Hosannas from the Basements of Hell

Last updated
Hosannas from the Basements of Hell
Hosannas from the Basements of Hell.jpg
Studio album by
Released3 April 2006 (2006-04-03)
RecordedStudio Faust (Prague, Czech Republic)
Genre
Length62:23
Label Cooking Vinyl
Producer Killing Joke
Killing Joke chronology
Killing Joke
(2003)
Hosannas from the Basements of Hell
(2006)
Absolute Dissent
(2010)
Singles from Hosannas from the Basements of Hell
  1. "Hosannas from the Basements of Hell"
    Released: 2006
  2. "Invocation"/"Implosion"
    Released: 2006

Hosannas from the Basements of Hell is the twelfth studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released on 3 April 2006 by Cooking Vinyl.

Contents

Recording

The album title refers to the location of the album recording. The band recorded the album in "Hell", the darkest basement studio at Studio Faust Records, run by Richard "Faust" Mader in Prague, Czech Republic. It was engineered by Jerry Kandiah, who also worked on the band's previous, self-titled, album. They made extensive use of Faust's vintage recording equipment from the late 1970s to achieve the atmosphere of the album.[ citation needed ] It was mixed by Mark Lusardi, who previously worked with the band on their very first release, Turn to Red , in 1979. Originally the sessions were meant to last 3 months, but this got greatly extended. [1]

This was Killing Joke's last studio album to feature bassist Paul Raven, who died in October 2007.

Artwork

The cover artwork is taken from a painting by Russian artist Victor Safonkin entitled Inhuman Rearing. The artwork featured in the inside booklet is taken from Society of Good Inventions and Hidden Aims by the same painter.

Release

Hosannas from the Basements of Hell was released on 3 April 2006 by Cooking Vinyl. It reached number 72 in the UK Albums Chart. [2]

The track "Hosannas from the Basements of Hell" was released as the album's first single, and reached number 72 in the UK Singles Chart. [2] The tracks "Invocation" and "Implosion" were also released on a promo CD-R, both receiving radio air time.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Blabbermouth.net 9.5/10 [4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Kerrang! 4/5 [6]
PopMatters 8/10 [7]

Hosannas from the Basements of Hell received near universal acclaim upon release. David Jeffries of AllMusic said "the Joke sound absolutely free and grand here, allowing songs to stretch well past the five-minute mark and just begging the detractors to have at it by sitting firm on their classic delivery", adding that "newcomers may find this all too much to take in, while old fans can cherish the band's most personal album as another victory." [3] Adrien Begrand of PopMatters called the album "everything we’d ever want from a Killing Joke record" and "their finest album in well over a decade". [7]

Keith Bergman, writer for Blabbermouth.net, described the album as "perfect post-millennial music, the sound of a world merrily driving itself off the deep end. Killing Joke are a primal scream of humanity drowning in a tsunami of man-made disorder, headed straight to Hell and laughing the whole way down, like Slim Pickens riding the A-bomb at the end of Dr. Strangelove . You won't find a more blown-out, wild-eyed freakout on the record store shelves any time soon." [4]

Paul Brannigan, editor for Kerrang! magazine, argued "Out of step with the world they might well be, but Killing Joke's righteous frenzy still feels horribly necessary." [6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jaz Coleman, Geordie Walker and Paul Raven.

No.TitleLength
1."This Tribal Antidote"4:15
2."Hosannas from the Basements of Hell"5:52
3."Invocation"7:54
4."Implosion"6:41
5."Majestic"5:40
6."Walking with Gods"8:36
7."The Lightbringer"9:38
8."Judas Goat"6:21
9."Gratitude"7:04
Japan CD bonus track
No.TitleLength
10."Universe B"6:13

Personnel

Killing Joke
Additional personnel
Technical

Charts

Chart (2006)Peak
position
UK Albums Chart 72 [2]
France 173 [8]

Related Research Articles

Killing Joke English post-punk band

Killing Joke are an English rock band from Notting Hill, London, England, formed in 1979 by Jaz Coleman, Paul Ferguson (drums), Geordie Walker (guitar) and Youth (bass).

<i>Killing Joke</i> (1980 album) 1980 studio album by Killing Joke

Killing Joke is the debut studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released on 5 October 1980 by E.G. via Polydor Records. It debuted at number 41 on the UK Albums Chart on 26 October 1980 and later peaked at number 39.

Paul Vincent Raven was an English bassist best known for his work in the post-punk group Killing Joke. He later played in the industrial music bands Prong, Ministry, and Zilch.

<i>Night Time</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Killing Joke

Night Time is the fifth studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released in February 1985 by E.G. through Polydor Records. The album was produced by Chris Kimsey whom the band believed would help to promote the band in America due to his work with the likes of the Rolling Stones.

<i>Whats THIS For...!</i> 1981 studio album by Killing Joke

What's THIS For...! is the second studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released in June 1981 by E.G. via Polydor Records.

<i>Killing Joke</i> (2003 album) 2003 studio album by Killing Joke

Killing Joke is the eleventh studio album by English rock band Killing Joke, released on 28 July 2003 through Zuma Recordings. It was their first album in seven years, following Democracy in 1996, and their second self-titled album, following their debut in 1980. The album was produced by Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill and features Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl on drums, a long-time Killing Joke fan. It peaked at number 43 in the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Pandemonium</i> (Killing Joke album) 1994 studio album by Killing Joke

Pandemonium is the ninth studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released on 2 August 1994 by Butterfly Records. The album marked Killing Joke's return after a four-year hiatus, the longest the band had taken since it was founded. It also featured the return of founding member Youth, who replaced Paul Raven on bass.

