Words and Photos by Steve White
Coming as it did towards the end of the UK leg of the ‘Honour The Fire’ tour the expectations for this gig were high. Killing Joke did not disappoint.
Opening the night were New York’s The Imbeciles who turned in a seriously impressive set of hard edged songs bringing a mix of punk, glam and pure rock n roll to the already impressively full Academy.
Packed full of energy The Imbeciles were a perfect opener for the night.
With so much already written about the Killing Joke dates on this tour prior to tonight it’s hard to find words to describe what we all witnessed that haven’t already appeared elsewhere.
Killing Joke bring a sound that is unique to them. Intense, immense, possessed. A perfect blend of post punk rhythms, dark funky undertones, sonic noise assaults. A complete feast for the senses that had the crowd dancing in their own feverish worlds, lost with their minds thoughts as the sounds erupting from the stage completely enveloped them. The four original members of Killing Joke, despite differences over the years, gel completely as one unit when on stage.
The power of Paul Ferguson’s drums, the uniquely individual guitar sounds from Geordie and the dark, rumbling bass from Youth combine to produce a sound like no other band can. And whilst, for the most part, Geordie and Youth work their magic whilst standing coolly still stage left and right the same cannot be said of Jaz Coleman. The power, energy and sheer intensity of Coleman’s presence is mesmerising.
Like he’s existing in another realm connecting with spiritual ancestors his movements really are a visual expression of the sounds emanating around him. Moving around the stage with eyes staring at whatever entity only he can see it’s hard to refocus and look elsewhere to see what the other three are doing.
Tonight’s setlist covers Killing Joke’s long history. Love Like Blood, Wardance, Requiem, Pssyche, I Am The Virus, The Death & Resurrection Show and more are embedded in the musical upbringing of those present.
With the madness, chaos, horrors and torment hammering the world in so many different ways as we try and live our lives it’s little wonder Killing Joke are as relevant now as they’ve ever been.
Superb. Possibly my gig of the year. It’ll certainly be hard to beat.
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