Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Killing Joke - Democracy (1996)

Killing Joke made their move into a more metallic sound with their 1994 album Pandemonium, utilizing heavier riffing that made a few good songs. Heading into their next album Democracy, the battering reverb of their 80s material makes its comeback, blended together with those heavy guitars for something immensely dark...

Things take a more introspective turn when vocalist Jaz Coleman stayed in Arizona after the Pandemonium tour. He was getting over depression at the time and learning more about Native American culture. He began to see a more optimistic light that was put into writing ("I am forced to see the other side, I can see a way out of here.") The lyrics are both more spiritual and political, all fitting well for a dark yet upbeat offering of alt-/industrial rock/metal (not many people can find some metal in here, but I do).

The album starts off a bit weak in "Savage Freedom". Same with the title track that depends too much on the acoustic guitar. If the rest of the album was like this, I would've slept through it all. Luckily, the dark "Prozac People" has kept me awake, an alt-rock/metal tale of the year and a half Coleman spent using that drug.

"Lanterns" has more in common with the alt-rock/metal sound taken on recently by 36 Crazyfists and Cave In, albeit a bit tamer. The 8-minute epic "Aeon" has a spectacular mix of the band's new wave/post-punk sound from the 80s with the industrial rock/metal style that shaped up Pandemonium. Probably the best song of the album and by the band! "Pilgrimage" swings through in some more brilliance. "Intellect" is kinda interesting in the more scurrying pace and occasional tribal rhythms. As effective as that is, it doesn't really make too much of a classic.

"Medicine Wheel" threatens to reach the album's earlier weakness, but the vocal passion of Jaz Coleman saves the day and makes it another standout. The decent "Absent Friends" is brought down a bit by the distracting production. And finally, the band gets the album's sound really rolling "Another Bloody Election". A little oddly-placed, but I don't care. The venomous fire of the band is still around!

It was right after this album's release and small tour when the band went on hiatus and then started working on their popular 2003 self-titled album. Democracy is as good as Pandemonium, but if you're going for something a little heavier and more essential, Pandemonium is the better deal....

Favorites: "Prozac People", "Aeon", "Pilgrimage", "Medicine Wheel", "Another Bloody Election"