in their songs that’s sometimes very danceable, but at other times very raw, mean and relentless. They sound like an odd combination of post-punk, new wave, metal and dance music. While the previous records focused a lot more on industrial metal, Absolute Dissent proves the joke is still as deadly as ever. The trademark sound from the eighties has returned, combined with the harder sound and better production of 1990’s Extremities and with the rawer and monster-like voice of the aged Jaz Coleman. This highly unique combination of the said genres still works and still showcases much more power than the hardest of metal. Killing Joke have been an influence to numerous of bands, like Nirvana, Ministry, Lamb of God, Nine Inch Nails and to industrial rock in general. Still, none of the industrial/alternative acts knows how to bring the music as persuasive as the original Killing Joke.

Absolute Dissent is a highly varied album. It opens with a clash of melodic, heavy new wave that truly shows signs of the classic Killing Joke sound, while “European Super State” is a lot more dance-influenced with the catchy beat reminding of the Night Time record from 1985. As a counterpart to that eighties sound there are some heavy-as-hell metal songs like “This World Hell” or one of my favourites “Depthcharge”. The monstrous voice of Coleman plays a great part in these heavy tracks. Then there’s a catchy anthem called “In Excelsis” with its somewhat hypnotizing vocal melody. It’s a true sing-along song. A track like “Fresh Fever from the Skies” sounds like a clash between the eighties Joke-sound and the 2003 self-titled album: heavy industrial rhythms with the new wave-esque keyboards on the background. This band’s reunion was actually caused by a not so great event. Long time bass player Paul Raven died in 2007 and on their funeral they met and decided to reunite. The result of that event is audible in the epic “The Raven King”. Never has a tribute to someone’s principles been such an emotional song. Those soft of heart, including myself, will shed a tear or two when hearing the powerful vocals of Coleman, sung from his heart, about everything that Paul Raven stood for. The songs not mentioned would have formed a decent album, but this song takes it all to another level. Album closer “Ghosts of Ladbroke Grove” holds a powerful ambience and ends the record on the highest level possible.

In short, Absolute Dissent is a Killing Joke fan’s wet dream. The original line-up and the best of every sound they ever had are featured here. There not one weak song to be found. Personally, this is the best Killing Joke album I’ve heard. Therefore I highly recommend this to each and every fan of Killing Joke, industrial music, new wave, post-punk and good music in general. This is your must-have album. One of the best full-lengths from 2010.

Strongest tracks: “European Super State”, “Depthcharge”, “Ghosts of Ladbroke Grove” and “The Raven King”.