The Damned – Grave Disorder

4 Stars

Audio CD (paid link)

Mott the Dog is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Damned, now left behind as one of the Grandfathers of punk rock, come out of the woodwork and prove that they can still show the new boys on the block a trick or two.

The Damned have always been at the fun end of punk rock, never giving marbles about what other people think. They keep on rocking away, unconcerned about their previous youth-only policy. Even the first punks “The Who” had to change their most famous line from “I hope I die before I get old” to “I hope I die before I feel old.”

The world would be a much grimmer place without the mad panto punk of The Damned. This dog still has very fond memories of The Damned supporting Marc Bolan & T. Rex and watching a smashed-out-of-his-mind Captain Sensible pouncing about the Newcastle city hall stage in a bright turquoise dress whilst shredding the song “New Rose” with his guitar at full volume. It’s these kinds of memories that stay with you for life.

And it’s precisely that spirit of the absurd that is captured here on The Damned’s fine collection of up-tempo raucous anthems, ironically released on Dexter Holland’s very own label. (The fact being that Dexter’s band Offspring covered The Damned’s brilliant “Smash It Up” some years back.)

So, what you have here is thirteen fabulous cuts, all featuring what you would expect from The Damned, speed, melody, aggression, attitude by the bucket load, and a belly full of laughs. We mustn’t forget David Vanian’s preoccupation with all things about B movie horror, gothic and ghoulish, although all with tongue firmly planted in the side of his cheek. As a good sample of this, check out his evil crooning on the spine-chilling song “Thrill Kill.”

The Damned have always been the sort of boys who would enjoy Pattaya, so I think it would be only fair if Pattaya enjoyed The Damned. But don’t take them to be a nostalgia act, especially within their earshot, or you could end up hurt or at least at the end of one of Captain Sensible’s cunning little pranks.

Better break out the tequilas and snake bites because The Damned are back. “Grave Disorder” is definitely Neat Neat Neat.

Musicians

David Vanian – Vocals

Captain Sensible – Guitar

Pinch – Tub Thumper

Oxy Moron – Key Boards

Patricia Morrison – Bass

Track Listing

1. Democracy?

2. Song.com

3. Thrill Kill

4. She

5. Lookin For Action

6. Would You Be So Hot

7. Absinthe

8. Amen

9. Neverland

10. The End Of Time

11. Obscene

12. W

13. Beauty Of The Beast

Written by Mott the Dog

Remember to visit and subscribe to Mott’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1003417143122919/

Heavy Metal insights here

Click here for insights into groundbreaking-rock-from-the-1960s-to-present-day/

Previous Article

Derek Sherinian – The Phoenix

Next Article

BBM (Jack Bruce – Ginger Baker and Gary Moore) – Around The Next Dream

You might be interested in …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *