Pandemonium (Killing Joke album)
Encyclopedia
Pandemonium is the tenth studio album by Killing Joke
released in June, 1994, under the Zoo label.
This album marked Killing Joke's return after a four year long hiatus, the longest the band has taken since it was initially founded. This album also featured the return of a founding member, as Youth replaced Paul Raven on bass.
The screaming descending guitars of the title track, as well as the brooding "Communion" and the hyper-charged "Whiteout," would become live staples. A remastered CD with "Another Cult Goes Down" remix and an experimental dub remix of "Pandemonium" was released in 2005 by Cooking Vinyl
.
Frontman Jaz Coleman considered the album a conceptual album considering the external influence of arabic music that was spread throughout the entire album. It also incorporated his perspective on life, which is apparent in songs such as "Labyrinth" and "Pleasures of the Flesh."
review as "[G]argantuanly heavy, catchy and hilarious at turns. 'Pandemonium' yokes pounding slabs of techno-metal to Coleman's cosmic visions, to exhilarating, trance-inducing effect." Ned Raggett of Allmusic felt that original drummer Paul Ferguson's "sheer power and inventiveness is missed", but praised the album overall as a "thrilling, fierce listen" and a "varied, often quite surprising experience." Mark Prindle called Pandemonium "a damn fine record", remarking that "its production is smooth and clear, there are lots of full-bodied guitars, and plenty of beautiful yet throaty vocals pit doomsday lyricism against upbeat melodicism." Adrien Begrand of PopMatters
felt that "the band do struggle to maintain the momentum during the second half", but added that "the first half of the album is absolutely thunderous" and "the band do redeem themselves on 'Labyrinth', the chaotic 'Whiteout', and the trancelike 'Mathematics of Chaos', as Youth seems to take the helm, showcasing his production wizardry."
, Martin "Youth" Glover
, and Kevin "Geordie" Walker
.
2005 CD reissue bonus tracks
Killing Joke
Killing Joke are an English post-punk band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England; other sources report the band formed in early 1979.Related news articles: Founding members Jaz Coleman and Geordie Walker have been the only constant members.A key influence on industrial rock,...
released in June, 1994, under the Zoo label.
This album marked Killing Joke's return after a four year long hiatus, the longest the band has taken since it was initially founded. This album also featured the return of a founding member, as Youth replaced Paul Raven on bass.
The screaming descending guitars of the title track, as well as the brooding "Communion" and the hyper-charged "Whiteout," would become live staples. A remastered CD with "Another Cult Goes Down" remix and an experimental dub remix of "Pandemonium" was released in 2005 by Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl is a UK-based independent record company, founded in 1986. Its original orientation was toward contemporary folk music—notably Billy Bragg, and Michelle Shocked's Texas Campfire Tapes, recorded on a Sony Walkman, one of its first releases...
.
Frontman Jaz Coleman considered the album a conceptual album considering the external influence of arabic music that was spread throughout the entire album. It also incorporated his perspective on life, which is apparent in songs such as "Labyrinth" and "Pleasures of the Flesh."
Reception
The album was described in its five-K Kerrang!Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
review as "[G]argantuanly heavy, catchy and hilarious at turns. 'Pandemonium' yokes pounding slabs of techno-metal to Coleman's cosmic visions, to exhilarating, trance-inducing effect." Ned Raggett of Allmusic felt that original drummer Paul Ferguson's "sheer power and inventiveness is missed", but praised the album overall as a "thrilling, fierce listen" and a "varied, often quite surprising experience." Mark Prindle called Pandemonium "a damn fine record", remarking that "its production is smooth and clear, there are lots of full-bodied guitars, and plenty of beautiful yet throaty vocals pit doomsday lyricism against upbeat melodicism." Adrien Begrand of PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
felt that "the band do struggle to maintain the momentum during the second half", but added that "the first half of the album is absolutely thunderous" and "the band do redeem themselves on 'Labyrinth', the chaotic 'Whiteout', and the trancelike 'Mathematics of Chaos', as Youth seems to take the helm, showcasing his production wizardry."
Track listing
All tracks written by Jaz ColemanJaz Coleman
Jeremy "Jaz" Coleman is a musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is notable for his vocal contributions to rock band Killing Joke...
, Martin "Youth" Glover
Martin Glover
Martin Glover, also known as Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of the UK band Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman along with Paul McCartney. Glover was born in Africa.-Early career:...
, and Kevin "Geordie" Walker
Geordie Walker
Kevin "Geordie" Walker is a rock musician, best known as the guitarist from the post-punk group Killing Joke.-Life and career:...
.
- "PandemoniumPandemonium (song)"Pandemonium" is a song by Killing Joke, from their album album of the same name. It was written in 1994 and is the third single taken from the album...
" – 6:42 - "ExorcismExorcism (song)"Exorcism" is Killing Joke's first single off their ninth studio album, Pandemonium. It was released on March 11, 1994."Exorcism", like "Money is Not Our God", also failed to chart on the UK Singles Charts.- Background :...
" – 7:26 - "Millennium" – 5:34
- "Communion" – 6:56
- "Black Moon" – 5:19
- "Labyrinth" – 5:55
- "Jana" – 4:06
- "Whiteout" – 5:43
- "Pleasures of the Flesh" – 5:42
- "Mathematics of Chaos" – 7:24
2005 CD reissue bonus tracks
- "Pandemonium" (A Thread of Steel in the Suspension Bridge of Time and Space Mix) – 9:18
- "Another Cult Goes Down" (Portobello Mix) – 6:19
Personnel
- Jaz ColemanJaz ColemanJeremy "Jaz" Coleman is a musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is notable for his vocal contributions to rock band Killing Joke...
- vocals, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Kevin "Geordie" WalkerGeordie WalkerKevin "Geordie" Walker is a rock musician, best known as the guitarist from the post-punk group Killing Joke.-Life and career:...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Martin "Youth" GloverMartin GloverMartin Glover, also known as Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of the UK band Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman along with Paul McCartney. Glover was born in Africa.-Early career:...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Geoff Dugmore - drums
- Tom LarkinTom LarkinTom Larkin is a member of the New Zealand band Shihad. He plays the drums, sings background vocals and uses samplers...
- drums - Larry De Zoete - drums
- Hossam RamzyHossam RamzyHossam Ramzy is an Egyptian percussionist and composer. He has worked with Western artists like Jimmy Page and Robert Plant as well as with Arabic music artists like Rachid Taha and Khaled.-Early life and career:...
- percussion - Said El ArtistSaid EL ArtistSaid EL Artist is a famous Middle Eastern drummer/percussionist. He also has a line of signature drums.He is most known for his release Spectacular Rhythms, on Hollywood Records, but is featured on many recordings.-References:...
- percussion - Aboud Abdel Al - violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
- Matt AustinMatt AustinMatt Austin is a Canadian actor who is known for his role as Green Ranger and Bridge Carson in the American TV series "Power Rangers: S.P.D."...
- programming - Paddy Free - programming
Production
- Produced By Greg Hunter & Youth
- Engineered By Greg Hunter
- Assistant Engineers: Sameh Almazny, Natalie Heath, Matt Howe & Sheldon Isaac
- Mixed By Greg Hunter, Youth & Ron Saint Germain
Charts
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
16 |
| U.S. Billboard Heatseekers | 39 |