Unknown Pleasures

Talk about mood music. A mouthwatering combination of surly bass, rolling drums and Debbie-Downer vocals that coalesce into a dark and gnarly record of the very fact of existence. My FIANCÉE said from a distance it sounds like some Soviet anthem, which isn't a bad way to frame it, perhaps. This is the music of walking through cities with the same sets of soulless tower blocks, greyed out people being put through a machine, and the watching eyes of big brother, and feeling your own soul vibrating inside you. How do you reconcile the two? Through unknown pleasures.

Have to admit that I’ve been trying to like the actual songs on this album (as opposed to just the mythology, artwork, etc.) for a really long time. Thankfully, it finally “clicked” this past year. This is one of those albums that definitely works better the louder you play it for whatever reason - perhaps because of how many songs are constructed around the bass guitar? At any rate, I get it now. And can see all the tendrils touching so, so many other bands I love. Highly recommend the podcast on Spotify that delves into all things Joy Division/New Order, as well, if you haven’t listened yet.

Consistently bleak, which has the effect of rendering it quite one-note. 3.5

it was cool found out the main guy killed himself all similar vibe songs

One of my ex lovers loved this album and I feel like I understand them a lot better after hearing it. Not really my thing but I can see the appeal

It was a little dull for me. I understand the praise for them lyrically and for the influence, but it was just too consistently gloomy for me to enjoy it for the music. I don't really like art when the artist themself seems bored by their own work. I guess I'd rather dance to "Let's Dance To Joy Division" than Joy Division itself.

Disorder - yeah it's a song Day of the Lords - no Candidate - no Insight - no New dawn fades - hmmm She's lost control - no Shadowplay - hmmm Wilderness - I don't remember listening to this Interzone - hmmm I remember nothing - no I did not enjoy this album. Sorry

No. 77/1001 Disorder 3/5 Day of the Lords 3/5 Candidate 2/5 Insight 2/5 New Dawn Fades 3/5 She's Lost Control 2/5 Shadowplay 2/5 Wilderness 2/5 Interzone 2/5 I Remember Nothing 1/5 Average: 2,2 I personally just don't like Post Punk. Musically this was fine, I just like this talk-singing that they are doing.

I've always been turned off of this bank because of the vocals. I like the music and other post-punk banks like The Cure. I even like some bands with vocals similar to this. Interzone reminds me of Gord Downie, for example, when he sings the counterpoints. This records is definitely hit and miss. Some tracks wash over me and I don't mind them, but then a funeral dirge hits and I'm like ugh, skip. Overall, I feel like I'm missing the point here or something. I don't think I like it all that much, and for some reason that makes me feel guilty.

Painful. And not in a good way. Boring. Sounds like dracula took a bunch of quaaludes. I will never trust that anyone could possibly enjoy this. They seem to also be responsible for influencing a lot of shoegazey british droning that came after it, and I really don't understand the draw. Anyone that says they like this has to be just feeling pretentious or something.

Da der Sänger zu früh verstorben ist, mag es etwas unhöflich rüberkommen, wenn ich folgende Assoziation teile, für die ich um Verzeihung bitte: ich sehe da immer Kermit den Frosch aus der Muppet Show am Mikro. Ich kann der Musik beim besten Willen nichts gutes abgewinnen und halte das gesamte Oeuvre von Joy Division für komplett verzichtbar.

HUGE influence on many of the bands I love. Some have covered songs from this album, others have admitted to outright stealing its riffs. When I think of post-punk, this is the album that comes to mind.

What’s there left to say about Unknown Pleasures? This album is everywhere - it influenced so many artists in the past and present, and it will probably also in the future. This album is raw, the emotions in the lyrics and in the singing are crystal-clear, supported by amazing instrumentation. Yet they do not diverge into cliché or kitsch, it almost feels callous. The music here is so purposeful - like everything you hear was picked specifically to be here, nothing is there that isn’t supposed to be. Joy Division knows when to go all in and when to leave space in the music, which creates such a powerful atmosphere, you can basically touch it. And i also really love Grace Jones’ cover of She Lost Control. Such a great song.

Dark and yet captivating. Could be improved if was sung in multiple languages.

Classic one of my fav 80s albums

One of the most perfect albums. Production work is fantastic.

What an album, and ahead of its time. A goth masterpiece, the album is understated, bit you can still hear the punk roots and hints of their on-stage energy, especially in Peter Hook’s sublime bass playing.

This is gothic rock and its ok but if you like this kind of music I reccomend it

отличный пост-панк! Послушал несколько раз. Буду слушать ещё.

A classic post-punk album that is unto itself. The soundscape is as visceral as Ian's lamenting vocals.

Onaj album s one majice, volim jako, rip ian curtis

Disorder - 5/5 Day of the Lords - 4/5 Candidate - 4/5 Insight - 4/5 New Dawn Fades - 4.5/5 She's Lost Control - 5/5 Shadowplay - 5/5 Wilderness - 4/5 Interzone - 4.5/5 I Remember Nothing - 4/5 Once I saw Ian Curtis dance erratically in one of the band's few live performances on both Transmission and She's Lost Control, I knew this band was something special and was equally tragic. This album drapes you in a blanket of gloom and despair as it takes you on a ride. This album will make you feel worse, but you'll be better for listening to this in its entirety. Overall: 5/5 Favorites: Disorder, She's Lost Control, Shadowplay, New Dawn Fades, Interzone

Absolutely haunting yet deeply appealing as a punk record.

🫪

One of the best albums of all times

Ya, that’s a 10

One of the albums that shaped me into the person I am today (for better or for worse). The ultimate sadcore album, full of dark energy, the playlist of my angsty teenage years is still one of my favourite albums of all time.

I was late to the Joy Division train but now I'm well and truly on it! I went through their entire song discogs a few years back which was really the first time I'd listened to them significantly beyond Love Will Tear Us Apart. I instantly became a fan of both albums and although I slightly prefer Closer, this is responsible for birthing an iconic sound and lore that influenced many that followed. The album cover is iconic and the album contains my fave song of theirs, New Dawn Fades

Known enjoyment.

Incredible album that apparently was produced in a way that made the band sound unrecognisable. I love the blokes involved, I love the album, I love the live stuff.

Even though they never put their singles on any LPs, I still really like this album and the lore behind it's making... it's the journey of Punk to Goth.

I'm generally a fan of the post punk movement, particularly things that are dark, gothic, industrial, or electronic. It will come as no surprise that I have this record on vinyl in my garage. That said, I came to it in a somewhat unusual way. I had been DJing for several years and like many other folks "Blue Monday" was a staple. Someone who knew of my personal tastes and my background recommended this record to me, along with the other Joy Division albums. This was back in the day when there were record shops and clerks who knew what they were selling... anyhow, it certainly put me in a different direction, one that I enjoyed for decades! I don't know if I would have ever made the connection between Joy Division and New Order if it hadn't been for that clerk.

psychedelic, enjoyable, hypnotic

This is one of those instant 5 stars no need to listen albums. I still listened to it twice because it’s Unknown Pleasures. Peter Hook makes me want to learn to play bass.

album poznat otprije! izrazito izvrstan album koji još uvijek nisam prerastao, premda ga slušam od srednje. najbolje su mi stvari sigurno »disorder« i »she's lost control«, ali ni druge nipošto ne zaostaju. dosljedno jako dobar, nekako se, na dobar način, sve stapa, čemu odgovara i super omot. sve u svemu petica

Es un 10

Hace un tiempo me tocó escuchar 'Closer' y pensé que Joy Division no era para mí, y por esa razón no creí que este álbum fuese a probarme lo contrario. Es un disco que le habría encantado a mi yo depresivo de hace unos años, y me apena no haberle dado una chance antes. ↑: Disorder, Day of the Lords, Candidate, New Dawn Fades, Shadowplay, Interzone ↓: I Remember Nothing

So far ahead of its time, good drums

own

it's hard to think of an album that feels more like a rite of passage for young listeners than Unknown Pleasures. it comes to you early, in whispers and t-shirt designs, ubiquitous but somehow still secretive, beckoning you towards something dark, strange, real. given the album's status, i think it's easy to be disappointed by it. i was at first, but privately - at 13 or 14, it felt hugely important to not let on that i was held at arm's length by the record's mechanical chill. the record wouldn't meet me where i was at, and it required a bit of dedication to enjoy the alien drum sound, the raw, shaky vocals. now, though, this thing goes down incredibly smooth. it's never too far away from the robot-groove of new wave or the basso-profundo caverns of doom metal, never too austere to not genuinely rock. the middle stretch of New Dawn Fades/She's Lost Control/Shadowplay is a very clear encapsulation of the record's strengths - theatrics, then hooks, then menace - and one of the best 3-song stretches i can think of. like i said earlier, i don't think i ever Fully Loved this record. i've only come back to it recently, when a bassist in a band i was playing in started ending every practice with a fuckaround runthrough of Disorder. it struck me just what a great hook the song had, how easy it was to start drumming along even though i hadn't heard the song in ten years. i came back to the record and the feeling persisted, how funny and kind of magical it was that a record renowned for its austere darkness is full of songs that hit like standards. it's maybe a strange kind of subculture to have this album as both initiation ceremony and Great English Songbook, but i'm happy to have entered into it, and i'm happy to return to a classic and find it vital and powerful, but well-worn too, like any good relationship with any old friend

Incredible

Dark and dance-y is exactly my kind of shit

Simple, brooding rock compositions. All hail Ian Curtis!

