Killing Joke are one of those rare beasts that don’t so much straddle musical boundaries as crush them gleefully underfoot. Name checked as influential by some of the greatest bands on the planet in sub genres as diverse as rock, thrash, industrial, prog and then some, the ‘Joke have been a vital part of the British heavy music scene for well over thirty years. Pylon, their sixteenth studio album, sees them heading further down the more melodic, groove infused road they’ve been journeying on since reforming in the early 2000’s.
Beginning with the building synth burbles of ‘Autonomous Zone’, it’s clear that the quintet have lost none of their punk-laced energy, quick bursts of groovy slap bass and bouncing, infectious rhythms meaning you’re sure to bob your head to it. ‘Dawn Of The Hive’ is a big, dirty riff with an air of mania, before Kevin “Geordie” Walker ramps things up into a soaring, bright riff that makes you feel like you’re going at 100 miles an hour. ‘New Cold War’ is all dissonant, chugging guitar and dramatic bombast.
‘Euphoria’ comes out of nowhere as a strong contender for ‘Song Of The Year’. A driving riff sits over sparkling synths, descending then ascending with a clear sense of purpose to triumphant heights, before taking a darker turn. It certainly lives up to its’ title. ‘New Jerusalem’ builds tension, adding ‘beep booping’ electric noise and Jaz Coleman’s vitriolic, anti-authoritarian lyrics in among a chaotic, tub thumping drum line. ‘War On Freedom’, ‘Big Buzz’ and ‘Delete’ don’t come across as quite as vital, or make as much of an impact, as the preceding tracks; not for want of decent construction or ideas, but perhaps exhibiting a lack of true, clear direction. ‘I Am The Virus’ brings things back in line, with mean, biting punk riffs, clashing guitars and Coleman’s roaring refrain of the songs’ title.
‘Into The Unknown’ concludes things in style, starting off as an uneasy atonal exercise underpinned by growling bass, before everything locks in to a soaring, ascending chorus that still possesses an element of danger – it’s like surfing down a lava flow, where every mis-step could mean death. Coleman’s voice is as strong as ever, a true gem, authoritative, clear as crystal, triumphantly rebellious.
This isn’t the heaviest we’ve heard Killing Joke (you won’t find the likes of ‘Asteroid’ round here) but Pylon is a well constructed album showcasing their ever-canny knack for writing uplifting, driving tunes that are full of vocal hooks, acidic satire and deep, pulsing groove. One gripe is that some of the tracks feel a little too long, like they could have lost one ’round’ of the main riff and been stronger and snappier for it. This aside, Pylon is a solid, enjoyable listen.
