KILLING JOKE – REVELATIONS 12" Vinyl LP Album

- The 1982 post-punk masterpiece produced by Conny Plank that redefined industrial sound

Album Front Cover Photo of KILLING JOKE - REVELATIONS Visit: https://vinyl-records.nl/

"Revelations" is the third studio album by English post-punk pioneers Killing Joke, released in 1982. Recorded under the production of Conny Plank, it captures the raw tension of a world on the brink—tribal drumming, icy synthesizers, and Jaz Coleman’s prophetic vocals combine into a work that helped shape industrial rock and darkwave. Featuring the cult single “Empire Song,” this LP stands as a landmark of sonic rebellion and apocalyptic vision.

Table of Contents

"Revelations" Album Description:

Killing Joke, the pioneering English post-punk group, left an indelible mark on the music scene with their third studio album, "Revelations." Released in the tumultuous year of 1982, this LP showcased the band's unique blend of post-punk, new wave, and industrial influences. To truly appreciate the significance of "Revelations," let's delve into the historical context and the creative process that led to its creation.

Historical Backdrop: 1982, A Pivotal Year for Post-Punk

The early 1980s were a dynamic period in music, marked by the rise of post-punk—a genre that emerged as a rebellious response to the constraints of punk rock. Killing Joke, formed in 1978, had already gained recognition for their distinctive sound and confrontational lyrics. As the band entered the studio for their third album, they were poised to make a statement that would solidify their place in the evolving post-punk landscape.

The Making of "Revelations": A Sonic Odyssey

"Revelations" was recorded at Basing Street Studios in London, a hub for many influential artists of the time. The band enlisted the production expertise of Conny Plank, a German record producer renowned for his work with various progressive and new wave acts. Plank's influence on the album's sonic landscape was pivotal, contributing to the atmospheric and experimental qualities that define "Revelations."

The album's tracks, including the singles "Empire Song" and "Chop-Chop," exhibited a fusion of tribal rhythms, angular guitar work, and Jaz Coleman's distinctive vocal delivery. Coleman's absence during the Top of the Pops performance of "Empire Song," as he had just left for Iceland, added an intriguing layer of mystique to the album's narrative.

Reception and Legacy

Upon its release on June 2, 1982, "Revelations" garnered critical acclaim for its innovation and intensity. The album's sonic experimentation, coupled with thought-provoking lyrics, resonated with fans and critics alike. Over the years, it has become a cult classic, influencing subsequent generations of alternative and industrial musicians.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

English Post-Punk

Post-punk evolved from the raw minimalism of punk, adding darker atmospheres, experimental textures, and political tension. In early 1980s Britain, bands like Killing Joke infused the style with industrial precision and apocalyptic urgency.

Label & Catalognr:

Energy Music, EG Records – Cat#: EGMD 3

Matrix / Stamper codes: Side A: STRAWBERRY EGMD 3 A//1 Δ 420   |   Side B: STRAWBERRY EGMD 3 B//1 Δ 420

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl, Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Weight: 230g

Year & Country:

1982 – Made in UK / England

Producers:
  • Killing Joke – Band Production
  • Conny Plank – Producer
    Conny Plank: Legendary producer of Krautrock. Shaped the sound of Kraftwerk, Neu!, Cluster & more. A true pioneer in electronic music. Learn more about him

Pressing & Matrix Information:

Side A: STRAWBERRY EGMD 3 A//1 Δ 420   |   Side B: STRAWBERRY EGMD 3 B//1 Δ 420. Indicates an early UK pressing mastered at Strawberry Studios, typical of EG Records’ early 1980s output.

Packaging Details:

The album “Revelations” by Killing Joke was released in a standard sleeve with a custom printed inner sleeve. The packaging design matches the band’s dystopian aesthetic, with minimal text and cold, industrial imagery.

Photography Credits:

Photography for “Revelations” is uncredited on the sleeve, though consistent with EG Records’ early-1980s visual direction, likely shot in collaboration with Conny Plank’s production environment in Cologne, Germany.

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Line-up:
  • Jaz Coleman – Vocals, Synthesizer
    Founding member and creative force behind Killing Joke. Known for his apocalyptic lyrics and theatrical performances, Coleman also pursued a career in classical music, conducting major orchestras and composing symphonic works inspired by rock and mysticism.
  • Kevin "Geordie" Walker – Guitar
    Walker’s signature heavy, layered guitar tone defined Killing Joke’s sound and influenced generations of industrial and metal bands. His minimalist yet massive chord style inspired artists from Metallica to Nirvana.
  • Martin "Youth" Glover – Bass Guitar
    Renowned bassist and record producer, Youth later co-founded The Fireman with Paul McCartney and produced albums for The Verve, Pink Floyd, and U2. His deep, dub-influenced basslines became a hallmark of post-punk rhythm sections.
  • Paul Ferguson – Drums, Vocals
    Original drummer whose tribal, mechanical rhythm style became iconic within the post-punk scene. Ferguson’s powerful drumming was key to the intensity of Killing Joke’s early albums and influenced industrial drummers throughout the 1980s.