I know technically this came out in '79, but I feel like this is such an 80s album. It predicted the gloom and dark undertones of a lot of alternative rock so well, and it (in my opinion) does it much better than many of their contemporaries did. It's such a moody album, and Ian Curtis has such a distinct voice that it's hard not to fall in love with this. It's a shame we lost him so young, but at least he gave us this masterpiece first. Favorites: Day of the Lords, Shadowplay, I Remember Nothing

I've walked on water, run through fire Can't seem to feel it anymore

The inception of Alternative. Crazy how we got Quiet Life by Japan and this is the introduction to this type of music. The cure seventy seven seconds is exactly this energy. It feels like walking through the forest at night and trying to find where you once came. The use of synths in this is so subtle and small but in insight for instance to hear I’m Not afraid anymore mixed with the drums and synths it feels terrifying and free. I lost one AirPod today so I have to listen to this album in one ear. The bass on these songs are incredible so many time under looked in other genre but when it comes to alternative Bass is so important and it carries so many songs here. New dawn fades just ends with a battle between guitar drums and bass who can hold out who will fade the drums won and they fade out and stops. That’s this whole album honestly it’s a mix of a depressing concept and beautiful execution.

Late 70’s to early 80’s was such a remarkable time of change in music. I wish I hadn’t found this album almost 10 years later.

One of those albums that I know by heart, but don't listen to much anymore. It's an important album for me, but of course it has also had a huge cultural impact. And yet I prefer New Order.

I'm in the exact headspace for this.

increíble

Not my favourite JD album but I can't give it anything else

Outstandingly gloomy

One of my favorite albums of all time, and the first album I’d already listened to before!

Pulsing, driving, grooving - just a great album. Just listen to it again, whole thing is great

Brilliant production and not a bad track.

Wawy, spacious. Sonido sumamente grande. Depende el mood se te puede hacer largo. LE pongo un 5 pero siento que es un 4.7

It gets so much hype that I'm not sure I like it quite as much as everybody else, but I still recognise it as a classic and enjoy putting it on pretty frequently. 9/10

A favourite from when I was a teenager. Still gets me.

moody and traumatic, it's one of the greatest debut albums ever made. if you think this is miserable, that's kind of the point honey. they MEANT everything recorded on here. doesn't try to comfort or coddle you. a brutal masterpiece. relistening to this brings back emotions every single time, perhaps not emotions for all the time, though.

Absolut Classic, without a doubt one of the most influential albums evee

Frénésie Descente Sombre Abandon ou acceptation Mélancolie —> album contrasté et descendant, vers du plus sombre

9/10 Not sure how I've never really listened to this before? Oozes a class and an attitude that elevates it above the sum of it's parts. Dark and frantic, feeling like it is always on edge

Ура!!!

Coincidence I got this on the day JD/NO got into the R&RHOF? Yes, probably. But so what?

Love the slow ones and the fast ones. Love the synth and Foley sounds swirling in, love the bass playing, love the drum sound

Una locura la atmósfera. Lo envolvente del sonido, y a la vez los pocos elementos que usan. Genial el art cover también.

I already loved this album—I have it on vinyl.

очередная пятерочка

Perfect summary of many genres at the time, with an original and important sound.

Masterpiece

This is THE post-punk album. If you can only own one post-punk record,.my vote goes to Unknown Pleasures.

Great old album, very like it, 5 start. Don't know what to say... The story of the group is as iconic as their songs!

Bleak, visceral, crackling with a forbidding energy, both firmly of its time and timeless.

Super leuk

5/5 ultimate rainy day album atmospheric

Classic

I can't listen to this album without designing 5 different t-shirts based off the album art

A classic.

top 3 - Shadowplay, Days of the Lords, She’s Lost Control. Amazing! I really like the bass on this, would relisten.

uno de los albums mas importantes en la historia no se puede decir mas de los que fue joy divison en lo que es la musica creo que la mayoria de la musica actual que me gusta le debe algo a este disco

What a beautifully dissonant album! From start to end, just a great sounding album.

Gran disco. Icónico, vanguardista, atrevido. Es difícil saber cuántos grandes artistas con grandes sonidos sacaron su influencia de este disco. Definitivamente uno de los grandes.

i loved this in high school. lost my cd somewhere down the line and never replaced it but it was fun to revisit it. happy to see that subsequent generations of teenagers love it as much as i did.

A great album

my favorite gloom and doom and joy album

Can't go wrong with a little JD

Intense, dark. Joy Division are one of the best bands ever. A simple, heavy, serious sound. Great cover art.

Solid

A dense, layered, darkly atmospheric soundscape. Those basslines are perfection.

unhhh

It's really hard to imagine what Post Punk would have become without Joy Division. The power of this album resonates through so many styles and artists to come. Joy Division's influence can be felt in genre's to come as well: hardcore, goth, post punk, new wave. I am glad Bernard did not stop making music, but Ian Curtis had something special, and it is a shame his life of artistry was cut so short.

makes me wanna die, i love it

10/10! Super influential and just gets me in that mood where I wanna move around the room real slow and wave my arms around to the beat

JEg gætter på det er noget post punk pga de sådan lidt utraditionelle sangstrukturer osv. Det har en meget mørk lyd. Eneste album fra joydivision som blev udgivet mens ian curtis stadig levede. Bassen bliver brugt meget som et hovedinstrument og synes også mange lyde er industrielle, nogle gange hørte jeg næsten hvad jeg troede ville være tallerkerner som blev smadret. Har generelt bare en meget dyster tone og lyder kunstnerisk også. Det har en meget tung atmosfære jeg godt kan lide, men har også kunne lide mørk musik i lang tid efterhånden. Jeg synes det er et virkelig kanon album,

Favorite Track: Shadowplay

Overall I enjoyed listening to the album. Felt very mellow and somber in a sense. It was also very nice album to drive to as well. The guitar and drums in this album was absolutely stellar as well as the production, the singing was great as well. Favorite song was probably Shadowplay, with Disorder being second. Least favorite was Wilderness, which was just okay. Im still trying to figure out what the lyrics mean, but I get the sense that its supposed to be about love and the pleasures it brings, whether those be good or bad. 9.8/10.

Fantastic album from a fantastic group, dark and brooding and a great summation of life at the end of the 70's

mega geil, nicht lang und eif geile musik lowk

One of my all-time favourites!

bro literally my favorite album

Rating unashamedly influenced by subsequent events. Also hard to believe New Order was born from the ashes of this

Legends

Now we’re talking. This is an album I would absolutely consider a must-hear.

Good album

No

- thank god - nothing compares to the bass line on disorder - "Ive got the spirit, but lose the feeling" as fuck - drums on "insight" woah - Just found out smiling friends was cancelled while listening Faves: Disorder, Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades, Shadowplay Least Favorite: nada

Me encanta pero ya no lo puedo escuchar completo porque me deprimo

Es mi playera favorita. Fuera de broma (aunque si tengo dos, incluso) la reputación del disco habla por sí sola. Dicen que en vivo JD sonaban muy punk (y si lo creo por los live recordings) pero que bueno que la producción cambió eso por ese sonido pionero de post-punk

Es un disco perfecto. Tienes los radio-friendly hits–Disorder, She's Lost Control, Shadowplay— y las canciones donde la voz de Ian y sus letras lucen, sin olvidar la producción de Martin Hannett. Bernard, Hooky y Stephen son igual de importantes para el sonido, unos genios. Este disco SÍ es una obra maestra que salió de Manchester. 20/5

alch luego se me olvidan las rolas pero inmaculada la fokin vibra. ese riff de new dawn fades sientes que se va a acabar el mundo. y disorder. disorder disorder disorder disorder disorder disorder. disorder disorder di

A major blindspot for me, as I was a massive Interpol fan as a teenager and the comparison was and is inescapable.

Amo

One of the absolute best debut albums of all time. Their time was short due to the passing of Ian Curtis, but they made an impact felt even to this day. Haunting and atmospheric, punchy and prosaic. The rhythm section of Peter Hook and Stephen Morris are top notch, Bernard Summer ebbs and flows throughout with heartfelt guitars, and Ian Curtis commands the whole thing with achingly beautiful lyrics and a commanding, if not exactly typical, voice.

Hell yeah.

Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures (1979) On Day 62, Unknown Pleasures was exactly what I was waiting for. The LP is great and carries a dark energy that is somehow relaxing while still making you want to dance a little. The riffs and drums add a massive vibe to the experience, and the haunting storytelling in the lyrics is pure cinema. Tracks like Disorder, Shadowplay, She’s Lost Control, and New Dawn Fades were absolute standouts for me. While there were a few skips along the way that keep it at a 4/5 for now, I can definitely see this growing on me with more time. It’s a project I’ll certainly be coming back to, as the high-level production and unique atmosphere are hard to ignore. A strong 4/5. Edit: Well it grew on me 5/5

Disorder, New Dawn Fades, She's Lost Control - awesome to hear this whole album again Dark emotions instead of punk anger - it stood apart in 1979 and influenced the post-punk and alternative scene that emerged after their transformation into New Order Fabulous!

Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures is an incredible statement. Perfectly encapsulating the post-punk movement, Ian Curtis' tortured baritone perfectly matches the bleak lyrics and nervous energy of the music. From funeral dirges to punk songs, the haunting energy of Unknown Pleasure pervades. Special shout out to the rhythm section for keeping everything moving. Easily a 5.

few albums in music history can claim to be this iconic. Unknown Pleasures might have the greatest cover art in the history of punk rock; it might also be the inception point of the gothic rock genre as a whole. producer Martin Hannett takes a set of ten songs which should sound like a ball of fury and makes them gloomy, sparse, and incredibly dark. there's all kinds of weird, ambient sounds creeping into the mix of these songs to give them a sense of depth, what with Bernard Sumner's guitars being so scaled back (compared to what the band were used to them sounding like when they played live, anyway). broken glass, tape echoes, whooshing wind sounds. there's tiny little hints of synthesizers (and some electronic drums from Stephen Morris) that poke through every now and then to remind you that, oh yeah, this will be a totally different band within just a couple years. Peter Hook's basslines might be my favorite element of the whole mixture; he truly is the keystone of this entire twisted project. Ian Curtis is clearly carrying the torch for Jim Morrison here, but his stanzas are less surreal and drug-addled, more resigned and bleak. his struggles with epilepsy and his mental health resulted in Unknown Pleasures being the only Joy Division album to release while he was alive. the posthumous follow-up, Closer, gives an even more depressing insight into Curtis' state of mind during the final year of his life. I'm pretty flabbergasted at how Sumner, Hook and Morris managed to be so hugely influential in both the realms of goth rock and synthpop; I'm probably going to listen to Power, Corruption & Lies after I write this, on account of it not being in this list for some reason! decent 9/10.

My loord, pure masterpiece

Banger

I’ve seen very cool people over th years wearing a shirt with this image on it but didn’t realize what it was until now.

Often imitated, but never equalled. This album is dark, depressing, and angry but in the best possible way. This album has such an iconic and identifiable sound through the melodic basslines, robotic drumming and Ian Curtis's baritone vocals. Every song is a banger and the album feels cohesive without feeling repetitive. Iconic for a reason, an easy 5 stars.

I'm ashamed to say I've never listened to this all the way through, and that's on me. It's a groundbreaking debut album. Bleak and clinical sound but there's some real emotional strength. I've never loved the Peter Hook bass tone but the lines are great, and the synth work here is worth a shout. Most iconic album cover as well, I still see it on tshirts whenever I'm out.

One of my favorite albums ever. Maybe the best rock debut ever. It’s the culmination of The Velvet Underground’s effortless cool, the Euro-exploration and experimental eeriness of Bowie and Iggy’s Berlin output, and the punk explosion. Not may albums are as influential, and only a select few compete on a quality, and purity of artist vision.

База, ґрунт, фундамент, основа!

What's there to say about this album that hasn't been said already. 10/10.

Total classic, bit raw of course but solid gold.

Didn't really even need to listen to this one, but you bet I sure did!

Joy Division are so funny to me because this one album truly sounds like the same song over and over to me, but I really enjoy that one song, so I don't mind one bit.

Unknown Pleasures is a brilliant album: dark, moody, angry, melancholic and quietly aggressive. It’s one of those records I don’t put on often enough, but when I do, I end up binging it for days. It completely pulls you into its world. The basslines are immense, the lyrics feel tortured but full of meaning, and the songs are packed with atmosphere and melody. Tracks like Disorder, She’s Lost Control and Day of the Lords show just how much depth and tension Joy Division could create with such restraint. There’s an incredible balance here between bleakness and beauty. Favourite track: She’s Lost Control – absolutely superb. Least favourite tracks: None. Everything here is worth your time. Album artwork: A true classic – simple, stark, and instantly iconic.

es tan bueno como dicen

Doom punk. 4,5

I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand Could these sensations make me feel the pleasures of a normal man? Hai discos que, escoitados no momento oportuno, deixan unha marca indeleble dentro dun. Non lembro exactamente a primeira vez que me puxen diante deste Unknown Pleasures, pero tampouco sei contar con exactitude cantas terminei volvendo a el nin expresar con palabras o que me fan sentir os primeiros compases de 'Disorder'. A rabia do punk tornada escuridade. A velocidade feita calma tensa e insoportable. Ian Curtis exorcizando demos internos a través da voz. Unha atmosfera lóbrega que todo o impregna. Non sei que experimentaría de poder descubrir hoxe a Joy Division coma fixen de adolescente. De volver atopar música coa que identificar esa angustia que vai dentro dun e sentila, retorcela, pinchala. Afacerse a ela, comprendela, é un dos ritos de paso cara á madurez e esta música foi unha das compañeiras de viaxe. Merecido lugar o que ocupa no meu canon particular. I've got the spirit, lose the feeling, let it out somehow (#8 dos 1.001 discos que escoitar antes de morrer: 5/5)

l'obsacuritat industrial, la màquina que sagna, sent i pateix. el listillo de la classe et dirà que és simple i qualsevol podia fer un àlbum així, però sabeu què? només ells ho van poder fer

Recuerdo perfectamente la primera vez que escuché este disco. Me lo pasó mi colega "indie". Se supone que esto tenía algo de punk, pero entonces me pareció que no tenía nada que ver y pensé que no me gustaba. Pero al día siguiente volví a escucharlo y me gustó un poco más. Y luego un poco más. Y así hasta el día de hoy. Uno de esos discos que abrió mil puertas. Uno de esos discos que puedo escuchar sin problemas una vez al mes durante toda mi vida y me emociona cada vez que me lo vuelvo a poner. Si no te gusta estás sordo.

"Unknown Pleasures" is a stark, visceral, and desolate debut, pulsing with both passion and despair. It is brought to life by the paradox of Martin Hannett’s production: a sound that is famously "thin" yet remains incredibly heavy. A particular standout is the drum sound; it is nothing short of fantastic, providing a cold, metronomic heartbeat to the record. Upon its release in 1979, nothing else sounded quite like this, and arguably, nothing has since. The song-writing is of a consistently excellent quality throughout. For me, the "heavy as hell" 'Day of the Lords' is a particular highlight, alongside the now-iconic 'She’s Lost Control' and the frenetic 'Shadowplay'. I can certainly understand why this album polarises opinion, as it is by no means for everyone. Firstly, there is the tone of the music itself - this is not a "happy" listen. Secondly, there is the deep, dark baritone of Ian Curtis’s vocals, which perfectly complements the atmospheric gloom. On "Unknown Pleasures", his delivery is distinctly more refined and haunting than the raw, snarling style found on the band's earlier releases as Warsaw. The artwork is arguably as famous as the music itself. Designed by Peter Saville, it is a masterclass in minimalism and has become one of the most iconic images in pop culture history. Even now, it always pleases me to see a young person wearing the pulsar image on a T-shirt, carrying that legacy forward into a new generation. "Unknown Pleasures" made an instant impact on me during my early teenage years when it was first released, and it remains as fresh today as it did back then. In that respect, it is truly timeless. Five stars. Side one (Outside) 1 "Disorder" (5/5) 2 "Day of the Lords" (5/5) 3 "Candidate" (4/5) 4 "Insight" (5/5) 5 "New Dawn Fades" (5/5) Side two (Inside) 6 "She's Lost Control" (5/5) 7 "Shadowplay" (5/5) 8 "Wilderness" (5/5) 9 "Interzone" (4/5) 10 "I Remember Nothing" (5/5) Total - 47 Average - 4.7 231/1001 127/231 albums reviewed were new to me

One of my favourite albums of all time

I love this album. I don't know that there's anything I dislike about it. I could listen to it pretty much every day and I don't think it would grow old. I love the whole package, but Ian Curtis's voice and Bernard Sumner's guitar, I think, really make it for me. Day of the Lords may be one of the greatest songs ever written.

All time classic

I sadly didn't really discover Joy Division until my early 20s - but I was all in once I did. How could I have never heard of the band that was basically an influence on so many bands I liked (if not downright copied by them)? Interpol, Depeche Mode, lesser also-rans from the 2000s indie revival like the Editors and She Wants Revenge - and of course all the sad Brits from the 80s. & this dumb list has gotten me to appreciate how darkly catchy and timeless they were out of the gate, unlike other genre-blazers who time has been a lot less kind to.

So dark and so grim but really amazing. I love new order and joy division and this record is just so ahead of its time. I definitely have to be in the right mood but it really works.

Great for when you want to feel very sad.

Local legends.

When I die there will be a media frenzy about how a man listened to so much Joy Division and The Cure records and yet led a happy life without committing suicide or mass murder. I'm knocking half a point off because this is relentlessly bleak. 4.5

An easy 5 for me. Have listened to this pretty regularly since I first discovered them many years ago. Still sounds as fresh and exciting today.

Klassiker. Das Album lebt von dieser abgründigen, düsteren Grundstimmung, die sich durchs ganze Album trägt. Instrumental mag ichs auch sehr (tolle Bassgrooves und tanzbare Rhythmen, geiler Gitarrensound), die Stimme von Ian Curtis finde ich auch klasse. Bestes Album bisher.

My dad grew up in Manchester in the 1970s, and from how he describes it, Unknown Pleasures perfectly encapsulates it. I think Martin Hannett’s production might genuinely be the greatest production work ever on a record. The ability to make such a gloomy, atmospheric record sound so stripped back is so impressive to me. I think, in spite of the popularity of this record (and of course Love Will Tear Us Apart), Joy Division are often overlooked in terms of Mancunian bands, and yet, alongside The Smiths, I think they’re the ones who’s sound has the biggest legacy. Unknown Pleasures truly was the post-punk blueprint, whilst metal bands like Sabbath may have come before them, Joy Division pioneered a different type of dark sound that paved the way for so many more artists across a multitude of genres to explore the deepest, darkest depths of their work, and for that, this moody motherfucker will be forever grateful.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM, I already listened to it but I'll listen to it again!

