The Damned have returned with a brand new album, the much anticipated 'Darkadelic'. As the Damned closed 2022 with a final (probably) Stooge-esque roar of the 1976 incarnation of the band they enter into 2023, their 47th year as a band, with the best album they have produced since 2001's 'Grave Disorder'. Back in the day, The Damned did chaos magnificently and yet by 1980 they were in a position whereby they were finally allowed to acknowledge their individual influences on the material that featured on the 'Black Album'. Forget the pomposity of goth, the original Paul Gray line up produced brilliant psychedelia tinged with darkness. With 'Darkadelic' they have revisited that vibe, one that is for many a Damned fan the essence of the band's sound.
Familiar themes are here, the timeless early science fiction of the 'Invisible Man', the opening track that demands the listener's full and immediate attention. Sensible then takes control with 'Bad Weather Girl' which makes excellent use of Church bells to usher in Captain's guitar solo.
A stand out track for me is 'Beware of the Clown' a reference to Boris Johnson and the kind of hapless politician that have (dis)graced the corridors of power in this country for the last 13 years or so. When I hear this I can almost smell strawberries! Think along the lines of 'Generals'.
A tent full of misfits
To mess you around.'
'Western Promise' is another great track, slower and subtle with great choral like backing vocals. Songs like this really showcase Dave Vanian's strengths as a vocalist. 'Wake The Dead' is another belter, with great vocals from Dave again and perfect harmonies to boot. This is a BIG song with all the drama of 'Eloise'!
I have already mentioned the trashing of the Government, but other current early-2020's phenomena are addressed, not least the bizarre existence of so-called influencers, in 'Follow Me'.
'Leader of the Pack' looks at the sad fall from grace of Gary Glitter. I say sad as I used to like him, to the extent that I saw the Gangshow a few times several pre-offence years ago. I remember a few years back too that Captain played a Christmas gig with the Glitter band and rued the fact that because of the terrible behaviour of Gary Glitter we have been robbed of some great songs that will never get airplay again.
The last track on the album is brilliant, 'Roderick' drips with the melancholy of classic gothic horror. The song is a good companion for 'Beauty Of The Beast'. I am assuming that the Roderick of the song is Roderick Usher, a main character in Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Fall Of The House Of Usher' but here I could be wrong.
It's funny, years ago The Beach Boys and The Beatles were in competition of an artistic kind. When the former released 'Pet Sounds' in 1966, The Beatles responded with 'Sergeant Pepper...' the following year. In like manner when The Stranglers produced 'Dark Matters' to critical acclaim not witnessed for many years, The Damned have responded with their best work for over 20 years. What a brilliant way to draw a lifetime in music to a close (whenever in the not too distant future that may be)!
If you only buy one album this year, make sure it is this one!
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