Search - Killing Joke :: No Way Out but Forward Go

Listen to me

Sacco | here there and everywhere | 07/15/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There is no questioning that this album doesn't capture Killing Joke live sound perfectly, but the fact that we have this at all is a blessing. Though the band and the fans chose this set to release as a live offering, perhaps because there were not that many captured on tape, its not perfect. Virtually a "Night Time" tour album (of that album only Multitudes and Europe are left out) "No Way Out But Forward Go" is still a nice buy for serious fan. For the uninnicated this is not the best best place to start your Killing Joke experience, instead I'd recommned their greatest hits "Laugh? I Nearly Bought One". Dedicated follwers however will find joy in this. Worth the admission alone for the video cd of the songs, its a worthy adition to the collection. The live interpretation of the songs is good, and the songs aren't simply reproductions of the album versions. "Wardance" and "Empire Song" in particular stand out as the brilliant moments, allowing Joke's rage to unleash its self. "Love Like Blood" is a let down, as the album version is so breath taking, and the crowd are obviously not fired up as the could be. Listen to "Eighties" and you'll see what Nirvana rip off for "Come As You Are" came from. All over nice, but not perfect. Get the studio albums first, even the best of collection and Outside The Gate (if only for "My Love Of This Land" and "Tiahuanaco"), the this one."

The Real Review

ThrEaD NUGENT | Newport Beach, CA United States | 12/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ok, YOU MUST GET THIS FOR THE LIVE FOOTAGE~~!! Adorations and Chessboards are live tracks both on the audio and video cds, not studio versions as stated. Also they appear to have been filmed at a different venue inside or at night. Great stuff. Anyone complaining about the video here should be ashamed of themselves. Any idea how lucky you are to see some live KJ footage?? Jeez! And the footage is great. It's filmed at a daytime concert....yes it's a little mellow, both the crowd and KJ are a bit toned down. But what do you expect, smoke and lights and general night time excitement?? I would have expected this for this gig. Other reviews make it sound hideous. I can't even believe some KJ fans are not smart enough to understand that a daytime show isn't gonna be as exciting as a night time show. No objectivity!! Jaz would be upset!! Whatever. It's shot beautifully for what it is and you get footage 17 live songs!! What do you want?? I can't believe I finally have some KJ to watch after being a loyal fan for 20 years. Also, they play well, the performances of the above mentioned 2 songs is way better, more exciting. They sound great, play great. Get this for sure!!"

2 1/2 stars-- an unusual live album

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 04/19/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"It's kind of hard to review this record. Recorded primarily during the "Night Time" tour on a festival stop, "No Way Out But Forward Go" finds Killing Joke in full flight, but there's something quite wrong with it.



Recorded off the soundboard, it's crisp, clean, and reasonably well balanced (Jaz Coleman's vocals are a bit up front), but... and this may be the tour moreso than the recording, it's a bit too clean, a bit too crip. Take a piece like "Requiem" off the band's first album. Rather than the sludging force that it was on the studio recording, it's crisp, with the instruments well really widely separated and sounds a bit too clean. Not helping this at all is it sounds like Jaz Coleman isn't quite up to snuff in the open air performance-- he sings out of tune mangling fine takes of "Empire Song" and "Love Like Blood".



Further, you get the impression that the band's energy got a bit diffused by the atmosphere, several pieces fall a bit flatter when you'd really like to see them pushed ("Tabazan").



All this aside, there's some decent moment-- "The Hum" is dark, trudging and powerful, "Kings and Queens" is downright explosive, and certainly "Pssyche" never seems to miss. But by and large, this is not a record for a casual fan."