Killing Joke is more than just a post-punk band — they’re a sonic revolution.
From the raw energy of their debut album to the dark industrial textures of their later work, fans searching for the best Killing Joke songs often want to know where to start or which tracks stand out the most.
Whether you’re rediscovering them or diving in for the first time, this guide ranks essential songs, lists their classics, and highlights what makes each track iconic.
Dive into the chaos, politics, and pounding drums that define Killing Joke’s legacy — and find your next favorite track.
Killing Joke Songs Ranked
Ranking Killing Joke songs isn’t easy with a catalog this rich, but here’s a fan-favorite list based on critical acclaim, legacy, and live performance power:
- Love Like Blood – Their most accessible hit, melodic yet haunting.
- Eighties – An anthemic, riff-driven classic (and said to have inspired Nirvana’s Come as You Are).
- Wardance – Ferocious and politically charged, this is pure post-punk energy.
- Requiem – A brooding, minimalist masterpiece from their debut.
- The Wait – Fast, raw, and aggressive — Metallica even covered it.
- Pandemonium – The title track from their 1994 album, mixing industrial with Middle Eastern tones.
- Millennium – Explosive with a powerful industrial-metal fusion.
- Total Invasion – Heavy and prophetic, showcasing their 2000s comeback.
- The Death & Resurrection Show – Epic, complex, and one of their boldest tracks.
- Democracy – A biting critique wrapped in a compelling rhythm.
Killing Joke Killing Joke Songs
Their 1980 self-titled debut, Killing Joke, is a cornerstone of post-punk music. The album introduced their aggressive yet danceable style with tracks like:
- Requiem – Dark, minimalist, and hypnotic.
- Wardance – An energetic anthem of rebellion.
- The Wait – Fast-paced and metallic, foreshadowing the future.
- Complications – Angular guitars and industrial percussion.
- Tomorrow’s World – Dystopian and electronic.
This album laid the groundwork for industrial rock and influenced everyone from Ministry to Nine Inch Nails.
Killing Joke Songs List
Here’s a broader list of must-hear Killing Joke tracks spanning their full discography:
- Pssyche
- Love Like Blood
- Eighties
- Requiem
- Wardance
- The Death & Resurrection Show
- Millennium
- Pandemonium
- European Super State
- Adorations
- Democracy
- Money Is Not Our God
- Total Invasion
- Hosannas From The Basements of Hell
- New Cold War
Top 10 Killing Joke Songs
Based on influence, popularity, and fan reception, here are the top 10 Killing Joke songs:
- Love Like Blood
- Eighties
- Requiem
- Wardance
- Pandemonium
- The Death & Resurrection Show
- Millennium
- The Wait
- Pssyche
- Democracy
Each of these tracks represents a different phase of the band’s evolution, from post-punk pioneers to industrial legends.
Best Killing Joke Songs
The best Killing Joke songs not only rock hard but convey a raw sense of anger, spirituality, and prophecy. These include:
- The Death & Resurrection Show – A spiritual and sonic epic.
- Eighties – Catchy, sarcastic, and era-defining.
- Love Like Blood – Romantic darkness with an infectious hook.
- Pandemonium – Tribal rhythms meet brutal industrial.
- Millennium – As heavy as any metal anthem.
- Requiem – Still chilling after decades.
- Wardance – Forever relevant in its political urgency.
15 Jokes with Emojis (Bullets Only)
- 😈 Killing Joke: the only band where the bassline punches harder than your ex’s breakup text.
- 🕺 Post-punk? More like post-apocalyptic dance party.
- 💥 Their drummer doesn’t play—he detonates.
- 🔊 Killing Joke concerts: where earplugs go to die.
- 👽 Aliens don’t invade Earth—they just play “Requiem” on repeat.
- 💣 Every Killing Joke riff sounds like a riot starting.
- 🦴 “The Wait” should be prescribed for bone density—those drums hit different.
- 🪩 “Love Like Blood” is goth disco for people who fear commitment.
- 🔮 Jaz Coleman predicted the future. Killing Joke just soundtracked it.
- ⚡ Listening to “Eighties” gives you energy you didn’t ask for.
- ☠️ Killing Joke: where the lyrics are deeper than your therapist.
- 🧠 Their music activates parts of your brain science hasn’t mapped yet.
- 🔥 “Pandemonium” isn’t a song—it’s a controlled burn.
- 🌪️ Don’t play Killing Joke in a hurricane. It’s overkill.
- 🚨 Warning: side effects of Killing Joke may include political awareness and involuntary headbanging.
Conclusion
Killing Joke’s legacy spans decades and genres, yet they remain one of the most essential, intense, and thought-provoking bands out there. Whether you’re a new listener or a die-hard fan, their discography offers an explosive soundtrack to revolution, revelation, and raw human emotion.
