Killing Joke

Cooking Vinyl • 2006

Killing Joke is a band that that has persevered through decades bringing a catalogue of albums, a majority of which have been appreciated for their resolve and creative honesty. Hosannas from the Basements of Hell is an experimental album that leans toward industrial with some 70’s punk and even 70’s rock sentiments. This makes the album extremely palatable and timeless. It’s cohesive, but don’t expect a pop album. This might not be a top pick for, say, a Bebe Rexha fan but who knows. Recorded at Studio Faust in Prague, the album production came the year following a triumphant tour celebrating the band’s 25th anniversary. With 17 years passing since the release of Hosannas from the Basements of Hell and over 40 years of hard work and artistic discipline, this album has a bottom heavy drive and grit that is melodic at times with anthemic and

interesting melodies. This band has served as a source of inspiration for countless musical artists across multiple genres and they continue to represent a sort of figurative Magna Carta for musical expression. This album is a fun play with meditative, drone aspects driving at a more aggressive side of music. I’m glad that I sat down with the album and took it for a spin.

8/10