What’s THIS For…!

Released in June 1981, 'What’s THIS For…!' is Killing Joke's second studio album and a pivotal moment in the evolution of industrial rock. Following their self-titled debut, this record pushed the band's 'tribal' sound into more experimental and abrasive territory. Recorded at Townhouse Studios, the production emphasizes the interplay between Big Paul Ferguson’s floor-tom heavy drumming and Geordie Walker’s unique, bell-like guitar tone, achieved through heavy chorus and delay. The album is notable for its more prominent use of synthesizers, which add a layer of paranoiac atmosphere to the rhythmic assault. Critically, it is often viewed as a more challenging, less 'pop' successor to their debut, yet it contains some of their most influential work, particularly 'Follow the Leaders,' which became a club hit and a blueprint for the industrial-dance movement. The lyrics focus on societal control, the loss of individuality, and occult themes, cementing the band's reputation as the prophets of the post-punk era.