Killing Joke “What’s THIS For…!”

Killing Joke “What’s THIS For…!” 1981. Malicious Damage/E.G. Records. Brutal post-punk/industrial rock, What’s THIS For…! was Killing Joke’s second album, a pretty great follow-up to their phenomenal and highly influential self-titled debut Killing Joke. My top track is “Tension,” a heavy industrial but highly danceable song that Killing Joke released on a double A-side single along with the borderline synthpop (albeit super heavy and dark) “Follow the Leaders;” the single reached #55 in the UK and went to #25 on the US Dance Club Songs chart. I also really like “Unspeakable” (the influence Killing Joke had on Nine Inch Nails is pretty obvious on this one while a song like “Butcher” definitely gave Ministry some motivation) and the head-stomping heart-throbbing epic “Madness.”