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Rating: Key to the historic transition from punk to new wave and a fundamental pillar in the renewal of today's rock, Jaz Coleman's Killing Joke release a new album, confirming they are one of the rare active Anglo-Saxon bands that remain true to their stylistic line, as well as maintaining dignity and decorum despite the ups and downs of a heavyweight career.
Bereft of the late Paul Raven (RIP), Coleman and company return to the spotlight with "Absolute Dissent", an album that from the cover speaks volumes about the ideas and ideologies they have long embraced and elaborated on without diluting the approach; on the contrary, rekindling over time a willingness to discuss that has continued to express itself with devastating energy (especially from "Extremities..." onwards). And even though this new work has a less aggressive and screaming breath compared to the 2003 "Killing Joke", the content remains in line with this ensemble's sociological—and political—roots endowed with brilliant insights and a highly imitated sound design.
From the very first tracks, the impression is of a journey back in time, rediscovering shadows and lights of at least four or five previous albums, bringing back a certain melodic and melancholic vein to mix with the rhythmic outbursts they had recently accustomed us to. Even electronic contaminations appear intermittently to underline that their music never had preconceived notions of communication and that nowadays everything is cleared and permissible to attribute an atmosphere or sensation to a song.
Thus, alongside the syncopated hymns of "In excelsis" and the title track "Absolute Dissent", we find the techno-industrial foray of "European Super State" and the wild tarantella of "Endgame", up to the new millennium punk-rock "Here comes the singularity" that closes the record. A total of 11 tracks that offer no respite and are abundant with distorted guitars and compact bass, with Jaz's voice increasingly distorted reciting his nervous esoteric ceremonialist litany. Quite distant from certain interminable epic resonances we found in the previous "Hosannas from the basement of hell" and closer, as mentioned, to that melancholic post-atomic melange typical of other albums, where the image of a world devoted to corruption and catastrophe seemed to find in Killing Joke its most realistic and disillusioned storytellers.
Of course, it is not easy to objectively evaluate the work of artists who have influenced the rock scene for thirty years and who, obviously, have today been joined by a large number of followers and imitators. While on one hand, the propelling force of their style manages to engage and keep the flag flying high, on the other, there is no doubt that there aren't many spaces left for experimentation and renewal. "Absolute Dissent" is a good album that does not betray the fans and can seduce neophytes; but in a complete perspective, it cannot hold up to comparison with other titles from a rich and glorious discography.
More interesting, in this sense, is an analysis of the lyrics, to which the music seems to bow to support their communicative impetus and allegorical undertones, demonstrating that on this level Killing Joke have indeed been imitated, but as their motto states "semper imitatum, numquam idem".
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 The Wait (04:53)
My [tiv's] changing
Day to day
The fiery kisses
Fast decay
I look up the river
My firm thoughts down
The block they've poisoned
Gotta sit tight
The wait
Odd awakening
The silence grows
Screams outside
Distortion shows
New jump force
Bad bad billys
It's just another [vine]
Of distorted greed
The wait
03 Primitive (04:00)
Primitive feeling
Primitive way
Getting closer
To the primitive day
Intuition
Wherever it goes
The primitive day
The primitive way
Primitive feeling
Primitive way
Getting closer
To the primitive day
Follow the feeling
Wherever it goes
The primitive day
The primitive way
04 Pssyche (05:00)
You're alone in the pack
You're feeling like you wanna go home
You're feeling life's finished,but you keep on going
The reason is there
You won't find it till you've been and gone because you're living a hoax!
Someones got you sussed!
Dull your brain, or seek inspiration
You feel illusion,and then you finally say transfer
Transorm a machine, to play with your head
So you can stand back and watch,or take part and learn
If you don't know the game,then you're still part of it
Because out on the streets it's strange
To see the show
Knowing full well that you're on the range
Dodge the bullets! or carry the gun,the choice is yours
Look at the controller
A Nazi with a social degree
A middle-class hero
rapist with your eyes on me
A priest of masturbation,a priest yeh to the nuns you fuck
You'd wipe out spastics if you had the chance,but Jesus wouldn't like it
No
05 Love Like Blood (03:42)
We must play our lives like soldiers in the field.