This site needs an option for a 6th star

Ball

It's Joy Division. They can do no wrong. Good to be obliged to listen carefully and hear more musical and vocal detail than I remember hearing back in the day.

An amazing album in every aspect - great recording, incredible performances, and innovative songwriting, to name a few. Truly post-punk perfection. And, possibly the most Urban Outfitters T-Shirt of all time.

Classic album and one of my favourites all time. Favourite songs: New dawn fades, Shadowplay, She's lost control

iconic. the base for emo

No notes, life changing music

Gothic new wave?!! It’s a very good album I thoroughly enjoyed it. The dark and moody atmosphere built up the by the synths made it feel like I was stranded in an abandoned castle with flickers of light as my salvation. The dark sound amplified my favourites for this album listen as ‘Disorder’, ‘Day of the Lords’, and ‘Wilderness’ were the tracks I was drawn to the most. I’ll definitely explore the rest of their catalogue in due course, but at least understand why this album and its cover are so prevalent in pop culture. - GEMV (13.01.2026)

Favorite album atm, disorder top 10 song of all time

I already know and love this album

I loved it so much

Uno de mis álbumes favoritos de todos los tiempos. Ese álbum ha tenido un impacto tan fuerte culturalmente que cad canción equivale a un disco por si misma

One of the greatest albums of all time. Dark, stark but beautiful

1979: Man discovers fire

Iconic. Classic

Amazing debut

Sound of a band finding their incredible sound. She's lost control is the only real hit here... others are notably absent. Warts and all... plenty of bum notes and wayward beats but they created something amazing. Plus one star for the artwork. What a band... goth punk... outstanding

A post punk classic. Hugely influential. The sound of Manchester put to wax. I've owned this on every format over the years. 5 stars.

1991

Amo esse álbum. Já faz anos que o mantenho em um pedestal, como um dos meus discos favoritos. É muito difícil decidir se gosto mais dele ou do outro álbum do Joy Division, Closer. Pra começar, o baixo de Peter Hook! Que delícia. Os vocais de Ian Curtis são tão ternos e cheios de emoção. As canções são estruturadas de maneiras grandiosas, com soundscapes incessantes e vocais tortuosos. Não é um disco dançante, apesar que a faixa inicial, Disorder, possa te enganar nesse aspecto. Acima de tudo, é um álbum muito atmosférico, que leva seu tempo, um slow-burn. Cada seção de cada canção implora por sua atenção. Entendo o instinto de comparar esse disco com o trabalho do New Order, a banda sucessora do Joy Division, mas essa comparação é quase impossível. Apenas o primeiro álbum do New Order segue os passos de Unknown Pleasures, fazendo com que esse disco realmente se destaque na discografia de ambos grupos. Pra ser sincero, acho que só estou enchendo linguiça nessa review. É complicado articular o que penso sobre esse álbum em palavras. Eu o ouço basicamente minha vida inteira, já o associei com diferentes pessoas durante minha vida, ou seja, é um disco carregado de muitas emoções e memórias para mim pessoalmente. Não consigo deslocar tudo isso e ter uma visão mais objetiva do que estou ouvindo. Eu o considero um álbum perfeito. Um que supera as expectativas toda vez que o ouço. Nunca fica velho ou chato. Toda faixa é fantástica e infalível. 5/5

5. Behöver inte ens lyssna

Dark moody Perfect

an absolute classic, banger album no notes

I hadn't listened to this album all the way through in YEARS. In the opening track, Disorder, you can immediately appreciate the influence the record has had over the years - straight away it reminded me of Interpol. This is definitely an album to wallow in - especially if you're in your teens as I was when I first heard it. Listening now, I was transported to those years in the late 80s when I was discovering this kind of thing for the first time, and the likes of Joy Division, Sisters of Mercy, The Cure and Bauhaus were on high rotation. It's good to have that connection to these songs because if I heard it for the first time today, much of it, especially the darker, gloomier ones, (so most of them then) just wouldn't resonate in the same way. That said, while it was a trip down memory lane for me (Disorder, New Dawn Fades and She's Lost Control sounding particularly brilliant), I love how the record continues to resonate and influence young musicians today. Who could've imagined this would all lead to that God awful World Cup song.

Álbum icônico desde a capa. Sombrio mas dançante. QoA Adonis New.

Goooood

Great vibe

I found New Order more accessible in high school and largely missed the genius of Ian Curtis in the late 80s. I was familiar with their larger hits (Love Tear Us Apart) and did not much care for his vocal style at that time. In the early 2000s, I fell in love with Interpol and from there tracked back through Joy Division's catalog. Paul Banks and Carlos D became the fruit of seeds planted in me 15 years earlier. This is a dark, brooding, and amazing album, especially the bass lines which hit from the absolute start. Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades and Shadowplay are standouts. 5/5

iconic!!! such a cool atmosphere and this album as a whole makes me think of my childhood. forever will have a soft spot.

This album is almost like an anomaly, it's so on its own in terms of sound and style. I'm not aware of anything else at the time of this release that sounds like this. Sure, there was other dark music, but nothing as distinctive as this. I mean, is it depressing? You bet yr fuckin' ass it's depressing! It's like the crown jewel of depressing! C'mon now! But it's so damn good at depressing that it ceases being solely depressing and instead becomes like turn-up music! You bet yr fuckin' ass that I had this shit on bump when I was an adolescent and I still got this shit on bump as an elder! I haven't listened to this album all the way through in years, and it's just as good as ever. I hear and appreciate additional aspects of it now. It's an album that has a lot going on production-wise. There's been much written about Martin Hannett's production on this and rightfully so as there really is a lot of stuff going on under the heavy blanket of utterly dour moodiness. It's actually quite a thick recording. Listening on a good pair of headphones is highly-recommended. I remember listening to this album in the dark when I was laying in bed as a teen, replaying "Disorder" over and over thinking "this is the best song ever." Not a whole lot as changed in terms of that sentiment. We don't even need to go over the absolutely iconic album cover, nor the t-shirt that has to be in the top 5 band shirts of all time. Everyone knows the cover and t-shirt even if they've never heard the album. Shit, kinda makes me want to re-up my Joy Division shirt game. One of the best. Beyond classic.

Absolute classic

So moody

Love Joy Division

5 stars no notes. ian curtis saved my life at 17 and this album hits just as hard today.

Dark, Moody and magnificent to miss quote Norman Stanley Fletcher. Any album that start of with a song as good as Disorder is either gong to disappoint or be amazing - thankfully this is the later . . Goth but with clear indication of the pop synth that would come to the for front in New Order. Ian Curtis sings with feeling and angst . almost desperation. Slows down then into Dau of lords- almost Metal in its doom laden bass- overtones of Sabbath or a slowed down metallica. Curtis sounds like a cross between Morrisey and Johnny Cash. Candidate - slows it down even further - feeling almost like Morphine in places. Depressing and uplifting at the same time. Morrisey wishes he was this miserable. ( well he is now but that's just him being a cunt) Insight follows - starting slowly almost like a Feoutus song with chains . Then the base kicks in and we are upbeat again , but only in terms of BPM. Another moody goth song that is a pop classic if sped up . new Dawn Fades- Aptly titled as as the base hints at brighter content, the great riff then drags the song along - feeling like early Sabbath again. Before Curtis Vocals drags the mood down. Morse in the most brilliant way. Drums as simple with the odd paradiddle that feels almost jaunty. Discordant guitar and drums in She's lost control again - Curtis is sing is eire as its the focal point of the track. Shadowplay starts with Bass and Snares in Harmony. before the guitars kick in - almost feels like a Stiff Record - for a second then Curtis Sings bring the mood squarely back to Manchester in the 80s. Wilderness is another base heavy classic. Repetitive guitars and drums drive the song along while Curtis ask "did we see her " Almost call and response with the riff and drums with the base. An Iconic album where everything from the Cover to the last note are truly brilliant, living up to the "Classic" moniker.

Seminal text. Iconic cover. Five stars.

Love this album. I own it on vinyl. It's so sad they couldn't continue making music, but at least it gave us New Order.

so this thing happened today. me in physics class when the the other dudes are gossiping with the teacher about other students on other classes and it turned into a discussion about neurodiversity and nobody knows that im autistic: dude, i dont think that everybody want to use "condition" to replace "disorder"... it depends like, for some people, "disorder" is actually not that bad like, it depends... i quite like disorder cause it sound good! this poser guy in my class who feels superior by listening to rock music and discussing politics: did you just said that disorder sounds good? does it mean you like joy division? what a "superior taste"! me: can you just fucking die you stupid poser it will be funny if i just ended the review here and just give it a 5. but this is not a funny album. and since i have a vinyl of this i should write about the whole listening experience when i get home and spin it. so i got home and gave the album a spin, in my room, on a winter night with a radiator that has the temperature turned up too high. the thirty eight minutes of pure lost, pain and struggling began with almost drum machine like drumming, cold, skeletal basslines, reverbed guitar, and of course, one of the best opening lines on a debut record: "I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand/Could these sensations make me feel the pleasures of a normal man?" yes, ian. i totally feel you. and then i found that no words could describe how i feel about the album and its beauty. trying to break it down song by song like my usual approach leads to a big failure and would make it overlong. so i shall try to generalize it as much as i can. for me, the beauty of unknown pleasures are built upon five things and can be applied to post punk bands generally by changing the musician's names to their corresponding ones in other bands: peter's cold basslines, steve's mechanical drums, bernie's lonesome guitar, and ian's bleak lyrics and how he delivered them. the way the intertwines together to paint this dark and sombre picture of ian's mental world, and possibly the whole of 80s manchester, is absolutely beautiful. i love the atmosphere. i love the lyrics. i love how the song almost all starts and ends cleanly without dragging too long. even the 6 minute long closer "i remember nothing" sound short for me. i guess the only weakness on the album is the relatively sloppy songwriting of "candidate" and "insight" and peter's vocal on interzone. it somehow ruined the atmosphere. his voice suits new order a bit more. time to rate. its, of course, a 5/5

Classic

I loved this album so much boom

Every time I hear this album I love it more. Just an amazing atmosphere front to back. Favorite track: Day of the Lords

5.0 39:28 (10 tracks, debut album, 1979) Just groundbreaking, as is so often the case Ian (Curtis) was obviously conflicted but a beautiful album and who knows where Joy Division would have went had he battled through? (Not that New Order wasn't an outstanding band as well, just a very different direction for the 3 surviving members.)

