Absolute Dissent [Import]

Being a hardcore music fan who listens to hundreds of artists, I tend to be careful when using the words "amazing" or "breath taking" when reviewing a record. However, Absolute Dissent, Killing Joke's first album with their original line-up in 28 years, fits those descriptions in spades.

First, if you are not a long time fan of the band, I have to almost recommend you just dont bother. This one was made for the fans and for Killing Joke themselves. After all, they do have a 30 year anniversary to be celebrating. If you are a fan of the band's eclectic output from start to finish then you will adore this record. It is equal in both beauty and brutality, heavy yet melodic. The production is so blisteringly NOISY it almost hurts my ears, yet the melodies come SOARING though to the front. Paul Ferguson is the big surprise here, marking the first KJ album he's been on since Brighter Than A Thousand Suns in 1986. If you are a fan of his 80's tribal sound where he mostly utilized the tom toms and high hat, you may be a bit disappointed. However, I assure you the sound of him hitting that snare will make your head explode and thats a good thing. He is like a human metronome on this record. Geordie's guitars, well you know, they are stellar as ever. Distorted and melodic. Hes pretty consistent on the guitar. Youth's bass sounds EVIL. It is equally distorted (is he playing a Rickenbacher?)and deep. The true highlight of this album is Jaz's vocals. He has range on this album not seen in a long time. While he still retains that chilling howl he has used since Extremities, he also sings clear and gracefully as well. Top form for sure.

For me the stand-out is the album as a whole. Apparently, it took forever to get this album out because the band was having a hard time choosing which mixes to use as well as which songs. There are about 5 tracks recorded for the record left off (including the former title track Feast of Fools). I'd love to hear those some day as I bet they have the same feel as the rest of the songs. However, the tracks flow and build with powerful dirges( This World Hell), anthems(In Excelsis), ballads (The Raven King), dance tracks (European Super State), and straight up rockers (End Game, Fresh Fever From The Skies).Lyrically, this album stays true to Killing Joke's usually subject matter of doomsday and the awareness of political corruption. I think I'm stuck between European Super State and The Raven King as to which is my favorite. Raven King, a tribute to fallen bass player Paul Raven, has one of the most powerful and uplifting choruses I have ever heard. Yeah, its that good. Ghosts of Ladbroke Grove has the biggest surprise, incorporating dub influences. Youth's bass rules this track. Proper finish to the record.

You really owe it to yourself to check this album out. If this is their final record then they have surely gone out on top and its nice to see the original band together again for such a special occasion as this. 30 years later, Killing Joke are still one of the most original and exciting bands to exist. Seek them out.

There is so much confusion concerning this release: ever changing release dates, tracklists, singles and e.p.s, even a change of title. The fact is, this is Killing Joke's 13th studio album. There is no album called Feast of Fools. There is no Industrial Suicide Tribe E.P. There is no European Superstate Single (as of this date). Right now, what we have is the In Excelsis E.P., and Absolute Dissent. The tracklist of Absolute Dissent is as follows:
1. Absolute Dissent
2. The Great Cull
3. Fresh Fever from the Skies
4. In Excelsis
5. European Superstate
6. This World Hell
7. Endgame
8. The Raven King
9. Honour the Fire
10. Depthcharge
11. Here Comes the Singularity
12. Ghost of Ladbroke Grove

With
13. European Superstate (Youth Remix)
14. European Superstate (Clive Goodard Extended Mix) On the Japanese Import.

And:
13. European Superstate (Dubstep Mix) on the EU iTunes version.

The version of Ghost of Ladbroke Grove and Endgame are the same as the In Excelsis versions. The version of In Excelsis and Fresh Fever are different than the e.p. The album versions are 4:04 (In Excelsis) and 3:24 (Fresh Fever), whereas the e.p. versions are 5:15 (In Excelsis) and 3:52 (Fresh Fever). The e.p. also includes Kali Yuga and Ghost of Ladbroke Grove (Dub) and there is another track entitled I Buy (feat. Tim Burgess) from the Classic Rock: With a Little Help... Compilation.

Aside from that, there are actually 6 songs still unreleased from the Absolute Dissent recording sessions. They are: A Sixth Sun (reportedly going to be on the ESS single), Feast of Fools, I Am War, The Crossing Point, Timewave, and Industrial Suicide Tribe.

That should bring you up to date. There has not been any U.S. release of the album yet, but there "should" be one. Spinefarm is absolutely terrible at promotion and information, so who really knows at this point. As far as reviews--well, what does my opinion matter? I love the band, so of course I love the album. I don't know why articles and people refer to the "old" Killing Joke and the "new" Killing Joke. There is only Killing Joke. This is not a reunion album, it is just a new album (well, a year late, but point being...) with the four musicians from the first few albums. And it doesn't sound anything like the Earth vomiting...

Since no one thought to mention it -

1. Absolute Dissent
2. The Great Cull
3. Fresh Fever From The Skies
4. In Excelsis
5. European Super State
6. This World Hell (Die, Long Pig!)
7. Endgame
8. The Raven King
9. Honour The Fire
10. Depthcharge
11. Here Comes The Singularity
12. Ghosts Of Ladbroke Grove