The life is short
I'm running faster all the time.
Strength and beauty destined to decay
so cut the rose in full bloom.
Till the fearless come and the act is done
A love like blood
a love like blood.
Till the fearless come and the act is done
A love like blood
a love like blood.
Everyday through all frustration and despair
Love and hate fight with burning hearts.
Till legends live and man is god again
And self-preservation rules the day no more.
We must dream of promised lands and fields
that's never fade in season
As we move towards no end
we leani to die.
Red tears are shed on grey.
Till the fearless come and the act is done
. . .
Till the fearless come and the act is done
. . .
07 Wardance (03:30)
The atmosphere's strange
Out on the town
Music for pleasure
It's not music no more
Music to dance to
Music to move
This is music to march to
IT'S a war dance
A war dance
Look at the victim
Scrawled on the wall
You know the the reason
Outside the door
You got something
Nasty in your mind
Trying to get out
IT'S a war dance
A war dance
We walk round the pitch
Honesty is sick
Try to be honest
Look what you get
The food runs short
And then the money talks
One way out
YOUR PREMONITION IS CORRECT
A war dance
08 Pssyche (04:11)
You're alone in the pack
You're feeling like you wanna go home
You're feeling life's finished,but you keep on going
The reason is there
You won't find it till you've been and gone because you're living a hoax!
Someones got you sussed!
Dull your brain, or seek inspiration
You feel illusion,and then you finally say transfer
Transorm a machine, to play with your head
So you can stand back and watch,or take part and learn
If you don't know the game,then you're still part of it
Because out on the streets it's strange
To see the show
Knowing full well that you're on the range
Dodge the bullets! or carry the gun,the choice is yours
Look at the controller
A Nazi with a social degree
A middle-class hero
rapist with your eyes on me
A priest of masturbation,a priest yeh to the nuns you fuck
You'd wipe out spastics if you had the chance,but Jesus wouldn't like it
No
09 Millennium (05:25)
I was born to see two thousand years
Of man's effect upon the planet
Extinction seems to be a plausible risk
Whatever happens well i'm part of all this
My life i've been waiting for this moment
All my life i've been waiting for this moment to come
Taste the salt of my tears
Take the wealth of my years
Singing in the millennium with you
[Resolutions for show]
Old ways don't seem to know
Singing in the millennium with you
Fire burn all our uncertainties
Water wash away impurities
Contradictions and predictions abound
Yes i believe that we can turn it around
My life i've been waiting for this moment
My life i've been waiting for this moment
All my life i've been waiting for this moment
All my life i've been waiting for this moment to come
11 Pandemonium (06:31)
She talks of supernatural aeons that we'll make
She says "look behind the wave of changes" feel the future taking shape
I can see tomorrow
I can see the world to come
I can see tomorrow
Hear the pandemonium
I ask her of her next of kin and loved ones in her care
She gestures all around her then she whispers "everywhere
"There is no nuclear family required any more
"My parents are the village and the village is the law"
I can see tomorrow
I can see the world to come
I can see tomorrow
Hear the pandemonium(x2)
She said "unlearn you must forget the values that you hold
"Life is not longevity and beauty is the only goal"
I can see tomorrow
I can see the world to come
I can see tomorrow
Hear the pandemonium(x2)
Cymbals that crash and pipes of pan awaken from your trance
There is no retribution here see how the heathen dance
I can see tomorrow
I can see the world to come
I can see tomorrow
Hear the pandemonium(x2)
--extra lyrics -- singles only
The prisoner sat motionless, his cell was six by four.
He walked to the horizon without walking through the door.
We found ourselves converging as we walked towards the sun.
Apart from all discussion, we were functioning as one.
I can see tomorrow
I can see the world to come
I can see tomorrow
Hear the pandemonium
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