Evil Spirits (album) explained

Evil Spirits
Type:studio
Artist:The Damned
Cover:Thedamnedevilspirits.jpeg
Released:13 April 2018
Recorded:November 2017
Studio:Atomic Sound, Brooklyn, New York
Length:41:06
Label:Search and Destroy, Spinefarm
Producer:Tony Visconti
Prev Title:So, Who's Paranoid?
Prev Year:2008
Next Year:2019

Evil Spirits is the eleventh studio album from the Damned. Released on 13 April 2018, it was their first album in ten years and was produced by famed producer Tony Visconti who is best known for his work with David Bowie. The album was largely crowdfunded by a successful PledgeMusic campaign.[1] [2] [3]

Background

Captain Sensible said of the album: "we deliberately recorded the album retro style, the same way our debut album was made, basically. There's something wonderful about the seventies sounds; glam, rock and punk records, they all sound so great and Tony specializes in beautifully crafted old school production. He had us all playing live, bashing it out in the same room with a focus on getting the initial band version of each song as close as possible to the finished thing."[4]

Reception

The album received some of the best reviews in years for the Damned. Zachary Hoskins of Slant Magazine said, "The Damned sounds like the same band they were 35 years ago. While it's admittedly hard not to miss the explosive presence of drummer Rat Scabies, Sensible's lashing power chords on "The Devil in Disguise" are a welcome reminder that this is still technically a punk band, and David Vanian's baritone has aged into a powerful growl reminiscent of latter-day Nick Cave. While Evil Spirits isn't a late-career masterpiece, Visconti's production chops have at least ensured a warm and rich listening experience." Ian Rushbury of PopMatters said, "Evil Spirits is a strong, weirdly timeless album. It's hard to pin this record down to a point in time – it certainly doesn't sound like 2018, but it sure as eggs are eggs doesn't sound like it's from 1978 either. It sounds like a band stretching out and having fun in a studio, under the watchful eye of someone who is accustomed to working with mavericks and outcasts." Evil Spirits became the band's first album to make the top 10 on the United Kingdom's Official Charts, peaking at number seven.[5] [6]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes, except where noted.[7]

The Damned

Additional musicians

Technical

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Damned: Evil Spirits. PledgeMusic.
  2. Web site: Listen to The Damned's new single as they announce first new album in 10 years - NME. 22 January 2018. nme.com.
  3. Web site: Evil Spirits – The Damned – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic. AllMusic.
  4. Web site: Listen to The Damned's new single as they announce first new album in 10 years. Moore. Sam. 2018-01-22. NME. 2020-10-26.
  5. Web site: Punk legends The Damned finally score first top ten album after 41 years. Sherwin. Adam. 2018-04-20. 2018-04-21.
  6. Web site: U.K. CHARTS: HARRIS & LIPA SET A RECORD. Hits Daily Double. 2018-04-20. 2018-04-21.
  7. Evil Spirits . CD liner notes. The Damned. . 2018.
  8. Web site: Huge thanks to Kristeen Young . OfficialDamned . . 18 April 2018. 27 September 2020.
  9. Web site: Punk Rock Icons The Damned Release New Single, "Black Is The Night". Press Release . OrcaSound.com . 10 October 2019. 27 September 2020.