Killing Joke - Hosannas from the Basements of Hell (Cooking Vinyl)

I like to think I don't scare easily. Many a fight have I picked with the odds stacked against me*, I've jumped out of planes, ran across an angry bull's field, liberated dozens of massive spiders from the bathroom without even flinching. I've been to raves on crutches and I've been in mosh pits without an inhaler. I could tell you of dozens of times I've cheated death without even missing a beat. I played Hosannas from the Basements of Hell, the new album from veterans Killing Joke, once and now I'm too scared to turn the lights out. It's all I can do to stop myself running of to cower behind the sofa.

This is probably the most aptly named album there has ever been (unless Coldplay happen to have released A Collection of Crappy Songs to Kill Yourself To at some point.) The fantastic Bosch-esque cover art is also a pretty good indicator of what to expect. Never mind Slayer or Marilyn Manson, this is what Satan's got playing round his gaff, make no mistake. In fact I could readily believe that Jaz Coleman's guttural snarlings are emitted by the devil himself. The music conjures up images of some vast, cavernous, grotty dungeon, filled with scowling demons and Marshall amps. The bass sound is particularly menacing, at times sounding more like a jackal's skull being pounded against a hundred foot of wrought iron guttering.

As long as you like your music heavy, industrial and gothic, this is the album for you. Personally, I find the pace a little bit too plodding and at times the songs are crying out for some haunting tender female vocals - my tolerance level for gravely roaring is higher than most as well I bet. What I loved about this album was the epic and strangely uplifting Implosion, which springs forth like hope out of Pandora's box; the chugging riff and general air of foreboding in Walking with Gods; and the aggressive simplicity of The Lightbringer.

Better go now and paper over my bedroom walls and window with pages from the bible…

*never won mind you

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