The Damned, yes they are still going over 30 years after forming in London! With this new release of 13 tracks it is obvious to anyone who listens to the album that they are still pioneers of the punk genre of music. The album kicks off with a jaunty keyboard led ‘A Nation Fit For Heroes’, a catchy light track which stays with you long after the CD has relentlessly charged onto track two.

The stand out tracks on the album include ‘Shallow Diamonds’ and ‘Just Hangin’, these two tracks are elevated above the rest of the album by the attention to detail regarding the overall musicianship. A few of the tracks are what could best be described as growers rather than stand-out tracks, a good example of this is ‘Nature’s Dark Passion’. After a few listens it will forever be ingrained on your consciousness, the track at times channels a furrow most notably ploughed by the likes of Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band.

If you like your punk with a touch of nostalgia, lots of sing along choruses and genuine classic moments then the Damned are the band for you. I would recommend this album to a fan of any type of music, it is accomplished in ways far beyond the stereotype of punk/goth rock which they sometimes get pigeonholed into. These guys deserve to be at the fore front of the punk scene for another 30 years!

http://www.myspace.com/officialdamned