Punk rock, the classic genre which spurred on the likes of The Clash and Wire, is not getting as big a look-in as it once did. Times change, naturally. But when punk was needed most was at a time of great loss and depression for the world we shut out with music. The Damned carry the torch on as all good punk collectives do, with a thump and a kick and a bridge over to gothic elements as they keep the candle aglow. The Damned has plenty to play for on Darkadelic, a gothic-inspired piece which flitters nicely between From Dusk Till Dawn variations and the ill-forgotten WWF stable, The Brood. Whether either was an influence or an expected launching pad is unknowable, but from the cover and quality within, it makes sense.
These long-running rockers know a thing or two about style and showcase just this with their recent release. Fifty years on from their beginnings are soon upon them and marking such an incredible journey with a gothic-rock piece filled with bold assumptions and staggered narratives is the right way to keep yourselves fresh, relevant and alive. The Damned do just this with Darkadelic. Starting steady with The Invisible Man, a percussion-heavy surprise and a nice counter to the attention desired by so many, The Damned hope to make themselves a vessel for the voice and message rather than an oddity or fixation. Psychedelic indeed, plenty of it whines through the tinnitus-riddled ears of individuals dependent on caffeine. Stronger substances are required for Darkadelic and its whining cries and rallying, distinguishable laughter.
Effective guitar work on Bad Weather Girl is matched nicely with a Halloween aesthetic. Such is the gothic tone. Western Promise ditches this slightly, a rising and country-like piece with plenty of layers to pick apart. It is smooth listening and The Damned rise on from there, never stopping still. Paired with the cult-like status of celebrity symbols chastised on Follow Me, The Damned hit a psychedelic turn which relays strong and potent messages from a legendary punk rock group. They are one of the few to not lose their edge, the biting appeal presented by fleeing to the open road. Tracks like Motorcycle Man, which would be folly and embarrassing in the wrong hands, are courageous and rising pieces when played through by The Damned. It is rather impressive how effective their vocal presence and instrumental crashes are on topics which seek the obvious answers.
Do not sleep on The Damned – there is more than enough in here to warrant listening again and again. A straight-shooting, well-mixed collection of songs which cut right to the point. Impressive guitar work is part of the parcel, not an isolated event. From Your Lips has a tinge of The Animals to it, a sense of progression and pushing back against the storm. This intensity is pure and exciting, which is hard to say about many other traditional punk bands. But The Damned has weathered their storm well and push on through, continuing their great work and sounding as youthful as they did all those decades ago when they first left their mark. Darkadelic is an album which somehow skips over the fumblings of veteran musicians traipsing through gothic psychedelics. Perhaps it is the trust in their great material which creates this divide.
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