Awesome, dark, spooky.

They were the first to capture modern life in a digital world.

xD talvez um dos clássicos absolutos e inegáveis mais absolutos e inegáveis que passaram por aqui? esse me coloca num turbilhão de sentimentos mei doidera pq é um dos poucos álbuns que realmente me transportou pra algum lugar sem ser pelas lembranças, mas por musicalmente me colocar num estado bem sombrio kkk oh, to have 17 anos e um milhão de sentimentos ruins impossíveis de serem extravasados

moldou caráter, pro bem ou pro mal. esse eh sempre bom de ouvir. vou nem me alongar aqui não, é pedrada máxima. um ABSURDO esse album existir. e pior eh existir gente que não goste, bizarríssimo fun (mais pra sad) fact: quando uma amiga da escola faleceu, no dia seguinte, chegando na escola, o shuffle do meu nokia tijolão jogou she's lost control e foi um dos piores momentos da vida. todo mundo de preto, chorando enlutado, e o ian curtis esguelando na minha orelha. nunca esqueço e sempre que escuto me dá um arrepio.

was great as always

Sparse, atmospheric and gloomy post-punk. During the first listen I had mixed feelings, but this album really stuck with me and all I wanted to do the next day was listen again and again. Disorder and Day of the Lords in particular are both fantastic but all of the tracks are great.

Masterpiece start to finish

So perfect. So deeply sad.

If I was to have one criticism it is that one track out of ten is merely good rather than great. It was wonderful to revisit and be reminded just how great an album it is. Memorable riffs, melodies and lyrics and really well produced. One of the things I did love is that the last track would lead perfectly into playing Closer straight after. I will have to try this some time.

Although I’d just tip closer for the better of their two albums, this is so atmospheric, and creates such a claustrophobic vibe that I’d rate it as good. The use of sparse electronics, heavy reverb, and double tracking of the vocals and guitar/bass gives it such a distinctive vibe it’s no wonder many bands have sought to emulate it since. I like the inclusion of the dud notes on ‘disorder’ almost as if trying to capture this lightning in a bottle. ‘She’s lost control’ is possibly the best song that they wrote and is a standout in the genre.

Groundbreaking. Iconic. As stark and barren as my heart.

This one’s an all-timer for me. Whenever I listen to anything else, this is one of the albums against which all others are measured. Every part could exist on its own and still be incredible. The vocals, the bass, the drums, the guitar could be listened to in isolation and it’d still be a great piece of music. Every British band that have come after these guys have stolen from them whether they know it or not. Just one of my favorite pieces of recorded music in all of history. One of the great tragedies of modern music is Ian Curtis’ suicide. I truly believe Joy Division could’ve been the biggest British band of the 80s (not a diss to New Order). I’d give this 10 stars if I could.

https://youtu.be/sSOK59KEHC0?si=IfuPBPYYZBE9wlUO This is what 1970s manchester was actually like. Dark and foreboding, forward thinking in a way that completely reset the trajectory of British punk music (they called it "post-punk" after this.) Curtis' voice is so unique, no one has ever been able to quite match the quivering deepness he puts on. Listening to She's Lost Control in high school was like getting kicked in the head. The whole album has this oppressive atmosphere, meant for a dingy nightclub - max capacity 30, overstuffed to 250 but everyone there's rail thin and swaying, the biggest thing on them are their Doc Martens. Pulsating rhythms coming atcha from all directions, music to drown in/to. Favorite Tracks: (all of em); Disorder, She's Lost Control, Insight, Interzone,

I have Joy Division's other album on CD but had never heard most of this. I really liked it. Not always the easiest thing to listen to, but interesting and different.

9.5 / 10

Musically iconic. Possibly the greatest album cover of all time. Joy Division, despite my lack of listening time year after year, still come up from time to time and I never skip them when they do. Though I feel like I just listened to the entire discography, I loved this little excursion and I’m sure it wont be the last time I listen to it. Every song is absolutely essential for this album to really make the impact it has made. Best three song run: New Dawn Fades, She’s Lost Control, Shadowplay..

This album got me through high school. One day, at CD exchange, searching through a dollar bin filled to the BRIM with KISS’s 1998 beer coaster “Psycho Circus”, I stumbled upon a misplaced copy of “Permanent”, a very well put together Joy Division compilation. I had heard about them through the legend of Ian Curtis’ death and was of course intrigued. Turns out it was some of the most raw, visceral, and well written music I had ever heard and I spent hours alone in my room dissecting Curtis’ lyrics and drowning out the world with that Factory Records sound. Joy Division should be considered as great as Bowie/Nick Cave/Leonard Cohen.

It’s albums like this that make me glad I’m doing this list. I’ve been forever meaning to check out Joy Division but just never taken the time to do it. I should have sooner, I loved this. I’ll be keeping this one saved. Top Track - Interzone

It’s perfect. Thank you to this project for making me a Joy Division fan

This really captures the feeling of living in the North of England. 5 Stars. Shadowplay is a banger.

4.5 - Great

I still remember that rainy autumn night on the train. Nearly 5 hours of motion through darkness, and somewhere along the way, I stumbled upon that album. I was 18, steeped in a heavy, melancholic mood, the kind that makes you ask, “Why not dive deeper?” So I pressed play. And oh, what an experience it was. It consumed me - devastation, raw sadness, and a kind of beautiful darkness that felt almost sacred. That album did not just accompany the journey; it was the journey. An absolute must-listen when the leaves fall and the nights stretch long

It's fascinating listening to Substance and then Unknown Pleasures. The changes they made to their sound are so fully realized right out of the gate that it almost doesn't sound like the same band. The bass lines burrow and the way they space out the different drums in the mix is so intricate. I hadn't spent time with this in awhile and I found myself deeply grooving to every song, and then going right on to Closer and then the New Order albums, staying up WAY too late in the process. Just a remarkable statement, made all the more remarkable knowing that the band wasn't confident that the change in their sound from a more garage rock/punk rock was the right move. I think I'll press play again …

I was definitely excited in the morning when I got this as today's album. Knowing how critically acclaimed it is, I went into this with high expectations, which were definitely met. I feel like listening to this album was long overdue for me.

This is incredible, a classic, I can imagine if you don’t ‘get it’ then it would sound strange but for me the lyrics give the songs the edge and they all somehow feel more energetic than they actually are through pure emotion. The only punk track on here is interzone but I’d say they’re all punk too, guess that’s just post punk but it’s the earliest example of this genre making 100% gold (I think) 5/5

As easy a 5 star rating I’m going to give out. There’s probably not a lot I can say that hasn’t been said before, it’s just a truly great album that belongs of every type of list like this. Everything from the album artwork, to the cavernous production, and the stories of Hannett’s brutal approach to crafting this album, whether the band liked it or not.

A triumph in craftmanship with broody melodies and potent lyrics.

Classic!

Nyt kyllä arvontakone hellii ryhmäläisiä kun saahaan toinen divari kuunteluun näin nopeesti edellisen jälkeen. Muistin, että tää ol se karumpi levy näistä kahesta, mutta täähän olkin ihan poppista ja toi jälkimmäinen sit tylympää. Saundit on toki rajummat, mutta ehkä se on sitten luontasta jalostusta sillä klouserilla. Aika paljon tähän pätee niitä samoja juttuja varmaan kun siihen, että sillain vaikee tarjota nyt lisää mitään upeeta syväluotausta. Kyl mää tänkin levyn fiilareista tykkään ja nyt kun tän aikasemmasta kuuntelusta on ollut vuosia taukoo niin tuntus edelleen potkivan beballe. Ahas asteikko niin sinnehän se solahtaa korkeelle. No, tätä tavaraa ei pitäs enää olla lisää. Tai jos onkin saman porukan tuotoksia niin ainakin nimi on vaihtunut ja laulaja on hautuumaalla.

Power!!!!

Classic

This is one of the most influencial Factory records,an emblematic post-punk record that it's unique nature stays forever in this music universe.A true historical moment in music and its evolution.A really fantastic punk material married with astonishing production techniques,a genius cover about pulsar transmitting waves and Ian Curtis dark lyricism that results to a masterpiece. This record is a favourite as a whole but i will try to name my most favourites. Disorder-A very tight song,the guitar and the drums are magical,Curtis's voice is very direct and solid like a friend telling you his secrets,not a dull moment in this as you constantly hear through ''gaps'' amazing effects,fantastic, New Dawn Fades is an another moody,melancholic song with amazing soaring guitars, hypnotic and beautiful,very melodic, Shadowplay is powerful yet desperate,with the haunting line ''to the center of the city waiting for you'', Interzone is a real treat,very dense and very creative with the voicings gives you no room to think, I Remember Nothing is their ''blackest'' distillment with their signature dark tones atmosphere that creeps you out at times but still in a way you still like it. You have to understand that all these New Wave/punk groups back then were heavily influenced by the German's synth experimentalism and i don't mean Kraftwerk only, -that was the obvious- but names like Claus Schultze that was more into the ''dark side of the moon''(excuse the pun) but you get the idea if you are in the know of that influences. Overall all tracks were not that good but as a result is a great album for it's imperfections that created something unique and ahead of it's time and influenced so many artists till to this very day. 5/5

This fucking rips. A near perfect album. So many rich and diverse soundscapes throughout it never gets boring. Mason was fucking jamming to it, too.

