Description
Killing Joke – Night Time – 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Night Time is the fifth studio album by the British post-punk band Killing Joke, released on March 4, 1985. This album marked a significant shift in the band’s sound, moving from the raw, aggressive industrial rock of their earlier work to a more polished, accessible, and melodic style while maintaining their dark, politically charged lyrics. Night Time blends elements of post-punk, gothic rock, and new wave, and it is widely regarded as one of the band’s most successful and influential albums.
The album includes the breakout single “Love Like Blood,” which became one of Killing Joke’s most iconic songs and helped the band reach a broader audience. Night Time captures the tension between melodic hooks and the band’s trademark intensity, making it a pivotal release in their career.
By 1985, Killing Joke had already established themselves as a key figure in the post-punk scene, known for their abrasive sound and politically charged lyrics. Formed in 1978 by vocalist Jaz Coleman and guitarist Geordie Walker, the band’s early work was characterized by a heavy, industrial sound with dystopian themes. However, with Night Time, they aimed for a more commercial sound, incorporating a broader range of influences such as gothic rock and new wave while maintaining their signature intensity and thematic depth.
This stylistic shift was in part due to the production of Chris Kimsey, who had worked with bands like The Rolling Stones and Peter Frampton. Kimsey’s polished production brought a more melodic and atmospheric sound to Killing Joke’s music, making it more accessible to mainstream audiences without compromising the band’s edgy identity.
Night Time features a mix of hard-hitting anthems and atmospheric tracks, combining dark, introspective lyrics with danceable rhythms and powerful guitar riffs. The album’s thematic content deals with issues such as politics, love, war, and societal alienation, delivered with Killing Joke’s characteristic urgency.
“Night Time” – The album’s title track opens with a slow build, featuring ethereal synths and Geordie Walker’s distinctive guitar sound. Jaz Coleman’s vocals are haunting and atmospheric, setting the tone for the rest of the album with a sense of brooding intensity.
“Darkness Before Dawn” – This track has a more gothic feel, with its dark, brooding atmosphere and hypnotic rhythms. The interplay between the driving bassline, pounding drums, and swirling synths gives the song a sense of urgency, while Coleman’s vocals add an ominous edge.
“Love Like Blood” – One of Killing Joke’s most famous and commercially successful songs, “Love Like Blood” combines a danceable new wave beat with dark, romantic lyrics. The song’s infectious bassline, shimmering guitars, and memorable chorus helped it become a massive hit, reaching the UK Top 20. The song deals with the fragility of love and the human condition, and its anthemic sound is a standout on the album.
“Kings and Queens” – A politically charged song, “Kings and Queens” addresses themes of power, corruption, and societal collapse. The track’s driving beat and relentless energy, coupled with Coleman’s powerful vocals, make it one of the album’s most intense moments.
“Tabazan” – With its tribal rhythms and insistent bassline, “Tabazan” is one of the more experimental tracks on the album. The song blends a sense of mysticism with aggressive, industrial-style instrumentation, creating a sound that bridges Killing Joke’s earlier work with the more melodic approach of “Night Time.”
“Multitudes” – One of the more introspective tracks on the album, “Multitudes” features a slower tempo and atmospheric instrumentation. The song’s lyrics reflect on isolation and internal conflict, with Coleman delivering a more subdued vocal performance, adding emotional depth to the album.
“Europe” – This song blends political commentary with an infectious, driving rhythm. Lyrically, “Europe” deals with the sociopolitical situation in Europe at the time, touching on themes of division, identity, and nationalism. The track’s energetic tempo and sharp guitar work make it a powerful highlight of the album.
“Eighties” – A fan favorite and one of the album’s defining tracks, “Eighties” features a driving guitar riff that would later influence Nirvana’s “Come As You Are.” The song is a high-energy anthem that captures the cultural and political tension of the 1980s, with lyrics that reflect on the era’s materialism and uncertainty. Its frenetic pace and sharp-edged guitar make it a quintessential post-punk track.
Night Time is a thematic exploration of societal issues such as power, war, love, and personal alienation. Jaz Coleman’s lyrics often take a philosophical approach, exploring the darker aspects of human nature and societal structures. The album’s mix of personal introspection and political commentary is delivered with a balance of aggression and vulnerability.
Musically, the album blends the raw, industrial edge of Killing Joke’s earlier work with a more melodic and atmospheric sound. Geordie Walker’s guitar work remains central to the album, with his signature shimmering, delayed riffs providing a foundation for the band’s sound. The rhythm section, featuring bassist Paul Raven and drummer Paul Ferguson, adds a danceable, propulsive energy to many of the tracks, while keyboards and synthesizers enhance the album’s moody, gothic atmosphere.
This combination of post-punk aggression and new wave accessibility helped Killing Joke expand their fan base without losing their core identity. “Love Like Blood” and “Eighties” in particular showcased the band’s ability to craft songs that were both anthemic and thought-provoking.
Night Time was met with widespread critical acclaim and became one of Killing Joke’s most successful albums, reaching No. 11 on the UK Albums Chart. The singles “Love Like Blood” and “Eighties” received significant airplay and introduced the band to a larger audience, particularly in Europe and the United States. Critics praised the album’s balance between intensity and melody, noting that Killing Joke had managed to evolve their sound while staying true to their roots.
The album has since become a touchstone for fans of post-punk, gothic rock, and alternative music, with many considering it one of the band’s finest works. “Eighties” gained additional attention years later when it was cited as an influence on Nirvana’s “Come As You Are,” due to the similarity between the two songs’ guitar riffs.
Night Time stands as one of Killing Joke’s most important and influential albums. It bridged the gap between their early, raw sound and their later, more polished work, while still maintaining the band’s core themes of political and personal struggle. The album’s influence can be heard in the work of numerous alternative and post-punk bands that followed, including acts like Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Ministry.
For fans of post-punk and dark, atmospheric rock, Night Time remains an essential listen, showcasing Killing Joke at their peak both musically and thematically. Its combination of haunting melodies, aggressive energy, and thought-provoking lyrics make it a classic of the genre and a key part of the band’s enduring legacy.
Classic Album
180 Gram audiophile vinyl pressing
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Night Time
Darkness Before Dawn
Love Like Blood
Kings And Queens
Tabazan
Multitudes
Europe
Eighties
