"We're living in the eighties...!!" - and so we seem to be, musically at least. Jaz Coleman's raging post-punk warhorse that is, Killing Joke, have often been cited as timeless and an influence on many new-wave and rock bands since the late '70s, but never more so than nowadays.

Tool, Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails and Rammstein have all paid props to the intense yet melodic wall of sound, eminating from most of their catalogue since debut single, "Nervous System", rumbled out from John Peel's playlist in 1979 - that's if Peel ever bothered with anything so banal as a playlist.

Other classics by the Joke that you have to hear before you die include, "Requiem", "Follow The Leaders", "Let's All Go (To The Fire Dances)", "Eighties" and "Pandemonium". But their most quoted track is probably the eerie and tribal, "Love Like Blood", issued as a single in 1985 and a Top 20 smash (well, number 16 at any rate) - even Radio 1 played it once, I seem to remember. It probably frightened the DJs to death - apart from the evening's saviours like Peel, Skinner and Long.

2012 will see Killing Joke hit the road for a UK tour, the details of which are sketchy, suffice to say that as the original line-up reformed for the 2010 album, "Absolute Dissent", we could be looking at more new material and some catalogue classics. According to the band's website, their label Spinefarm are due to repackage some of their older albums in the coming year, as well as release a brand new studio album.

The tour will take place during March 2012, starting in Bristol on the 5th, followed by Norwich, London (Roundhouse), Manchester and more until Oxford on the 17th. Prices start at £19.50 and with a few gaps in the schedule, there might be more cities announced in due course. All tickets for this exciting tour go on sale on Tuesday at 9am except for Glasgow, which goes on sale on Friday 15th July. Get in quick - demand will be high [they quickly sold-out their Ether Festival appearance earlier this year - Ed]!!

Before then, they head to Knebworth this evening where they will headline the bohemia stage at Sonisphere.