Showing posts with label The Cult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Cult. Show all posts

CD Review: Killing Joke - Live at Hammersmith Apollo


CD Review: Killing Joke - Live at Hammersmith Apollo
Four Worlds USA
All Access Review: A
Killing Joke - Live at Hammersmith Apollo 2012
Jaz Coleman is lucky that his Killing Joke co-conspirators didn’t shoot him for desertion. Late this summer, on the eve of the industrial metal/post-punk agitators’ tour with The Cult and The Mission, Coleman went missing, leaving the rest of Killing Joke wondering just what the hell happened to him. Then, there were the blog posts, where Coleman is alleged to have effectively taken a flamethrower – figuratively speaking – to both outfits in writings that can charitably be described as “derisive” at best and downright “hostile” at worst, announcing, without his band mates’ consent, that Killing Joke wasn’t going on the road with those stiffs. The Cult and The Mission would have to forge ahead without them, much to Coleman’s delight … or was it?
As it turned out, the enigmatic Coleman was alive and well, wandering like a nomad in the Western Sahara – much like David Carradine in “Kung Fu” – working on new solo material and a book. He has since denied posting those comments and pledged to ferret out the imposter, although anybody expecting to ever see a triple bill with these three acts again should probably have their heads examined. Fortunately, Coleman, who’s done this sort of thing before, having fled to Iceland in the early ‘80s when he thought the apocalypse was nigh, was present and accounted the night of this raging Killing Joke performance recorded for Live at Hammersmith Apollo, released in October by Four Worlds USA.
Shaking his fist at totalitarian governments, greedy banks and an overpopulated, apathetic world that is consuming its natural resources at an alarming rate while being seduced by the false promises of technology, Coleman proves himself a dangerous and formidable insurrectionist, his serrated vocals cutting through the gloom and volatility of Killing Joke’s atmospheric synthesizers, rumbling bass and drums and coils of razor-wire guitars with ease. Whether they are brutally beating “Wardance,” the stomping “This World Hell,” or the racing “Asteroid” to a bloody pulp with abrasive, bare-knuckled metallic riffs and pummeling rhythms, or urgently steering a battered vessel of melody through the stormy, roiling seas and beautiful chaos of the distress call “Absolute Dissent” – introduced by Coleman screaming, “I don’t believe in a micro-chip world!” – Killing Joke is edgy and explosive on this glorious occasion, evidently an anniversary for the band.
Throughout their 30-year history, Killing Joke has always trafficked in sounds that are ominous and fierce, and the version of “Pssyche” on this record, with its hard-charging riffs and desperate aggression, is as visceral as it gets. But, Killing Joke is just getting warmed up. With its strong undercurrent of dark energy and its prison riot chorus, “Depth Charge” is a mean bull that sees nothing but red, circling and sizing up whatever matador is stupid enough to challenge it. Growing more and more menacing with every riff, the tension builds to almost unbearable intensity in “The Wait” and “Great Cull,” these angry, gathering swarms of bounding bass lines and scything guitars cycling around and around in some demented game of tether ball, as Killing Joke’s original lineup of Coleman, guitar terrorist Kevin “Geordie” Walker, Martin “Youth” Glover and Paul Ferguson make the most rancorous and uncompromising, yet utterly compelling, racket together.
And then, just when it seems that Killing Joke is unable to extricate itself from this wild mosh pit of sound, they turn moody and strange, with the otherworldly, echoing dub-infused phantom “Ghosts” haunting this particular chapel and the clean lines and synth waves of “Fresh Fever” resurrecting the Dark Wave flourishes of ‘80s contemporaries Echo & the Bunnymen. In this live setting, however, it’s the most combustible hits, like the swirling, dizzying rush of “Eighties” and the sprawling “Pandemonium” that closes out this two-disc set, that win the day, and Killing Joke’s eschewing of its more electronic, dance-oriented material for the heated, gothic hard rock that dominates this smoking furnace of a playlist is a wise choice.
Before introducing that final stab that kills off Live at Hammersmith Apollo, Coleman expresses his profound love and admiration for the three men who’ve joined him on this journey through the bleak ruins of civilization. Hopefully, they’ve forgiven him for his unscheduled walkabout, and there will be more Killing Joke releases like 2010’s masterstroke Absolute Dissent, from which quite a bit of Live at Hammersmith Apollo is drawn. Here’s to you, Jaz. Rock and roll needs your intelligence and unpredictable personality more than ever.

