Darkadelic is the twelfth studio album by the British punk rock band the Damned,[9] released on 28 April 2023 by earMUSIC.[10]
Background
The album's title has been described as recognising the Damned's "influence as a pioneering goth band and interest in psychedelia".[11]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.[12]
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.[13] Singer Dave Vanian stated that, for him, "the only criteria was to have this album driven by more pronounced guitars."[9]
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 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."[9]
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.[14]
The track "Leader of the Gang" is based on the crimes of former glam rock star Gary Glitter.[15] "Follow Me" is about influencers, and "Beware of the Clown" deals with politicians.[13] "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?"[9]
