Pylon

Pylon, released in 2015, represents the third installment in a loose trilogy of albums (following 2010's Absolute Dissent and 2012's MMXII) recorded by the band's original 1979 lineup. Sonically, it is arguably the heaviest and most industrial-leaning of the three, leaning heavily into the 'pylon' metaphor - a symbol of the stark, cold structures of power and surveillance that define the 21st century. The album was produced by Tom Dalgety, who helped sharpen the band's dense sound into something more punchy and modern without sacrificing the analog grit of Youth's bass or the unique resonance of Geordie's hollow-body guitar. Critics noted that while many legacy acts soften with age, Killing Joke became more aggressive and focused on Pylon, with AllMusic praising its 'uncompromising intensity.' It stands as a definitive late-career statement that bridges their early post-punk roots with the industrial metal sound they helped pioneer in the 1990s.