Album
Vermilion Sands

What’s THIS For…! Killing Joke

released: 1981-06
on label: E.G.
artist: Killing Joke
genre: Post-Punk

“this showed that Killing Joke could maintain their frenetic, doom-wracked intensity while experimenting with their already strongly established style. Jaz Coleman’s vocals go through even more treatments and tweaks than before, chorus shout-alongs swathed in deep echoes, hidden behind Geordie Walker’s punishing riffs and the steroid-driven rhythm section. Big Paul Ferguson in particular lays down some absolutely skull-crushing drum slams and Youth is no less intense at most parts, and often they rather than Coleman or Geordie dictate the song. The debts of later bands toward Killing Joke are even clearer than ever, whether it’s the fact a group named themselves after the opening track, “The Fall of Because,” or that late-’80s Ministry so effectively cloned the whole style on songs like “Burning Inside.” - Ned Raggett, AllMusic