A key influence on industrial rock, their early music was described by critics Stephen Thomas Erlewine and John Dougan as well as industrial metal and "quasi-metal, dancing to a tune of doom and gloom," which gradually evolved over the years, incorporating elements of electronic music, synth-pop, gothic rock, and alternative rock, though always emphasizing Coleman's "savagely strident vocals."
Finding modest commercial success, Killing Joke have influenced many later bands, such as Nirvana, Ministry, Amen, Lamb of God, Nine Inch Nails, Napalm Death, Amebix, Big Black, Godflesh, Tool, Prong, Metallica, Primus, Jane's Addiction, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Faith No More, Blacklist, Shihad and Korn, all of whom have at some point cited some debt of gratitude to Killing Joke.
Inside The Termite Mound
Killing Joke Lyrics
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Because it's too hot outside now
Nocturnal notions (as we leave or cocoons)
Antennae tuned to inhuman vibrations
Shaping the cities of the world to come
I listen to the sound, the endless construction
Inside the termite mound
I walked past the nursery
All the children have gone now
(The rules we taught them are what they've become)
Move past the people (they make me feel so indifferent)
Serving their purpose
It's their purpose to serve
A thousand lights from this honeycombed labyrinth
These winding tunnels lead to my place of desire
Bars and bazaars of self-gratification
Live to consume
Live for momentary pleasures
I listen to the sound, the endless construction
Inside the termite mound
Killing Joke's "Inside The Termite Mound" is a commentary on the societal construct of modern civilization, where people have become like termites who follow a hive-mind mentality and are driven by pointless materialism. The lyrics portray people as "dormant" during the day because it is too hot outside, and only active during the night, just like termites. The verse "Antennae tuned to inhuman vibrations, shaping the cities of the world to come" suggests that people are being controlled by inhuman forces, perhaps by the capitalist system, which is molding cities to cater to consumerist desires.
The singer seems to be wandering through the city, past locations like the nursery, where children have already been ingrained with the rules of society, serving their predetermined roles. The people he sees are "serving their purpose," implying that humans’ purpose has been predetermined for them, and their supposed freedom is nothing but an illusion. The bridge of the song speaks to the darker, hedonistic side of the hive-mind mentality, where people are trapped and live to consume, chasing fleeting pleasures without a thought for tomorrow.
The chorus "I listen to the sound, the endless construction, inside the termite mound" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the hive-mind mentality of society, where the endless construction symbolizes the endless pursuit of materialism, leading to a claustrophobic and stifling existence. Overall, the song seems to suggest that society has become a termite mound, where people have lost their individuality and are nothing more than cogs in the machine.
Line by Line Meaning
By day we're dormant
During the day we are inactive and restful
Nocturnal notions (as we leave or cocoons)
Nighttime thoughts and ideas take over as we emerge from our protective shells
Antennae tuned to inhuman vibrations
Our senses are attuned to signals beyond human comprehension
Shaping the cities of the world to come
We are busy creating the blueprint for future civilisations
I listen to the sound, the endless construction
I pay attention to the constant building and development
Inside the termite mound
Within the structure we have built for ourselves
I walked past the nursery
I passed by the place where new life begins
All the children have gone now
They have grown and moved on from where they started
(The rules we taught them are what they've become)
Their behaviour and ideals have been shaped by what we have taught them
Move past the people (they make me feel so indifferent)
I ignore the individuals around me because I feel detached and uncaring towards them
Serving their purpose
They are fulfilling their designated roles
It's their purpose to serve
Their existence revolves around serving a greater purpose
A thousand lights from this honeycombed labyrinth
Countless sources of illumination in this intricate structure
These winding tunnels lead to my place of desire
I follow the labyrinthine passages to reach my desired destination
Bars and bazaars of self-gratification
The location is filled with opportunities for self-indulgence
Live to consume
The purpose of life is to keep consuming
Live for momentary pleasures
Our existence revolves around immediate gratification
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEREMY COLEMAN, KEVIN WALKER, MARTIN CLIVE ATKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Saunders
By day we're dormant
Because it's too hot outside now
Nocturnal notions (as we leave or cocoons)
Antennae tuned to inhuman vibrations
Shaping the cities of the world to come
I listen to the sound, the endless construction
Inside the termite mound
I walked past the nursery
All the children have gone now
(The rules we taught them are what they've become)
Move past the people (they make me feel so indifferent)
Serving their purpose
It's their purpose to serve
A thousand lights from this honeycombed labyrinth
These winding tunnels lead to my place of desire
Bars and bazaars of self-gratification
Live to consume
Live for momentary pleasures
I listen to the sound, the endless construction
Inside the termite mound
Read more: Killing Joke - Inside The Termite Mound Lyrics | MetroLyrics
redriverraider
By day we're dormant
Because it's too hot outside now
Nocturnal notions (as we leave or cocoons)
Antennae tuned to inhuman vibrations
Shaping the cities of the world to come
I listen to the sound, the endless construction
Inside the termite mound
I walked past the nursery
All the children have gone now
(The rules we taught them are what they've become)
Move past the people (they make me feel so indifferent)
Serving their purpose
It's their purpose to serve.
A thousand lights from this honeycombed labyrinth
These winding tunnels, lead to my place of desire
Bars and bazaars, of self-gratification
Live to consume
Live for momentary pleasures
I listen to the sound, the endless construction
Inside the termite mound.
Antonio Ortiz
the guitar in this song is unreal. it sounds like buildings melting. what an underrated riffwriter and guitar player!
David Forshaw
@ObscuraPrima 👍👍👍Agreed!
ObscuraPrima
Absolute innovators.
Adam Linardi
Geordie and Jaz are the Killing and the Joke. By themselves they are nothing, together they bring down the barriers of music.
samantha lewin
antonio ortiz Geordie most certainly is.
NSV
The political radicalism as you term is, is part of the flavor of Killing Joke. It goes right back to their earliest records.
David Forshaw
👍👍👍So true!
gorcanto
Unbelievably epic guitar sound. Geordie Walker is so underrated. Nobody can write riffs that sound like this. His sound is monstruous and beautiful.
David Forshaw
👍👍👍 Geordie is so Zen with that guitar, its almost part of him!
samantha lewin
gorcanto
Definitely one of my favourite guitarists. I love his style and his guitar. The sound is very rich and very beautiful. He is so effortlessly cool with it as well.