Killing Joke - Night Time

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Free Music Notes for Night Time

Free Music Review: The beginning of a new era
Hit: 5 Stars

"Brighter Than a Thousand Suns" followed this album but a year later, and there are few differences in the sound of the two records. Each track on "Night Time" is a glorious lyrical romp with exquisite choruses and the magnificent work of Geordie Walker, one of the underground's greatest all-time guitarists. Though nowhere near as heavy as any of the four previous releases, this album still stands on its own quite well. It is a marvelous precursor to the more memorable "1000 Suns." Having heard "1000 Suns" first, it is easy to see why this prior album didn't receive much acclaim: Killing Joke seemed to be experimenting with a much toned-down but still heavily experimental rock sound. This sound would develop nicely into "1000 Suns", and then become a major element in later KJ works during the next ten years. "Night Time" is a logical stepping-stone: a bridge between the early tribal rhythms of "Fire Dances" and "What's THIS For..." and the lighter sound that would follow. Three albums later, "Extremities", the sound born here would integrate flawlessly with the insane yet incredible discord of the first albums. Killing Joke's sound was ever-evolving during their 17-plus year life (which is likely over, though this critic longs for a new release in the new millennium; what other band could possibly span two decades more flawlessly than Killing Joke?), and "Night Time" is a wonderful recording.

Favorites on this album include the title track, "Kings and Queens" (a likely precursor to "Chessboards", perhaps?), and the slightly dated but still enjoyable "Eighties." There was probably much disappointment among the Killing Joke metal-heads of the mid-eighties when this album debuted, but it is likely that an entirely new breed of fans joined with the sound on this record. You won't be disappointed if you already have "1000 Suns" or enjoy other mainly-eighties bands such as The Cure and New Order. But Killing Joke can scarcely be considered an eighties band; their sound began during the end of the disco era and progressed well into the realm of alternative-rock while never succumbing to the trappings of any one genre. This album is as fresh as it was in 1985, and any Killing Joke fan should not be disappointed.

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