''Darkadelic'' is the twelfth studio album by the British punk rock band
the Damned,
[Punk Icons The Damned Return With ''Darkadelic'', Weigh in On Banning Artists With 'Sh-t Stuff in Their Lives']
''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
''. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023. released on 28 April 2023 by
earMUSIC.
Background
The album's title has been described as recognising the Damned's "influence as a pioneering goth band and interest in psychedelia". ''Darkadelic'' is the first and only album by the Damned to feature drummer William Granville-Taylor after he replaced Pinch, who left the band in 2019.
For ''Darkadelic'', the Damned teamed up with producer Thomas Mitchener, formerly of the bands
Haunts and Spycatcher, because he was, as guitarist
Captain Sensible put it, a "purveyor of the '70s sound" they were going for on the album.
Singer
Dave Vanian stated that, for him, "the only criteria was to have this album driven by more pronounced guitars."
[
Prior to recording, Sensible and Granville-Taylor spent time working out arrangements for the tracks. "We actually sat down and we listened to a few ]Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developme ...
songs, 'cause the songs were so beautifully arranged on those," Sensible said. "We really arranged the drums for what's right for the song. There was a lot of brainstorming during those two weeks of laying down the basic tracks."[
Prior to its release, the majority of the album was played during shows by the Damned on their April 2023 tour of the United Kingdom.
The track "Leader of the Gang" is based on the crimes of former glam rock star ]Gary Glitter
Paul Francis Gadd (born 8 May 1944), best known by his stage name Gary Glitter, is an English former singer, songwriter, and record producer. He achieved success during the glam rock era of the 1970s and 1980s, and his career ended after he w ...
. "Follow Me" is about influencers, and "Beware of the Clown" deals with politicians.[ "Wake the Dead" was written specifically to be played at funerals. Through his online activity, Sensible had become aware that Damned songs were being played at fans' funerals. "So I thought, 'Well, they're playing these songs 'cause the deceased love the band. Why not write one actually for that purpose?"][
]
Track listing
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.Graham Humphreys
Graham Humphreys is a British illustrator and visual artist best known for producing film posters. During the 1980s, Humphreys worked with Palace Pictures, producing publicity material for films including '' Dream Demon'', '' Basket Case'', '' T ...
– cover, layout
*David Read – 'A Damned Picture' globe
Charts
References
{{The Damned
2023 albums
Edel Music albums
The Damned (band) albums