VOIVOD and Roadburn have announced that seminal post-punk pioneers KILLING JOKE will perform at Roadburn 2012 on Thursday, April 12th as part of the newly expanded Au-delà du Réel event.

Killing Joke was at the top of Voivod’s wish list as soon as they accepted the curator invitation. Unfortunately, Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards and arrangements), Geordie Walker (guitar), Youth (bass) and Paul Ferguson (drums) could not make it to Tilburg on Friday, April 13th due to prior commitments. However, in the spirit of Roadburn and true to the Outer Limits theme, it was quickly decided to expand Au-delà du Réel and turn Voivod‘s dream of sharing a stage with Killing Joke into reality.

Once described by Paul Ferguson as “the sound of the earth vomiting,” Killing Joke is anthemic and grandiose in its evocation of nightmare visions. Notorious for their use of inflammatory imagery, a backlash against a world they perceived as ever more materialistic, unjust and conservative, Killing Joke railed against the establishment and created a unique sound from the very start.

Killing Joke was incorporating danceable elements with heavy, aggressive, grinding guitars and pounding tribal drums all the way back in the Eighties. With elements of proto-techno rock, their post-apocalyptic vision inspired bands as diverse and influential as GODFLESH, MINISTRY and TOOL. Their legacy can be heard and felt across the entire Roadburn festival spectrum.

Namechecked and covered by dozens of great bands, Killing Joke‘s significance in rock history was acknowledged again in 2005 when they won Kerrang magazine’s prestigious lifetime achievement award. 2010 and 2011 have been two of the most successful years for the band. Absolute Dissent won Album of the Year at the 2010 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards and long-time fan Jimmy Page presented the band the Lifetime Achievement recognition at the Classic Rock Awards.

Bassist Youth revealed the band’s secret to success in a 2011 interview: “A stubborn refusal to go away, fearless about reinventing ourselves and our sound, being authentic to who we are as individuals and a shared common quest in the fearless pursuit of the timeless and eternal qualities in music and life.”

Killing Joke have always been and continue to be more than just a band, which we will witness in living, fire-breathing color during Voivod’s Au-delà du Réel on Thursday, April 12th at the 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland. Their appearance will coincide with an extensive tour in support of a new album and the set lists on these dates will form the most comprehensive career spanning shows to date!

Please note that Voivod‘s second show originally scheduled for Saturday, April 14th has been moved to Thursday, April 12th as part of the specially extended Au-delà du Réel. The main stage line-up for Thursday, April 12th (in alphabetical, not official running order): AGALLOCH, d.USK/diSEMBOWELMENT, Killing Joke, OM, ULVER and Voivod.

For further Roadburn Festival information and complete lineup details visit Roadburn.com.