EP REVIEW ~ KILLING JOKE ~ 'LORD OF CHAOS'

Pioneers of the post-punk and dark wave subculture, Killing Joke will release their new EP titled, Lord of Chaos at the end of March. It’s their first new material in over seven years. Known for hits such as “Love Like Blood,” and “Eighties,” the band has dabbed in many subgenres from heavy metal, synth rock, punk, as well as becoming influencers in the alternative rock community since long before the term ‘influencer’ was as widely used as it is today. Lord of Chaos is a four-track EP with two of the tracks being remixes of older songs from their 2015 Pylon album.

The title track “Lord of Chaos” reigns in monstrous hair-metal styled vocals in a speed-punk fury of drums and bass complimenting the heavy metal chomps carried by the guitar. “Lord of Chaos” holds its place as a powerful intro to the rest of the EP, giving the listener a taste of what’s to come.

The haunting vocalizations of “Total” combat the raw pounding of the drums, a post-punk sound brimming with melodic emotions. The song starts off in an almost cathartic ambience that amplifies into the band’s heavier tones, constantly switching between frantic hardcore instrumentals and soothing vocals that makes it a satisfying alternative rock track, holding core elements of the band’s various subgenres. There’s a bold personality behind this song, an intoxicating yet formidable structure that’s guaranteed to have listeners hitting the replay button.

“Big Buzz” was already a high energy guitar-driven bop when released on the band’s Pylon album, but on Lord of Chaos, the track gets a vampiric synth-rock rendition. “Big Buzz -Motorcade Remix” is a ghostly yet ambitious dance song that sounds like it should be the backing score to a dark wave fashion show or a high-end goth club.

“Delete in Dub” completes the EP in an even higher techno groove, using more synth and tech than the usual rock & metal elements that have fueled earlier songs. There’s still an overall moodiness about “Delete in Dub” despite the dance-core beats, a moodiness that follows Killing Joke’s music and keeps in theme to their discography.

Killing Joke returns to the scene hailing their crowns as leaders of the underground vampire rock crowd. While their songs may have more powerful meanings and influences than just your typical morbid goth act, the band has stayed relevant in the ever-changing alternative scenes. Trends may come and go, but Killing Joke keeps their place as one of the original trendsetters in dark wave music, still inspiring newer bands & artists today.

I’m Music Magazine Writer Alice Kearney