As a way to kick off your debut album, Disorder is pretty fucking epic. Maybe not quite in the league of Blue Suede Shoes, but it’s a great way to define your sound. After that it all gets a bit dark and moody. As it should do. And I love it. This isn’t an album I own or one I’ve listened to on repeat for years. But it’s really good. Really good.

Absolute banger! 5/5

One of the most iconic and influential albums of all time and for good reason. Depressing for sure but a perfectly realised album with an almost unmatched bleak atmosphere. Fantastic basslines and rhythm section, Ian Curtis' idiosyncratic vocals suit the band to a tee. Disorder, Day of the Lords, Shadowplay, She's Lost Control, just classic after classic.

This is brilliant. The lyrics, the parts, the energy, the unnerving sound seems to reflect everything they were trying to put out. I think the only criticism is that I find the snare sound to be pretty isolated in the mix, I can see how it works and probably adds to the atmosphere of the sound, but I guess I would have done things slightly differently. Easy 5/5 though.

Posiblemente uno de los debuts más celebres de todos los tiempos, no? Pura atmósfera, con ese bajo hipnótico y la voz del front man flotando sobre él. Cada canción respira oscuridad sin caer en el drama barato. Álbum muy virtuoso y coherente, la banda ya tenía claro que quería decir. Es verdad que podría sentirse algo hermético el sonido si no vas preparado (no es cálido ni variado), pero si conectas con la frecuencia es una pasada. Shoutout a mi amigo Pablo que tres de cada cuatro días lleva puesta la camiseta de este álbum Favs: Disorder, Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades

Es muy raro que un grupo tenga su identidad tan descubierta a la hora de publicar su debut, pero Joy Division tiene las cosas bien claras. Comienza a sonar la batería en Disorder y, con ella, un sonido tan característico e icónico que no se te olvida en la vida. Las vocals, aunque al principio puedan descolocar, acompañan y elevan perfectamente al resto de instrumentos, contribuyendo a la creación de la atmósfera tan pesada pero a la vez tan adictiva que no se esfuma hasta que se termina el disco (habéis escuchado el bajo? brutal). Un clásico imprescindible. A la playlist: Disorder (uno de los mejores openers de todos los tiempos), Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades, She's Lost Control, Shadowplay, Wilderness, Interzone.

Easy 5 stars instantly without much thinking. Not going to get too much into details as to why, but I think this is a super influential album, one of my favourites, a big part of my adolescence and a post-punk masterpiece. P.S. Now I maybe regret a bit for giving 5 instead of 4 stars yesterday to DM's "Music for the Masses" but it's all good

Fastest 5 stars in the West. One of the first albums that found me in the early days of music explorarion on my own. Too many memories. Thrilling.

Amazing album, not a bad track. Dark, powerful, hypnotic post punk. 4.5 rounded up Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes 16/1001, 16/59 (27%) Will I get? Have several versions

Absolute classic. Before re-listening today I was under the impression that I didn't like the album that much. I had 1 song in my playlist and the others I found boring. I really didn't get the appeal. I now do. It's such an important album but it is also such a gorgeous one. Equal parts melancholic and impressive. I want to listen to it again and again. I don't think it is perfect, but I don't know what to change or improve to make it that. It is still 5/5. If it doesn't work the first time, wait and try again. It is worth it

Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division was an unique album when it came out and even with all the groups/music it influenced it remains as unique to a modern audience as it did in the seventies. Truly one of music's most innovative bands, Joy Division's short life is dreadfully sad. Though I cannot really see anyone else make this music except for a completely depressed Ian Curtis.

Love this, only minor complain is that there's a bit of a lull mid album. But on the whole, great stuff.

Classic, incredible album, so influential, I love it to death. Also Peter Gabriel's So is really great but I never got the chance to review it here.

Great album, first of I suppose the new wave, that I liked, but that is personal as other than the Cure it was a genre which I enjoyed particularly. Reflects a time when I got back to the 50s and 60s with R&R, blues and proper R&B. But back to the album - heavy and dark, probably a new wave Black Sabbath - probably why I liked it so much. Favourite track -

Classic

A tremendous and distinct debut. The bass lines are creative and driving, the vocals clear and haunting. Yes Candidate and I remember are slow burns, but the energy of the rest outweighs any criticism. Side 2 with the exception of the last song is just outstanding.

It's just a classic, benchmark album for post punk innit? One of those albums so ubiquitous that it's hard to really provide a unique slant on it, but the quality is unrelentingly good with this one. Cavernous and murky, yet relatable and within arm's reach at the same time, Joy Division captured something truly special here which would define a movement.

The vocals were kind of mid, but I enjoyed the instrumentals so much that the album gets 5 stars.

Unlike The Smiths who are a melange of Morrissey's cynicism and Marr's jangles, Joy Division is despair matched by more despair. At no point are Curtis's arhythmic confessionals backed by instrumentation any less stuck in the shit. I'm not moved to call them sincere, but they're certainly for real and yield not a shred of irony: 'I've seen the nights filled w/ bloodsport and pain / And the bodies obtained, the bodies obtained'; 'I did everything, everything I wanted to / I let them use you for their own ends.' Descriptors like heavy, gutsy, passionate, and convulsive come to mind, but they don't clarify the sustainability of the relentless darkness. Perhaps it's ineffable. Fair enuf. But perhaps it's their improbable, almost beatific creativity.

Incoming edgelord review. I was fortunate to grow up with a happy childhood. I can’t remember why exactly I became interested in Joy Division, but I bought a copy of Unknown Pleasures at the same time as most who own a copy. What struck me about the music was the overwhelming sadness in Ian Curtis’ performance. Not sad as in ‘oh woe is me, my life is so hard’ (You know, the Morrissey kind). The sadness of someone who is convinced they’re the problem and wants to disappear from the world. The kind that precedes the end for troubled souls like Curtis. I’ve never really been able to relate to these songs on a personal level, but I’ve always appreciated the execution. The writing, the playing, and the production all throughout this album and Closer are excellent. The drums are cold and oppressive. The bass brings that heavy, rolling post-punk energy. There’s just something totally captivating about damn near everything here. Picking this up again years later, I’m mostly struck by just how complete a package Unknown Pleasures is. Each piece is arranged with immaculate attention to detail. My favourite track, New Dawn Fades, still hits hard. This one’s an absolute classic. An essential listen, and very much worthy of a place on a list like this. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

lives up to its reputation... and then some.

I've heard "Love Will Tear Us Apart" a million times. I've seen this album cover a million times more. So in that regard I know who Joy Division is. At least I thought I did. Today I learned I didn't know shit about Joy Division. Because... I. Love. This. Album. If the Ramones were putting surf rock through an electric chair, Joy Division was laying it on a bed of nails. The gut punching bass lines counter the jangling guitar and mixed with Ian Curtis' crooning create a haunting but deeply relatable sound. I had to listen to this album while reading the lyrics because the writing is such a vital part of the whole package. It's such a beautiful and real exploration of self loathing and despair which would fit right in with today's songwriting. But this album was released in 1979! So far this adventure has led me to plenty of music from the 70s and 80s and none of them touch on this subjects. I used to think that Joy Division was a late 80s, early 90s band but they were in the throughs of the punk movement of the late 70s. Truly a shame that their fame came too late. RIP Ian Curtis. But they sure created magic with the time they had. I know understand why so many people have a T-shirt with this album cover on it. Think I might have to get myself one. This listen was truly a joy..... division. Okay I'll see myself out.

Original. New generational. Innovative sounds. Love it!

Well, I know this one. JD don't fascinate me as much as they do some people, but I do love their iciness and the way the instruments sound out-of-tune and yet aren't. Good dynamics and drama. An accidental masterpiece.

Disorder She's Lost Control New Dawn Fades Shadowplay

4.5

Bleak but I love it

68/1001 Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ The combination of post-punk, industrial soundscapes and the tortured lyrics all form to create such a seminal album. It's got a rawness and edge that's needed. It's an album I love, but not one I listen to nearly enough, as it requires a very specific mood.

Disorder

What a moody album, I love it

Dark and brooding and damn those bass lines are sick

Minimalist pioneers, with so much space between notes it’s almost uncomfortable. An amazing collection of music that reaches to the soul

This album should be as well known as Nevermind the Bollocks.

This album will never cheer you up, by what a bunch of tunes it is.

So good for every reason. A perfect album.

C30, Stuttgart - Karlsruhe, Deutschland. Fantastisches Album!

Great album, weird middle

This must have sounded like it was from outer space in 1979

This is a great, upsetting listen, which is my favorite kind of upsetting listen. Curtis' vocals would haunt your dreams even if you didn't know what happened to him. The gloom-punk collision is often imitated and never quite emulated. Really loved it.

