Potential for an instant classic

Right in time for the spooky season, a genre favorite is back. The Damned just released their newest EP, The Rockfield Files. The band recorded many songs in Rockfield in the first years of the ‘80s, such as classic albums like The Black Album, Friday 13^th, and Strawberries. As the band states on their website, they “returned to the scene of the crime” for this EP. The original lineup will play some shows in July next year in their homeland England, the first time since 1981.

It is safe to say The Damned is one of the most influential horror-punk bands besides the legendary Misfits (no Halloween without them). The goth scene would be empty without The Damned’s classic horror songs, full of vampires and monsters. Oh, and remember Emily the Strange, back in the late 2000s? The brand and comics introduced the music of The Damned to even younger generations, especially when the girl was featured on the Little Miss Disaster EP.

But how can the new EP hold up to the classics?

“Keep ‘em Alive” starts with a nature intro, a reference to the EP’s idyllic cover. But right when the birds stop tweeting, classic guitar riffs replace them. The vocals style is typical for the band. They master the art of keeping their roots and mixing them with new, improved sounds. This is sure to excite old fans while satisfying younger generations as well. The guitar solo is pure magic, especially when it flows over to an organ solo, so goth!

“Manipulator” features these great guitars riffs again, maybe less goth and more punk—a great song to dance around to in the middle of the living room. Everyone knows a person that can fit these lyrics, so it’s one of these songs people can let out some aggression to. The song features a few ’80s elements, which is very much welcomed.

“The Spider & The Fly” gives off major Bowie vibes, which is always nice. It has a dark vibe mixed with an almost funk beat, probably due to the keyboard riffs in the background. Songs like these show the huge creativity of The Damned, even after almost 45 years. The last song, on an almost too short EP, “Black Is The Night,” will be perfect on everyone’s Halloween playlist. It features ’60s elements, great lyrics and even better vocals. Vocals that will put a spell on people.

The Damned are classic, they don’t need to prove themselves to anyone, but they still showed once again why they deserve their cult status. The Rockfield Files EP overflows with the band’s creativity, the only bad thing is it’s just an EP, and the time passes so fast. No doubt, the fans will love the EP, but most likely, everyone with a good taste in punk will admire this album.