"Love Like Blood" is a landmark single by the English post-punk band Killing Joke, released in January 1985 as the second single from their fifth studio album, Night Time. The track stands as one of the band’s most acclaimed and enduring songs, frequently cited as a defining moment in their transition from post-punk to a more melodic, gothic rock and new wave-influenced sound12.
Song Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Album | Night Time (1985) |
| Writers | Jaz Coleman, Paul Ferguson, Paul Raven, Kevin "Geordie" Walker4 |
| Length | 6:50 (album version) 4:14 (single/video)2 |
| Producer | Chris Kimsey1 |
| Genre | Gothic Rock, New Wave12 |
| Chart Peak | No. 16 UK Singles Chart Top 10 in the Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand12 |
| Notable B-side | "Blue Feather (Version)"24 |
Musical Characteristics
- Style: Geordie Walker, Killing Joke’s guitarist, described the track as "disco with distorted guitar"—a blend of hard-hitting, melody-driven gothic rock built around a danceable rhythm and moody, echoing guitar lines1.
- Instrumentation: Features a pulsing bassline, shimmering guitars, atmospheric keyboards, and dramatic, soaring vocals from Jaz Coleman15.
- Production: The song’s crystalline, polished sound is a departure from the band’s earlier, rawer material and helped open Killing Joke to a broader audience in the 1980s1.
Lyrics & Meaning
The lyrics to "Love Like Blood" are poetic and abstract, meditating on life’s brevity, the intensity of love, and existential themes of courage and honor. Key lines like:
“We must play our lives like soldiers in the field
But life is short, I’m running faster all the time
Strength and beauty destined to decay
So cut the rose in full bloom...”
Convey a message about embracing life’s passions and beauty while it lasts. Frontman Jaz Coleman has noted that the song is "a hymn to everything good and eternal about love," rooted in the ideas from Japanese author Yukio Mishima, especially the notion of living with honor and intensity57.
Legacy and Influence
- Cultural Impact: "Love Like Blood" is a staple at goth and new wave events, especially in continental Europe, and enjoys enduring popularity in countries like the Netherlands and Belgium, where it appears regularly on all-time song countdowns1.
- Covers: The song has inspired numerous artists across genres, with covers by bands such as Death by April, Icehouse, Nouvelle Vague, and others24.
- Media Use: "Love Like Blood" has featured in films and TV shows, including The Fountain, The Social Network, and True Blood5.
- Critical Reception: Hailed as a classic of 1980s alternative music for its melodic strength, anthemic chorus, and philosophical undertones5.
Personnel
| Role | Musician |
|---|---|
| Vocals, Keyboards | Jaz Coleman |
| Guitar | Kevin "Geordie" Walker |
| Bass | Paul Raven |
| Drums | Paul Ferguson |
| Producer | Chris Kimsey |
Notable Lyrics (Excerpt)
"A love like blood
Till the fearless come and the act is done
A love like blood"
Summary
"Love Like Blood" exemplifies Killing Joke’s evolution into a more melodic vein while preserving their intensity and depth. It remains one of alternative music’s most anthemic and philosophically resonant singles, bridging gothic, post-punk, and danceable new wave157.