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. The Hum (4:58)
  2. Empire Song (3:19)Single
  3. We Have Joy (2:56)
  4. Chop-Chop (4:19)
  5. The Pandys Are Coming (4:27)
Video: Killing Joke - Empire Song (TOTP 1982)
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Chapter III (3:13)
  2. Have a Nice Day (3:13)
  3. Land of Milk and Honey (2:38)
  4. Good Samaritan (3:28)
  5. Dregs (4:57)
Video: Killing Joke . Land Of Milk And Honey
Album Front Cover Photo
The front cover of Killing Joke’s 1982 album Revelations, showing a deep, luminous blue satin fabric that appears to ripple with light reflections and folds. In the upper left, the band’s name Killing Joke is displayed in an ornate golden-yellow ribbon emblem with red outlines, evoking both heraldry and industrial design. The minimalist yet luxurious cover contrasts tactile texture and metallic precision, symbolizing the tension between art and machinery central to the band’s post-punk identity.

The front cover of the 1982 album “Revelations” by Killing Joke presents a striking visual statement dominated by a surface of rippling, metallic-blue satin. The fabric’s folds catch light in gradients from indigo to electric blue, creating a hypnotic, almost liquid effect.

Near the upper left corner, an ornate golden-yellow ribbon emblem unfolds, forming a stylized knot that encloses the band’s name Killing Joke rendered in red uppercase letters. The motif suggests both a crest and a warning symbol — a fusion of elegance and tension that mirrors the band’s post-punk aesthetic.

The design’s simplicity — no text beyond the emblem — enhances its sense of mystery and refinement. This cover reflects the album’s atmosphere: industrial precision, emotional restraint, and apocalyptic beauty wrapped in the illusion of luxury.

Album Back Cover Photo
The back cover of Killing Joke's 1982 album Revelations, continuing the deep blue satin motif of the front, with its rippling fabric texture shimmering in gradients of cobalt and midnight tones. Centered at the top is a minimalist geometric emblem composed of a silver compass design pointing downward. Beneath it, the album title 'Revelations' appears in elegant white capital letters, followed by the ten-song tracklist aligned vertically. A stylized silver square and compass motif frames the base, and in the upper right corner sit the EG Records and Polydor logos along with the catalog number EGMD 3. The composition blends Freemason-inspired symbolism with stark post-punk minimalism, emphasizing order, mystery, and control.

The back cover of Killing Joke's 1982 album "Revelations" continues the striking blue satin background seen on the front, its luminous folds catching light and shadow in a haunting interplay of depth and texture. The surface seems to breathe, glowing from within.

At the upper center, a fine-lined silver compass emblem points downward, its precision echoing themes of geometry, measurement, and discipline. Directly beneath, the album's title "Revelations" stands in clean, capitalized white type, followed by the ten-track listing arranged in a vertical column that flows like a ritual text.

Near the bottom edge, a bold square-and-compass motif is rendered in silver filigree, evoking Freemason symbolism — a nod to order and mystery. The logos of EG Records and Polydor occupy the top right, marking its 1982 UK release. This composition combines austere geometry with post-punk minimalism, reflecting the album's controlled chaos and spiritual tension.

First Photo of Custom Inner Sleeve
The first side of the custom printed inner sleeve for Killing Joke's 1982 album Revelations. The deep blue surface features song lyrics printed in white serif text arranged in four neat columns for Chapter III, Have a Nice Day, Land of Milk and Honey, Good Samaritan, and Dregs. Behind the text, the faint imprint of a British coin design is visible, with leaves, fruit, and the word ONE POUND subtly embossed in the background. The layout merges lyrical austerity with industrial symbolism, reflecting the band's fusion of spirituality and socio-political commentary.

The first side of the custom inner sleeve for Killing Joke’s 1982 album “Revelations” presents five printed song lyrics: “Chapter III,” “Have a Nice Day,” “Land of Milk and Honey,” “Good Samaritan,” and “Dregs.” Each lyric is set in crisp white text, aligned in structured columns across a blue field.

Beneath the words lies a ghostly, embossed background resembling the pattern of an old British coin, complete with botanical motifs, berries, and the faint inscription “ONE POUND.” This design choice adds a sense of irony, intertwining the purity of art with the symbolism of economic value.

The texture, light reflection, and hidden imagery turn a functional lyric sheet into an atmospheric artwork — simultaneously austere and critical — echoing Killing Joke’s post-punk ethos of industrial sound meeting apocalyptic vision.

Second Photo of Custom Inner Sleeve
The reverse side of the custom printed inner sleeve for Killing Joke's 1982 album Revelations. It features a dark blue monochrome design with white serif text printing the lyrics of Side One songs: The Hum, Empire Song, We Have Joy, Chop-Chop, and The Pandys Are Coming. Behind the lyrics, a detailed engraving of the Great Seal of the United States is embossed — showing the all-seeing eye atop a stepped pyramid with Latin inscriptions NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM and MDCCLXXVI. The imagery evokes power, surveillance, and secret order, matching the band’s themes of control and apocalypse.

