Killing Joke, XXV: The Band That Stays Together Preys Together

Killing Joke, XXV: The Band That Stays Together Preys Together
Red
It seems like ’80s band reunion tours are a dime a dozen nowadays — from the supremely relevant (Pixies, Dinosaur Jr.) to the ‘who gives a rat’s ass’ tours by the likes of Concrete Blonde. So in terms of relevance, Killing Joke’s decision to re-ignite falls in line with bands like Bauhaus, whose limited commercial success never hindered its critical appeal and influence. This DVD, a document of the band’s 25th anniversary show on February 25th, 2005 in West London, finds KJ at its fiercely apocalyptic best: sounding and looking awesome as frontman Jaz Colman, with his face painted blood red, menacingly coaxes the audience into frenzied spasms. Drawing on songs from all stages of its career, the band performs flawlessly, having not missed a beat after all this time. Songs like “The Wait” and “Requiem” — from its self-titled debut masterpiece — shimmer in their frightening brilliance. To put it simply: WOW. If you have ever wondered where bands like Nine Inch Nails and Ministry got their schtick, look no further.
—Dave Hayden