Killing Joke Extremities! Launching February 2026

The “Black Cassette” recordings, a series of demos tracked by Killing Joke at Steve Albini’s residence in Chicago, form the primary core of the release Extremities!, issued February 27, 2026, via Invisible Records. These sessions predated the eventual studio iterations of the 1990 album Extremities, Dirt and Various Repressed Emotions. The technical setup involved Albini monitoring from a pantry-based control room while the drum tracking for Killing Joke took place in a basement. The recordings feature the early integration of Yamaha drum machines alongside the manual manipulation of oscillators and overdriven bass frequencies by Geordie Walker.

Title: Extremities!
Artist: Killing Joke
Release Date: 2026-02-27
Genres: Gothic Rock, New Wave, Post-punk
Label: Invisible Records
Description: Killing Joke Extremities! arrives February 27, 2026, via Invisible Records, featuring 1988 Steve Albini demos and Birmingham live audio.

Following these sessions, the equipment utilized by Albini was purchased and relocated to a facility on Wabash Avenue, which subsequently functioned as the operational base for Invisible Records and Killing Joke. This archival collection compiles those initial structural sketches, where Walker and Martin Atkins developed the rhythmic templates later refined for the band’s ninth studio album.

The second portion of the release consists of live audio captured at Burberries in Birmingham on December 20, 1988. This performance was the first public appearance of Martin Atkins as the drummer for Killing Joke. The setlist included the debut live performances of “Extremities,” “The Fanatic,” “Intravenous,” and “The Beautiful Dead.” The recording documents a specific transitional period for the group, characterized by Jaz Coleman’s vocal improvisations and Walker’s instructions for a more percussive, chaotic drum style.

Killing Joke formed in Notting Hill, London, in 1978. The founding lineup consisted of Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), Kevin “Geordie” Walker (guitar), Martin “Youth” Glover (bass), and Paul Ferguson (drums). Their self-titled debut album was released in 1980 on EG Records. Walker remained the band’s sole constant member alongside Coleman until his death in 2023. Martin Atkins, formerly of Public Image Ltd and Pigface and founder of Invisible Records, joined the lineup for the Extremities era following the departure of Ferguson. Steve Albini, a recording engineer and musician known for his work with Big Black and Shellac, founded Electrical Audio in Chicago. Albini’s credits include engineering for Pixies, Nirvana, and PJ Harvey.

Tracklist

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