No l’havia escoltat mai, em dona vibes de depeche mode. Increible que aquesta musica es fes als 70, molt moderna

Très bonne Découverte! Du vieux rock des annes 70-80, comme m’en faisait découvrir mon père 🥰

-Love the warm yet distant vibe -Funky sounds all around -Surprising vibes for the time it came out -I enjoyed almost all of the songs in this -The lead singers voice is so perfect for this genre

I can’t explain why, but I’ve avoided listening to Joy Division for the most part. I love much post-punk music. I love New Order. I’m a sucker for depressing music in general. And yet… I am not at all surprised at how much I love this album. The vocals are so cool in how they were recorded, giving them almost alien feel. And now I really know where Robert Smith got so much of the early Cure sound from. A definite 5.

What a three days this has been. Unknown Pleasures is another album that often gets cited in the GOAT conversation, and you can absolutely see why. It's so weighty, both in its subject matter and production, and the atmosphere it manages to create is really impressive. It has that 'faster but slower' effect that Martin Hammett demanded, with the drums taking the lead and Curtis' voice as another instrument in the mix. Let's also add some points in for one of the best album covers ever made.

Always a good time for this one

Ahh yes, the Joy Division album that everyone has the shirt from because it's "cool". Well, I'm a huge Joy Division fan, and by that standing, a New Order fan as well. Unknown Pleasures is brilliant. Everyone needs to hear it before they die. 5/5

First impression pre listen: I've heard this album maybe a hundred times. It's great! Very few works of art are able to capture such a specific bleak atmosphere. It is however something I have to be in a specific mood for, if not it's simply just depressing. Individual track notes: Disorder Where do you even begin with this one. From the instantly recognizable drum intro to the unforgetable bassline and the somber vocals. Even the guitar sounds disturbed. Really appreciate the honest and personal lyrics too. The background effects build a lot of the song's atmosphere. Fantastic. 5/5 Day of the Lords Kind of an underrated track. Love how big it sounds. The guitar feels like it has much more space than in other tracks. The slower tempo makes it feel desolate and abandoned. Sounds apocalyptic and bleak. Fantastic. 5/5 Candidate The fade in is a decent way to get the attention if the listener after the explosive ending of the previous track. The instrumental is a lot less involved, focusing more on atmosphere and ambience. The almost horror-like effects create a lot of tension alongside the almost frustrated sounding vocals. The bassline is simple, but very distinct. Great. 4.5/5 Insight Takes its time with the buildup, gives the paniced instrumental a lot more impact. Interesting effects. Love how almost abyssaly dark the instrumental breaks sound. Harrowing lyrics in context. Great. 4.5/5 New Dawn Fades Glorious opening, love the interplay between the crushing bassline and the melodic guitar. Claustrophobic and overwhelming. Love how the vocals allow themselves a lot more time on each note compared to previous songs. Fantastic. 5/5 She's Lost Control Love the rhythm of this track. The bass line is really distinct and catchy, love the haunting quality of the thin sound. Love the echoey vocals. Really like how bleak and robotic the drums sound. The storytelling in the lyrics is quite good. Fantastic. 5/5 Shadowplay Amazing intro. The bass and the snares just create this amazing buildup for the guitar to explode into. Glorious bassline. The impersonal and cold guitar solo fits perfectly. Gothic and claustrophobic atmosphere. Fantastic. 5/5 Wilderness Love the drums on this track. The instrumental has a lot of weight behind it. Love the cryptic lyrics. Good. 4/5 Interzone Awesome tempo switch. The song feels more punk than post punk. Fun vocal effect. The more riff oriented guitar playing is a nice change of pace from the rest of the album. Great. 4.5/5 I Remember Nothing Slow, meandering and atmospheric. Love when the instrumental effects match up with the lyrics. Mysterious sounding. Solid lyrics, framed very poetically. Great. 4.5/5 Final review: An innovative masterclass in atmosphere and stylistic consistency. With what's in all honesty quite a limited setup, with Unknown Pleasures they've created an album where every single moment is distinct and memorable. Ian Curtis is a somber, dour poet in a landscape that's cold and mechanical, while the atmosphere of bleak and overwhelming reality swallows him whole. The lyrics are personal but abstract, using storytelling and cryptic language to convey complex emotions. And on top of the absurd chemistry of the band behind him its presented in a crushing, yet still entrancing way. The interplay between Brian Sumner and Peter Hook on the guitar and bass is beyond impressive, complimenting each others' style perfectly. And without the impact and the largeness of Stephen Morris's percussion the world created by the album wouldn't feel so overwhelming and oppressive. The songwriting and atmosphere on here is truly special, taking the listener on both an emotional and sonic journey at the same time. One of the greatest of all time. 5/5

Always a pleasure to return to one of the essential records in my ever-expanding collection (14,000 albums and counting). When this masterpiece was released, I was just five years old, but during my rebellious teenage punk phase, while exploring the anarcho- and Oi! movements of the late seventies, I was completely captivated by Joy Division's intensely somber, bleak, and haunting sound. A perfect riot teenager nightmare. Favourite songs: Disorder, She's lost control 5/5

After getting through the emotionally heavier sophomore release Closer, I figured Joy Division's debut Unknown Pleasures would be an easier listen for me. Not only did that statement end up being true, but I feel this album growing on me. Once again, the instrumentation of Joy Division took spotlight, with the spacious guitar hooks, punchy yet distant drumming, the supple basslines, and the reverbed production. All these elements coalesce behind Ian Curtis's haunting vocal delivery, as he delivered insight to his depressing state, as he felt he could not easily connect with others around him. These words lend themselves to an overall dark feel for the record without being as suffocating as Closer would be, which ended up pairing better with the post-punk sensibilities of the backing band. Not only did this translate to me enjoying the hard-hitting numbers such as opener "Disorder", "She's Lost Control" and "Interzone", but even the more atmospheric cuts like "Candidate" and "New Dawn Fades" resonated. Plus, it was a delight to hear "Shadowplay" after I previously heard The Killers cover that song. With that, I have no qualms calling Unknown Pleasures a top notch record, one that has transcended the unfortunately short life of the group and its frontman.

This is, at one point, every wanker’s favourite shirt (myself included). When I think of post-punk, Joy Division is the first thing I think of. My only complaint about this album is that is isn't Closer. Iconic album art, Ian Curtis' distinct voice, Peter Hook's magnificent bass. I love everything about this, on the same side the songs can go from danceable to dramatic and dour. Beyond the musical merit of the album this kickstarted a whole musical and cultural movement. The fact that we lose people like Ian Curtis, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley while Oasis are performing reunion tours that God not only has a sense of humour, but is a miserable bastard. Highlights: Disorder, Day of the Lords, Insight, New Dawn Fades, Shadowplay, Wilderness, I Remember Nothing

There's no need to say a lot about this album. Just listen to the first 30 seconds of opener 'Disorder' and you know you are listening to a classic. It's haunting in every way. It can be quite something to listen to if you're not in perfect mental shape... The star of the album to me is Peter Hook. His bass playing is unlike anything done before. Together with guitar player Bernard Sumner with his arpeggiated chords he lays the foundation that lets Ian Curtis shine - shine in a very dark way, unfortunately. Absolutely fantastic album.

Absolutely brilliant album, created the Blueprint for 80s and 90s alternative, not a wasted minute anywhere. Ian Curtis was a great vocalist and the band is incredible. One of the best ever

CV classic

dark and gloomy, perfect for a rainy day which definitely made my listening experience better

This is one of my all time favorite albums, sets the stage for all the New Order, Cure, The Church, and Pet Shop Boys to come. Pre-new-wave but post-punk, this album is new life crawling out of the musical primordial ooze.

One of the twenty best albums ever made maybe?

Was a bit young for Joy Division but the ground running with New Order. Took a long time to discover this album. Damn good. Hooks bass lines oh my

Banger. One of my all time favorite albums. There isn't a bad song on here.

I mean ... that album just hits every spot. It's just great. Ian Curtis' voice and lyrics really hits hard, knowing his tragic future. One of the lost influenced and influential bands of all time. And same for this album. 9/10 fav songs : Disorder & Day of the Lords & I remember Nothing

So nice to have this album on the list. I have tried to see "Peter Hook and the Light" in concert a few times, but something has always fallen through (concert cancelled, COVID, etc). Still hoping.

I had this album back in the day. So bleak and wonderful. Disorder and She's Lost Control are classic goth dance songs. Listening now it seems weird that they morphed into New Order. "It was me, waiting for me Hoping for something more Me, seeing me this time Hoping for something else"

It's qualla. The production is what really elevates it.

Return to this more than Closer. So it has to be their best for me

10/10 Favorites: Disorder Day of the Lords Shadowplay New Dawn Fades She’s Lost Control

This is hands down one of my favorite albums of all time. I fell in love with Joy Division in highschool so this album was on heavy rotation for me. Curtis’s vocals are very haunting and distinct. It’s a dark and emotional experience but it’s a solid post-punk album through the use of drums, guitar, and heavy synth production. Curtis was a talented frontman that was gone too soon. Joy Division will always hold a special place in my heart.

Love will tear us apart

First 5 Star. Album cover would make a great T-shirt

Ouais

It's one of the albums that captivates me the most whenever I listen to it. Its mood is extremely dark, haunting, intense and exciting at the same time. It's certainly among the strongest debut albums ever, the lyrics are top, and the production is completely otherwordly, which made it a pioneer album of the post-punk scene. This album still sounds fresh and new even more than 45 years later. A timeless classic.

A favorite. Influential to my taste in music. Hooky is an inspiring bass player.

Love it

Pretty cool that this came up on the anniversary of Closer’s release. This is one of the most important post-punk albums ever.

