By: Dan C.
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 23/10/2015
Label: Spinefarm Records
What works really well with this new album is the aggression of the guitar and the drums throughout its entirety. The riffs are stellar and keep my interest at all times. You can here the subtle keyboard in the background which adds to Jaz Coleman's vocals and doesn't overkill the rest of their sound. Overall, “Pylon” is a masterpiece.
‘Pylon’ CD//DD// LP track listing:
01 Autonomous Zone
02 Dawn Of The Hive
03 New Cold War
04 Euphoria
05 New Jerusalem
06 War On Freedom
07 Big Buzz
08 Delete
09 I Am The Virus
10 Into The Unknown
02 Dawn Of The Hive
03 New Cold War
04 Euphoria
05 New Jerusalem
06 War On Freedom
07 Big Buzz
08 Delete
09 I Am The Virus
10 Into The Unknown
Killing Joke is
Jaz Coleman | lead vocals, keyboards
Kevin "Geordie" Walker
Martin "Youth" Glover | bass guitar
Paul Ferguson | drums, vocals
Reza Uhdin | keyboards
The Review:
I got late in the game with this band as only a few years ago a friend of mine turned me on to the mighty Killing Joke. I started off by listening to their 2003 self titled album which to me was mind blowing. From then on I've been floored by their ability to keep their writing fresh since the 80's up until this brand new album, “Pylon”. Their discography is pretty impressive. And let me get this across to anyone who doubts this band, they are heavy as fuck and deserve your full
attention.
What works really well with this new album is the aggression of the guitar and the drums throughout its entirety. The riffs are stellar and keep my interest at all times. You can here the subtle keyboard in the background which adds to Jaz Coleman's vocals and doesn't overkill the rest of their sound. There is an effective amount of reverb to Coleman's vocals which is his standard trademark for those familiar with most of their work.
Right off the bat the song “Autonomous Zone” crushes. The bass breaks will put a smile on your face as its borderline funk in the mix with thick guitars, punishing drums and some background noise thrown in for good measure. The pace never really slows down throughout the rest of the album. “Big Buzz” stands out as a potentially good single for “Pylon” as the chorus has a repetitive line that sticks out and makes me want to sing along.... However, talking about singles, “I Am the Virus” is a song that will make you want to bang your head. They took The Beatle's, “I Am the Walrus” and just fucking destroy. It's brilliant and don't try to tell me different asshole.
Overall, “Pylon” is a masterpiece. You need to get your hands on this whether you're into punk rock, doom, stoner rock, metal, or whatever. Too bad you'll never hear this on the radio because I'd like to think that Killing Joke would blow Muse right out of the water. This album will be on steady rotation on my stereo for sure.