<i>Revelations</i> (Killing Joke album) 1982 studio album by Killing Joke

Revelations is the third studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released in July 1982 by E.G. via Polydor Records. It was recorded in Cologne, Germany and produced by Conny Plank, making it their first album not to be self-produced. This is their last album to featured the original line-up, until their 2010's album Absolute Dissent.

<i>Fire Dances</i> 1983 studio album by Killing Joke

Fire Dances is the fourth studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released in July 1983 by E.G. via Polydor Records. It was the band's first album to feature new bass player Paul Raven, recorded at Basing Street Studios in London between February and March 1983. According to Paul Ferguson the band's drug use contributed to the original mix of the album being "tinny".

<i>Brighter Than a Thousand Suns</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Killing Joke

Brighter Than a Thousand Suns is the sixth studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released in November 1986 by E.G. Records. It was their first album to be distributed through Virgin Records. It entered the UK Albums Chart at number 54 on 22 November 1986, staying for one week. It was produced by Chris Kimsey, who had produced the band's 1985 album, Night Time.

<i>Outside the Gate</i> 1988 studio album by Killing Joke

Outside the Gate is the seventh studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released in June 1988 by E.G. via Virgin Records worldwide. It was a significant stylistic departure for the band, with complex synthesised arrangements and less prominent guitar. Tensions within the band surfaced during production in Berlin. Drummer Paul Ferguson was dismissed at the beginning of the sessions and replaced by a studio musician while bassist Paul Raven took part to the recording but ultimately asked his name to be withdrawn from the credits for major disagreement over artistic content. The lead single was "America".

<i>Extremities, Dirt and Various Repressed Emotions</i> 1990 studio album by Killing Joke

Extremities, Dirt and Various Repressed Emotions is the eighth studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released in November 1990 by Noise Records. After the commercial failure of their previous album Outside the Gate in 1988, singer Jaz Coleman and guitarist Geordie Walker were the last remaining members of the group. In December 1988, they recruited new musicians to perform a one-off concert in Porchester and premiered new songs, including early versions of "Extremities" and "The Beautiful Dead". The band didn't have any support of a record company anymore: Virgin had fired them and their label E.G. sued them. Coleman stated that it was a very stressful period of time for him and Walker. The new material was more intense, the band performed it live during a US tour in 1989. Extremities, Dirt and Various Repressed Emotions was recorded in 1990 for a German independent label: bassist Paul Raven was called back before entering into the studio. Drummer Martin Atkins, formerly of Public Image Ltd and Ministry, had joined the band in 1988 and co-composed the songs with Coleman and Walker.

<i>Democracy</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Killing Joke

Democracy is the tenth studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released on 1 April 1996 by Butterfly Records and Big Life.

<i>Ha</i> (Killing Joke album) 1982 live album by Killing Joke

"Ha" or "Ha": Killing Joke Live is the first commercially distributed live recording by English post-punk band Killing Joke. It was recorded at Larry's Hideaway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on 9 and 10 August 1982 by producer Conny Plank, and released on 4 November by E.G. Records. Rob O'Connor did the artwork for the album.

Requiem (Killing Joke song) Song by Killing Joke

"Requiem" is a song by English post-punk band Killing Joke. It was released in September 1980 by E.G. Records as the second single from their eponymous debut studio album.

<i>Turn to Red</i> 1979 EP by Killing Joke

Turn to Red is an EP and the debut release by English post-punk band Killing Joke. It was released as a 7-inch EP on 26 October 1979 by Malicious Damage and re-released as a 12-inch EP on 14 December by Island Records.

Killing Joke discography List of recordings by English band, Killing Joke

The discography of Killing Joke, a British rock band, consists of 15 studio albums, seven live albums, 14 compilation albums, five extended plays (EPs), 31 singles and four video albums. The band formed in late 1978–early 1979 in Notting Hill, London, England.

<i>Absolute Dissent</i> 2010 studio album by Killing Joke

Absolute Dissent is the thirteenth studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released on 27 September 2010 by Spinefarm Records, distributed worldwide by Universal Music Group.

<i>MMXII</i> (Killing Joke album) 2012 studio album by Killing Joke

MMXII is the fourteenth studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released on 2 April 2012 by Spinefarm Records, distributed worldwide by Universal Music Group.

<i>Pylon</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Killing Joke

Pylon is the fifteenth studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released on 23 October 2015 by Spinefarm Records, distributed worldwide by Universal Music Group. The album was recorded in the UK and the Czech Republic, and co-produced by the band and Tom Dalgety. It was preceded by the release of "I Am the Virus" and "Euphoria" was subsequently released as the album's second single. Jaz told biographer Jyrki "Spider" Hämäläinen that it was their Cold War album.

References

  1. Hämäläinen, Jyrki "Spider" (2020). Killing Joke: Are You Receiving?, p. 172. Milton Keynes: New Haven Publishing. ISBN   978-1912587407.
  2. 1 2 3 "Killing Joke | Artist | Official Charts". Official Charts . Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 Jeffries, David. "Hosannas from the Basements of Hell – Killing Joke | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 Bergman, Keith. "CD Reviews – Hosannas from the Basements of Hell Killing Joke – Blabbermouth.net". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  5. Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0195313734.
  6. 1 2 Brannigan, Paul (1 April 2006). "Killing Joke: Hosannas from the Basements of Hell: KKKK". Kerrang! . Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  7. 1 2 Begrand, Adrien (22 May 2006). "Killing Joke: Hosannas from the Basements of Hell | PopMatters". PopMatters . Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  8. "Discographie Killing Joke". lescharts.com. Retrieved on 2010-07-05.