Gear: Sennheiser MOMENTUM TW 4 Artwork: 🪐🛰️🫆 Production (2007 Remaster): 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🔪🖤🥀 Rating: ️🕯️️🕯️️🕯️️🕯️️🕯️/5

As iconic as this album is (particularly the cover), I remember it dragging. I still think it drags a bit, but it's essential listening (and cohesive if nothing else). "Disorder" is probably my favorite, though "She's Lost Control" and "Shadowplay" are among their greats.

Good one

**Unknown Pleasures** by Joy Division, released in 1979, is a landmark album in the post-punk genre, renowned for its stark atmosphere, emotionally charged lyrics, and innovative production. Below is an in-depth review focusing on lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. ## Lyrics The lyrics of *Unknown Pleasures*, penned by frontman Ian Curtis, are central to the album’s enduring impact. Curtis’s writing is deeply introspective, often exploring themes of **loneliness, depression, existential despair, and personal struggle**[1][2]. His words are not just poetic but painfully direct, reflecting his own battles with epilepsy and mental health. Songs like “Disorder” introduce listeners to Curtis’s sense of numbness and exhaustion, with lines that evoke a desperate search for feeling and meaning[1][3]. “She’s Lost Control” draws from Curtis’s real-life encounter with a woman suffering from epilepsy, mirroring his own fears and sense of loss[2][3]. Curtis’s lyrics are **bleak yet universal**, resonating with listeners who find solace in their honesty. Tracks such as “Day of the Lords” and “New Dawn Fades” delve into existential dread and the transient nature of life, while “Insight” and “Candidate” offer fragmented glimpses into Curtis’s psyche, marked by alienation and detachment[1][2][4]. The lyrics avoid melodrama, instead opting for a matter-of-fact delivery that amplifies their emotional weight[5]. ## Music Musically, *Unknown Pleasures* is defined by its **minimalist, cold, and mechanical sound**. The band subverts traditional rock structures, with Peter Hook’s melodic bass lines often taking the lead, Bernard Sumner’s sparse and icy guitar work, and Stephen Morris’s **metronomic, almost industrial drumming**[4][6]. This instrumentation creates a hypnotic, claustrophobic atmosphere that is both intimate and colossal[6][4]. The album’s sound is **bass-driven without being funky, heavy without being metal, and recognizably rock without adhering to genre conventions**[6]. Tracks like “Shadowplay” and “Interzone” inject urgency and energy, while maintaining the album’s overall bleakness. The arrangements are tight and disciplined, eschewing virtuosity for mood and texture[4]. Curtis’s baritone vocals are **vulnerable and mesmerizing**, drawing listeners into his world of personal demons and existential dread[4][6]. While some critics have found his singing style “bloody awful,” others argue that its rawness and imperfection are integral to the album’s emotional impact[6][5]. ## Production The production, overseen by **Martin Hannett**, is as crucial to the album’s identity as the songwriting itself. Hannett’s approach was **innovative and unconventional**: he isolated each drum sound, layered eerie effects (such as closing doors and breaking glass), and created a sense of space that was both haunting and immersive[1][7]. This meticulous production gave the album its **distinctive, atmospheric quality**, setting it apart from the more aggressive sound of Joy Division’s live performances[6][7]. Hannett’s techniques **transformed the band’s energy into something more introspective and cinematic**, making the album feel like a “frightening horror film” or a “journey into the mind, the soul, and the fears of a generation”[1][2][7]. The use of reverb, echo, and ambient noise contributed to the sense of alienation and unease that permeates the record. ## Themes *Unknown Pleasures* is thematically rich, with **introspection, existential despair, isolation, and urban decay** at its core[2][1]. The album reflects the bleak industrial landscape of late-1970s Manchester, channeling the anxieties of a generation grappling with rapid social and economic change[2]. - **Desolation and Isolation:** “Day of the Lords” and “Insight” evoke a sense of hopelessness and emotional distance. - **Existential Dread:** “New Dawn Fades” and “Shadowplay” confront the fleeting nature of existence and the search for meaning. - **Loss of Control:** “She’s Lost Control” is a poignant meditation on losing agency, both physically (epilepsy) and psychologically. - **Urban Decay:** “Interzone” and other tracks reference the decaying environment and societal disintegration of the era[2]. These themes are not merely personal but **sociopolitical**, capturing the mood of a city and a generation on the brink. ## Influence The influence of *Unknown Pleasures* is **immense and enduring**. It helped define the **post-punk movement** and paved the way for genres such as goth, industrial, and synth-pop[7][6]. The album’s **sonic fingerprints are evident in countless bands** that followed, from The Cure and Interpol to Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead[6][7]. The album’s **iconic cover art** and the mythology surrounding Ian Curtis’s life and death have further cemented its status as a cultural touchstone[5][7]. Its impact is not just musical but also visual and emotional, inspiring generations of artists and listeners to explore the darker aspects of the human experience. ## Pros and Cons | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | **Innovative production:** Martin Hannett’s techniques created a unique, immersive soundscape that was groundbreaking for its time[1][7]. | **Vocals can be polarizing:** Ian Curtis’s baritone, while emotionally resonant, is divisive—some find it powerful, others off-putting or monotonous[6][5]. | | **Deep, poetic lyrics:** Curtis’s writing is raw, honest, and thematically rich, offering profound insights into mental health and existential anxiety[1][2]. | **Bleakness may alienate:** The album’s relentless darkness and lack of conventional “fun” can be overwhelming or unappealing to some listeners[6][5]. | | **Cohesive atmosphere:** The interplay of music and production creates a consistent mood, drawing listeners into a distinct emotional world[1][4]. | **Minimalist instrumentation:** The sparse arrangements, while effective, may be perceived as monotonous or lacking in variety by some[5]. | | **Historical and cultural significance:** The album’s influence on post-punk and alternative music is profound and well-documented[6][7]. | **Dated elements:** Some production choices, such as certain effects or mixing decisions, may sound dated to modern ears[6]. | | **Emotional resonance:** The album’s ability to evoke powerful feelings of empathy, sadness, and catharsis is unmatched[3][1]. | **Not universally accessible:** The album’s intensity and subject matter may not appeal to casual listeners or those seeking lighter fare[5]. | ## Conclusion *Unknown Pleasures* remains a **masterpiece of post-punk**, distinguished by its haunting lyrics, minimalist yet powerful music, and visionary production. It is an album that **rewards deep listening**, offering new insights and emotional responses with each play. Its **influence on music and culture is undeniable**, shaping the sound and aesthetic of alternative music for decades. While its unrelenting bleakness and unconventional vocals may not suit all tastes, its artistic integrity and emotional honesty ensure its place among the most important albums of all time.

10/10 This album is so punk despite not really being punk at all. They do drift into a more punky sound on Shadowplay and Interzone, and you can clearly hear that influence, but the album as a whole is something else entirely. They’re clearly quite raw musicians, but they manage to produce some immensely evocative music. You would never get an album that sounded like this released today, because all the little fluffs and oddities would have been tweaked out of it before release, but to me it really adds to the overall vibe of the album. It feels like the band are teetering on the precipice of madness and trying to scream back how it feels to those further from the edge. Even Ian Curtis’ vocal, which frequently grasps quite loosely at the edge of tuning, just adds to the sense of anxiety that permeates the whole album. The production is magnificent too and was, I imagine, quite groundbreaking at the time. The little ear candy pieces like smashing of glass, and other sonic oddities that add variety and ambience to the music really help elevate it, and are clear influences on the later production of Radiohead in particular. This album feels like a real pillar for what would follow, with the emergence of alt-rock and grunge, and I really don’t think we’d have had bands like Pixies, Nirvana and Radiohead in the same way without this. Despite what others may see as flaws worthy of lowering the rating of the album, I feel that everything just melds together into something that is way beyond the sum of its parts. A brilliant, brilliant album. Disorder - Good track that’s both melodic and intense. There are some weird choices and mistakes(?) in the bass line, but the overall vibe is great. And it gets even more intense and massive as it crescendos. Day of The Lords - There’s a sense of brooding dread about this. It’s very atmospheric and massive sounding. A really great track. Candidate - This is more sparse and scatterbrained, but in a brilliant way. It drops down to almost nothing, in places but with these echoes of terrifying ambience in the background, but sweeps into cacophany now and again. Insight - Sonically, this is quite interesting, from the vocal that sounds like it’s being sung into a cardboard box, to the synth resonance sweeps. Lovely stuff. New Dawn Fades - This is quite a beautiful song to me. It sounds so full and atmospheric and builds from contemplative and melancholic to distraught and then just drifts away to a lonely beat. She’s Lost Control - Great riffs, great production, haunting vocals. Great track. It really drives, and the cluttered nature of the parts just flow over one another in quite a chaotic but visceral way. Shadowplay - Another great track. It ebbs and flows in a really nice way. The vocal harmonies are great too when they appear. The guitar sounds really good, despite being quite different than much of the rest of the album. Wilderness - Another one where it builds and drops, but with that swirling drum beat always driving it forward. Interzone - The call overlapping call and response of the vocal and how it follows the guitar line is great. The guitar recalls more of the sound from Shadowplay again with its more punk style. There’s a good groove to this one and it’s probably the most punky song on the record, but it still has that unmistakable Joy Division sound. I Remember Nothing - A dark and brooding track. The dissonant vocals that overlap one another add to the eerie ambience of the track. It does expose some of the weaknesses in Ian Curtis’ voice, but that does lend an element of madness to the sound. I really love the vibe of this one. It’s like a glimpse into the mind of someone desperately trying to hold it all together. A fitting end to the album.