Few groups have ever matched Killi ng Joke for sheer rock'n'roll intensity. Formed in London in 1978 by Jaz Coleman, Geordie, Youth and Paul Ferguson, they lit up the post punk music scene in the U.K thanks to a rhythmic fury, inflammatory imagery and borderline psychotic stage performances.

Recorded in London and L.A and produced by Andy Gill (Gang Of Four, Red Hot Chilli Peppers), Killing Joke's new self-titled album (released on Zuma Recordings) sees them at their brooding best. Featuring a line-up including all of their original line up plus none other than long-term fan Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters/ Nirvana) on drums, it's the pulverizing hard rock classic Killing Joke always threatened to make.

From the rolling thunder of the opening 'The Death And Resurrection Show’, to the jackhammer blitzkrieg of 'Seeing Red' to the final 'The House That Pain Built ' it captures the band back to their apocalyptic best. Old fans be reassured: the molten dynamite guitars, explosion-in-a-bass bin rhythms and Coleman's signature death-knell vocals are all present in spades.

Anyone questioning whether Jaz 's fury has dimmed with age should be directed immediately to almighty first single 'Loose Cannon' ('I'm an urban animal/ One step from a cannibal'). The anthemic 'You'll Never Get To Me’ meanwhile, with it's glorious stadium-sized battle-cry of a chorus 'I'll never let you get to me Survival is my victory’ is, quite simply, the sort of call-to-arms classic only Jaz is capable of writing. In a world gone (newly) crazy once more, 'Killing Joke' is the perfect soundtrack.

In recent years bassist Youth has launched dance label Dragonfly and become uber-producer for everyone from the Verve to Marilyn Manson. Jaz, meanwhile, has charted a more esoteric course. Having returned to college to study musical composition in both Leipzig and Egypt in 1987, he became the first Western student ever to study oriental music at an Arabic Conservatoire.

As a result of these studies In 1989 his 'Symphony' No.1' was reviewed by eminent classical composer Klaus Tennstedt who referred to Coleman as nothing short of 'our new Mahler'.Coleman is currently Director Of Prague Symphony Orchestra, spending six months a year living there and working there.