There is surely a patent for the distinctive Killing Joke sound – the visceral scything guitars, the urgent emotive vocals of Dr Jaz Coleman and the infectious mix of goth, pop and metal resulting in something quite cinematic and euphoric. And the good news is that the band is back after seven years and sounding better than ever with their new single ‘Lords Of Chaos’, title track off their forthcoming EP. Just what we need right now.
The single is a vast epic array of guitars and thundering percussion with ethereal, angry vocals. It’s a pulse quickening and uplifting sound. There is a metallic heaviness to the sound and the lyrics, as ever, are an intelligent and acerbic look at today’s world – profound and portentous:
All things must pass, oceans bereft of life
A fungal bloom allows no light, the depths no longer rise
As we dine in streets of filth and close our eyes
While the world is burning
And all the seas rise
Flash points everywhere and everybody’s scared
Complex systems failure
And the Lord of Chaos is in
Coleman says of the track:
I’ve never known anything like the time we are living in now; not since the Cuban Missile crisis but now in comparison we have multiple flash points.
‘Lord of Chaos’ is about complex systems failure, when technology overloads and A.I. misreads the enemies intentions.
What a welcome return. The single is accompanied by a visually arresting montage of doom and chaos:
The EP is out on 25 March 2022 and can be downloaded and streamed here.
To support and celebrate the arrival of new music, Killing Joke are set to undertake their first UK run in over three years, 2022’s Honour The Fire tour.
This 11 date tour will start with a just-announced intimate warm-up show at the Frog & Fiddle in Cheltenham on Sunday, March 27th; it will conclude in London at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith on Saturday, April 9th which is being filmed. All tickets available here.
The full list of ‘Honour The Fire’ UK 2022 shows:
The Imbeciles are supporting on all dates (except Cheltenham) and Brix Smith is the special guest in London.
March 2022
27th Sun Cheltenham Frog & Fiddle
28th Mon Cardiff Tramshed
29th Tue Nottingham Rock City
31st Thu Bristol O2 Academy
April 2022
1st Fri Liverpool O2 Academy
2nd Sat Birmingham O2 Institute
4th Mon Manchester Albert Hall
5th Tue Newcastle Boiler Shop
6th Wed Glasgow Barrowland
8th Fri Leeds O2 Academy
9th Sat London Eventim Apollo Hammersmith
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