Killing Joke is one of those bands who seem to be somewhat underappreciated despite the massive influence their music had on subsequent genres they helped inspire into existence (like alternative-metal and industrial for example). Granted they were always pretty bleak and dingy to begin with, but their ability to inject a sinisterly dancey groove into their dystopian dirges was a pretty innovative addition to post-punk when they first came onto the scene way back in 1980. They would go on to perfect that sound later in the decade on 1985’s Night Time (which is remarkably accessible/catchy for a Killing Joke album), but many old-school fans would argue they never topped the grimy rawness of their 1980 self-titled debut album. And that grimy rawness is on full display in this live clip of “The Wait” from that aforementioned album. Jaz Coleman really does not get enough credit for being one of the most intense frontmen of his era, an intensity that is downright “manic” in this impressively powerful performance from 1985.
