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Killing Joke

Musical Group
Forpost-punk and industrial rock listeners; fans of dark new wave, alternative/industrial metal, and anyone tracing the roots of heavy, rhythmic, politically charged rock.
24 Reviews 9 Definitions 51 Charts
Post-Punk New Wave Industrial

The Profile

Killing Joke were an English band formed in London, known for blending post-punk with electronic, tribal rhythms and a harsh, industrial-leaning attack, fronted by vocalist Jaz Coleman and guitarist Geordie Walker.

The reviews portray Killing Joke as a pivotal post-punk act with major downstream influence on industrial rock and heavy alternative music, repeatedly highlighting Jaz Coleman’s apocalyptic/esoteric themes, Geordie Walker’s distinctive distorted guitar sound, and a discography spanning abrasive early 80s work, a more melodic mid-80s peak (especially Night Time), and heavier industrial-metal oriented releases from 1990 onward. Publicly verifiable: the band formed in London and remained active (with breaks and reunions) until 2023.

Across these reviews, Killing Joke are framed as a foundational post-punk band whose tribal rhythms, abrasive guitars, and apocalyptic vision helped shape industrial rock and later metal/alternative scenes. Highlights cluster around the 1980 debut, the mid-80s breakthrough Night Time, the 1990 industrial-metal monolith Extremities..., and later resurges like the 2003 self-titled and MMXII. The writing repeatedly emphasizes Jaz Coleman’s shamanic charisma and the band’s influence, alongside occasional divisive turns (e.g., Outside the Gate, Democracy).

Notable Quotes

❝ The significant influence exerted by Killing Joke on metal, industrial, and noise groups is unparalleled in the history of British music.
❝ Night Time, written and realized in 1984, was released the following year and probably represents their most famous creation, especially by virtue of the single Love Like Blood which became a sort of anthem of British dark rock.
❝ Without them, bands like Nine Inch Nails or Ministry would never have existed, and that must be acknowledged.
❝ I don’t use the phone, I don’t watch television, I still write letters. I don’t belong to this twentieth century, in a certain way. Or maybe it is the century that still has to catch up with me… .
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