-  Peter Lindblad

John Tempesta Offers Up 3 Decades of Skin Pounding Mayhem in The Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction


In a career spanning two decades, drummer John Tempesta has built a body of work that's deservedly earned him a place among metal's most popular and well-respected players. Perhaps best known for his tenure with Rob Zombie - both in White Zombie and with Rob's solo project - John worked his way up through the drumming ranks with an extensive resume that includes gigs with Exodus, Testament, Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society, Tony Iommi, Helmet and Scum of The Earth (which features John's brother, guitarist Mike Tempesta (who is also a consignor in the auction). And these days John can be found touring the world behind the drum throne of The Cult.

John has gone into his closet of rock relics and hand picked dozens of rarities from his days with White Zombie, Testament, Helmet and The Cult including heads, cymbals, sticks, passes, tour used clothing and accessories, photos and a super cool pair of Nike sneakers he used on tour with The Cult in 2011.  



WHITE ZOMBIE JOHN TEMPESTA SIGNED & TOUR USED DRUM HEAD
'Astro-Creep: 2000' is the fourth and final studio album by White Zombie. The album proved to be their most commercially successful recording, peaking at number six on the Billboard 200 with the aid of the popular hit singles "More Human than Human" and "Super-Charger Heaven". It is also the one and only album to feature drummer John Tempesta. Offered up for the 2012 Rock Gods and Metal Monsters auction is the one and only, original kick drum head from the 1995 'Astro-Creep: 2000' world tour, which measures 24 inches in diameter and has been signed by John Tempesta. It has custom graphics, shows some (albeit light) wear and is overall in excellent condition. While this realistically should hang at the Rock 'n Roll Hall Of Fame, it can easily be displayed on your wall!

John Tempesta's White Zombie Tour Used Drum Head - Signed

Up Close and Personal - John Tempesta's Personalization - Now this Rocks!


TESTAMENT JOHN TEMPESTA 1993 SIGNED & OWNED LEATHER JACKET
Following his departure from Exodus, John Tempesta only had to travel a few miles south on I-80 to join fellow San Francisco thrashers Testament, with whom he would go on to record two albums between 1993 and 1994. Up for grabs in the auction is this very cool leather jacket, worn extensively by John during his Testament years, as can been seen in various photos from that time. The jacket is well worn and Tempesta signed the "inside" of the jacket with a silver marker.

Interesting side story:  Ian Astbury of The Cult happens to own a similar jacket, which he bought at the time from Billy Duffy (also The Cult), who worked at a Kensington Market (London) leather shop. Ian can be seen wearing this jacket in the official 'Love Removal Machine' video. Not only did Ian and Billy end up in the same band, but several years later John would join them as well. Either way, this is a cool jacket with great history and provenance in overall excellent condition!

The jacket is well worn and Tempesta signed the "inside" of the jacket with a silver marker. This jacket can easily find it's way into your personal arsenal of cool jackets' closet, can you just imagine the conversations that can be started by simply opening up the jacket and saying…"have I got a story for you".

John Tempesta - Testament Days Jacket

Inside of jacket bears John Tempesta's signature

THE CULT JOHN TEMPESTA SIGNED & TOUR USED CHINA CYMBAL

This Zildjian Oriental China 'Trash' cymbal has extensively been used by John Tempesta on recent The Cult tours. It measures 18 inches in diameter, is boldly signed by 'JT' and contains (easily) 100+ fingerprints from the master himself! The cymbal is in excellent condition and comes with a great (signed) 8 x 10 inch The Cult publicity photo.

John Tempesta Tour Used China Cymbal - The Cult 

John Tempesta signed China Cymbal - The Cult

Be sure and check out all of John's personal relics featured in the auction by simply typing JTP in the Auction Search Box. 

Each item offered comes with a certificate of authenticity personally signed by John.


The Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction will go live and open for bidding on Saturday, April 21st and come to a close a week later on Sunday, April 29th. For more information visit our Auction Page. Grab your VIP All Access Pass today and get yourself a piece of metal history.

Click on the Auction tab at the top of the page to start feasting your eyes on John's relics