release date: Jun. 22, 1981
format: digital (2005 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,36]
producer: Killing Joke, Hugh Padgham, Nick Launay
label: Virgin Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "The Fall of Because" - 2. "Tension" - 3. "Unspeakable" - 5. "Follow the Leaders" - 8. "Exit" - *9. "Follow the Leaders (Dub)"
*Bonus track on 2005 remaster
2nd studio album by Killing Joke originally released on E.G. Records continue the style laid out on the debut by adding a more complex stylistic shape to its already highly individual sound. An overall label would be art punk within a post-punk sphere. Today, critics would be tempted to point to obvious industrial metal traits. What may not seem like a big issue from a modern perspective is what had evolved into an unwritten law of punk rock and (to some degree also) post-punk of the day: to play short compositions lasting from 1:30 mins to 3:50 and not much longer than that. Occasional tracks lasting longer was not uncommon but to have five tracks with a running time above 5 mins, and the shortest composition, track #7 "Who Told You How?" lasting 3:37 was quite unconventional.
What's THIS For...! doesn't build much on obvious chants like "Requiem" and "The Wait" from the debut - only track #5 comes close to that, but the album's strength is the unconditional approach playing with a highly unique sound.
Killing Joke had often been scheduled together with Joy Division when playing live, and I think one will find bolder examples of inspiration on this particular album - especially, in the rhythm section.
Listening to the album today, is a strange experience. There's no doubt that the band was one of a kind and made extraordinary songs that seem to share more with bands of the 90s than hardly any of the band's contemporaries and although the music, as well as the band, isn't an absolute favourite of mine, I still find it fascinating obscure.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]