The reverse side of the inner sleeve for Killing Joke’s 1982 album “Revelations” presents the printed lyrics for Side One tracks: “The Hum,” “Empire Song,” “We Have Joy,” “Chop-Chop,” and “The Pandys Are Coming.” Each song is neatly arranged in white serif text against a field of deep indigo blue.

Beneath the lyrics lies a striking embossed reproduction of the Great Seal of the United States, featuring the Eye of Providence atop a stepped pyramid inscribed with MDCCLXXVI and surrounded by the Latin motto “Novus Ordo Seclorum.” The fine engraving gives the impression of both currency and esoteric authority.

The juxtaposition of sacred geometry and song text reinforces Killing Joke’s fascination with societal control, conspiracy, and enlightenment. It transforms the sleeve into more than a lyric sheet — it becomes a visual sermon on power, secrecy, and spiritual rebellion.

Close-up Photo of Side One Record Label
Close-up photo of the Side One record label for Killing Joke's 1982 album Revelations. The label is deep blue with white text arranged in a circular pattern around a stylized clock illustration reading 'Malicious Damage.' The clock face, with its uneven numerals and hand-drawn border, forms the central logo. The band’s name, Killing Joke, appears in tall white capitals across the top, and the track titles The Hum, Empire Song, We Have Joy, Chop-Chop, and The Pandys Are Coming curve around the edges. The catalog number EGMD 3a and production credits to Conny Plank and Killing Joke appear near the center. The design’s raw typography and fractured geometry mirror the band’s chaotic yet precise sound.

A close-up of the Side One record label from Killing Joke’s 1982 album “Revelations.” The label’s design combines stark modernism with underground energy — a blue background offset by white type and graphic art.

Around the outer rim, the five tracks — “The Hum,” “Empire Song,” “We Have Joy,” “Chop-Chop,” and “The Pandys Are Coming” — are printed in bold, slightly irregular white lettering that wraps along the circumference.

At the center, a hand-drawn clock illustration displays the words “Malicious Damage”, referencing the band’s independent aesthetic and label identity. The clock’s rough symmetry and bent numerals evoke a sense of distorted time — a visual metaphor for the band’s mechanized yet human chaos. The catalog number EGMD 3a and production credits to Conny Plank and Killing Joke complete this emblem of 1980s post-punk craftsmanship.

Close-up Photo of Side Two Record Label
Close-up photo of the Side Two record label for Killing Joke's 1982 album Revelations. The label design mirrors Side One but uses a reversed color scheme — white background with dark blue print. At the center, the hand-drawn 'Malicious Damage' clock motif reappears, framed in a roughly squared border with bent numerals and thick brush lines. Around the edges, the five Side Two tracks—Chapter III, Have a Nice Day, Land of Milk and Honey, Good Samaritan, and Dregs—are printed in blue curved text. The catalog number EGMD 3b and production credits to Conny Plank and Killing Joke appear near the top. The label's combination of raw geometry and minimalist typography embodies the band's industrial aesthetic.

The Side Two record label for Killing Joke’s 1982 album “Revelations” presents a striking visual inversion of the Side One design. A clean white background contrasts with bold blue typography and artwork, creating a minimalist yet commanding look.

The hand-drawn “Malicious Damage” clock graphic returns at the center, its off-balance numerals and thick lines capturing the group’s raw, mechanical aesthetic. Surrounding it, the five Side Two songs — “Chapter III,” “Have a Nice Day,” “Land of Milk and Honey,” “Good Samaritan,” and “Dregs” — circle the outer rim in carefully arced lettering.

The top edge lists the catalog number EGMD 3b and credits production to Conny Plank and Killing Joke. The label’s visual symmetry and reversed palette echo the album’s dual themes of control and chaos — a perfect reflection of the post-punk precision that defined Killing Joke’s early 1980s output.

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KILLING JOKE - Band Description

Killing Joke are an English rock band from Notting Hill, London, England, formed in 1978 by Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), Paul Ferguson (drums), Geordie Walker (guitar) and Youth (bass). They are considered to be one of the pioneers of post-punk and industrial metal, and their music has been cited as an influence by many other bands, including Nirvana, Metallica, and Nine Inch Nails.

The band's sound is characterized by its heavy, driving rhythms, dark and atmospheric atmosphere, and Coleman's unique vocals. Their lyrics often deal with themes of violence, religion, and politics.

Killing Joke have released 15 studio albums, as well as numerous live albums, compilation albums, and singles. They have toured extensively throughout their career, and have played at major festivals such as Glastonbury, Coachella, and Roskilde.

The band has been through several lineup changes over the years, but Coleman and Walker have remained the core members. They are currently joined by drummer Lukewarm and bassist Paul Raven.

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"Revelations," Killing Joke's third album, released in 1982 amid the post-punk era's zenith, is a sonic manifesto that defies conventions. Produced by Conny Plank, its tracks like "Empire Song" and "Chop-Chop" showcase the band's fusion of tribal rhythms and angular guitars. A cult classic, "Revelations" remains a testament to Killing Joke's influential sound and its enduring impact on alternative music.