MUCH HAS BEEN SAID OF JAZ COLEMAN AND HIS BAND, KILLING JOKE. THE 50-YEAR-OLD ENGLISHMAN HAS BEEN CALLED A WITCH, A SHAMAN, A MADMAN, A GENIUS AND, MOST OF ALL, AN INFLUENCE. Bands from across the rock spectrum, including Metallica, Faith No More, Soundgarden, Ministry, Nirvana, Lamb of God, Tool, Rammstein, Napalm Death, Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction have all name-checked the post-punk band’s heavy tribal ruckus as inspiration.
Now, in the wake of long-time bassist Paul Raven’s death in October of 2007, the original 1979 lineup has reunited for a twelfth studio album, called Absolute Dissent (out September 28 on Spinefarm Records), to keep the fire of Killing Joke burning bright.
“Since ’82, it was always there, that [a reunion of the original lineup] would happen at some…