Written by:	Baz Anderson
Published:	March 10, 2012
Event:	Killing Joke: UK Tour (Website)
Location:	Corporation, Sheffield, United Kingdom
Galleries:	Killing Joke - Sheffield, England, 9th March 2012 by Baz Anderson (22)

When there are signs up at the venue declaring the show as sold out - but only a handful of people at the door at the time of opening - you know that there's only one band the audience want to see.




For an opening band, The Crying Spell put on a very composed and comfortable show. Over from the USA, these guys competently crossed alternative rock with a few flavours new and old to a small audience. Also from the USA, The Icarus Line brought a completely different style of alternative rock. Much more in-your-face, and also superbly executed. The flamboyant singer of this band, clearly intoxicated, oozed with the spirit of rock 'n' roll. The music was pretty diverse, a weirdly captivating frontman, it was nice to watch a rock band that can think for themselves and do their own thing.



Thirty-two years is a long time. It is also how long ago Killing Joke released their debut album. It has also been nine years since the band released their comeback second self-titled album. Plenty of time then, to accumulate fans. Tonight in Sheffield the audience was vastly middle-aged with a good amount of younger people too. The sold out venue was soon packed down at the front for this almost legendary band. Finally doing an extensive UK tour since the comeback, this was the first chance for a lot of people to see this band again. Almost everywhere you turned in the venue there would be middle-aged people telling of how they were back in 1991, or that there is no better band than Killing Joke in the world.



The venue exploded for this iconic band as they delved into a set of mostly classic songs. The audience were so hyped it was unreal, but with good cause. Killing Joke in this environment, one on one are an absolute force. The unstoppable sound crushes its way through the venue in a hypnotic, trance-enducing way. Jaz Coleman's abrasive vocals always impressive, booming over chaos. Perhaps surprisingly, the older fans did not fall into the stereotype of snubbing the new songs. "Depthcharge" and "Asteroid" especially sounded absolutely immense alongside their older numbers, and the audience showed just as much enthusiasm for the new as they did the old.



Coleman in typically robotic form didn't communicate much with the audience, allowing the music to flow from one song to another. Unfortunately after the band left the stage leaving the audience waiting for an encore, they did not return. The band finished early and left the audience in a state of confusion. The setlist had indicated four more songs, but it was not to be. Some audience members booed, some just left. Not the way the night should have ended, but at least the main bulk of the set was highy enjoyable.



Setlist: European Super State / Sun Goes Down / Rapture / Fema Camp / Unspeakable / Pole Shift / Chop Chop / Primobile / Depthcharge / Asteroid / The Great Cull / Corporate Elect / The Wait / Pssyche