It's been 10 years since The Damned released their last album, So, Who's Paranoid? So Evil Spirits has been a long time coming... but was the wait worth it? And is Punk still a genre that the masses recognise...?

The short answer to the above questions is, apparently, yes. Evil Spirits still manages to capture the energy and passion that some of their earlier album's were renowned for. I was a teenager in the '80s and while not a huge fan of The Damned, I did enjoy their music and over the years have at times revisited their albums. But there's a more mature and reflective side to both the lyrics and music.

While Punk might be dead (the young don't seem to care on mass what the government does these days There was a time when the Punk movement used to challenge authority in the UK), the music lives on.

Evil Spirits contains 10 tracks (43 min, 04 sec) and while Dave Vanian's vocals are as distinct as ever, it was also interesting to hear that they've managed to resurrect that The Damned sound fans will be familiar with.

The current lineup of The Damned is Dave Vanian (vocals), Captain Sensible (guitar), Monty Oxy Moron (keyboards), Paul Gray (bass), Pinch (drums), with Crihss Coull (trumpet), Kristeen Young and Tony Visconti ( backing vocals).

It's an engaging, lively album which thankfully keeps The Damned sound well and truly alive.

8

Nick Smithson