Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Released: 26th April 2019
Rating: ★★★
It’s been nearly ten years since rock supergroup The Damned Things released their debut album ‘Ironiclast’, and though a few changes in the line-up have occurred, the metalheads are ballsy and brilliant as ever.
Their debut was a solid heavy metal album, but on ‘High Crimes’ the scope is drawn further, reaching higher feats than being just the fun side-project of prolific rock stars. Opening with the full throttle ‘Cells’ where hardcore influences peek through, and Trohman’s signature bluesy electric solos feature, ‘High Crimes’ cements itself as a high-octane record. The straight-up alt-rock of ‘Something Good’ follows, kicking off with a cheerleading chant, with vivacious honesty like a dirtied up Weezer track.
The record isn’t just full of party ragers, the swinging guitars of ‘Invincible’ showcase emotional, powerful vocals from Keith Buckley, and ‘Let Me Be (Your Girl)’ is your unconventional love song.
The craftsmanship on ‘High Crimes’ is what you’d expect from a line-up as acclaimed as this. The instrumentation soars (a highlight being the emotive solo on ‘Omen’), and apart from being partial to repetition, there are no gimmicks. You can’t complain with a line-up like this.
