Audio CD review:
Killing Joke - XXV Gathering!

Killing Joke - XXV Gathering!

Band: Killing Joke Title: XXV Gathering! Rating: Release Date: 04 October, 2005 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Communion 2: Wardance 3: Song And Dance 4: Primitive 5: Total Invasion 6: Bloodsport 7: Requiem 8: Asteroid 9: The Wait 10: Psyche 11: The Pandys Are Coming 12: Sun Goes Down 13: Are You Receiving? 14: Love Like Blood 15: Pandemonium

Customer Reviews 3 1/2 stars-- great show, but not without its flaws. Some of this is admittedly lost in translation onto media-- there's something about seeing the band that gets lost, particularly in the unusual presence of vocalist Jaz Coleman. Recorded during a series of performances celebrating the band's 25th Anniversary in early 2005, "XXV Gathering: Let Us Prey" captures the then-reunited (and quite rejuvenated) Killing Joke in full flight, an almost overbearing entity that crackles with a tangible energy. Still, it proves to be a pretty exciting set-- a bit heavy on the band's debut (5 tracks and a b-side are taken from that album), but still capturing a number of great performances-- Coleman introduces "Wardance" ("We have so much work to do tonight-- WARDANCE") that cuts loose under its danceable frenzy, "Asteroid", goofiest song in the band's catalog, cuts loose and provides a slice of punky explosion, and the last half dozen pieces, regardless of whether high energy ("Pssyche"), slow grinding ("Pandemonium") or tribally meditative ("Sun Goes Down") are all pretty much universally fantastic. Coleman does falll a bit flat on a couple of the early pieces ("Song and Dance" and "Primitive" both find the singer a bit thinner than you'd like), and the sound on the recording is muddy, and both of these temper my feelings on the recording, but this is a good performance and well worth investigation. Live Joke I saw them back in the 80's in Geneva and they were fantastic. The playing is superb as one would expect from Killing Joke live. They apparently still are as we can hear here. The only problem is the slightly murky mix shich would have benefitted from more clarity. Anyway it is very good. They play with incredible energy. don't believe the mid-years fans- THIS IS HAIR RAISING ! Paul Raven even remembered that show! This show is even better! FEROCIOUS! My hair stands on end several times during the set. I've seen this band 5 times, including right after the first Iraq War began in'90 and we stopped rioting long enough to attend. The new kid on drums is a big farmboy that beats up his kit like John Bonham. The dvd is astounding as well. They are very focused right now, living in Prague and working on a new album. THESE TIMES WERE MADE FOR KILLING JOKE, AND THEY KNOW IT. Enjoy, they did! ted o. . You can see a complete list of all Killing Joke discography, or go back to the Killing Joke tabs