AMG Review of No Way Out But Forward Go

Jim Harper
All Music Guide

No Way Out But Forward Go is Killing Joke's first full-length release since 1996's Democracy, and the band's third live album. Taken from a 1985 concert on the Night Time tour, it's hardly a worthy substitute for a studio album, but it does showcase Killing Joke at their finest. The 17 tracks are split roughly equally between Youth-era and Paul Raven-era material, with most of the Night Time album being present. All of the early classics ("Wardance," "Requiem") are featured, as well as rarer songs such as "Pssyche." Live versions of two tracks from Brighter Than a Thousand Suns are also included, as is a full CD-ROM of the concert on some editions. Unfortunately, most of the show sounds as if it's been recorded in a rehearsal room, since the audience appears to be almost entirely lifeless. The bandmembers give it their best effort, however, and throw themselves into the performance wholeheartedly. The only low point is "The Good Samaritan," which isn't really appropriate for a live setting. Other than that, it's a good representation of the band's bile-and-fire approach.