The Damned Things

The Damned Things: IroniclastIroniclast (2010)
Mercury

Reviewer Rating: 3

User Rating:

Contributed by: LysdexiaLysdexia
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on January 7th 2011Last year, a friend pointed out that members of Every Time I Die and Fall Out Boy were forming a group. He knew I enjoyed a little of Every Time I Die from time to time. I asked who all from each band was in the group. He told me Keith Buckley, Josh Trohman, Andy Hurley and "some guy named Scott Ian.

Last year, a friend pointed out that members of Every Time I Die and Fall Out Boy were forming a group. He knew I enjoyed a little of Every Time I Die from time to time. I asked who all from each band was in the group. He told me Keith Buckley, Josh Trohman, Andy Hurley and "some guy named Scott Ian." "Some guy?" I was floored. "Yeah, I don't recognize that name." "Anthrax?" "What'd he play in Anthrax?" "Guitar." "Oh. Shit." "Oh shit" is right. Scott Ian is a king. While my friends were in love with Megadeth, I clung onto the opinion that Anthrax were, up and away, the best of the Big 4. The other thing I noticed is that the two members of Fall Out Boy involved in the Damned Things are the most talented of the group when it comes to rock music. And after catching bits and pieces of ETID on Warped Tour last year, I can say that Buckley is talented and has a lot of fun doing what he does. But the Damned Things, while seeming promising on paper, came with a lot of skepticism in my mind-and many others' as well.

What Ironiclast brings to the table is this: Think of some of the best parts of all bands involved, and then dial them down a little bit. Great guitar from all three guitar players. Yes. Three. If you look in the liner notes, there's not a standalone bassist. Bass on this record is managed by Rob Caggiano (he plays in Anthrax). You know what else Rob Cagianno did? Everything on this record. He produced it, played lead and rhythm guitars, bass, did some vocals, and I guess he played some percussion, too. Oh, and he's a partial songwriter on almost every song. Back to the matter at hand-it's all of the parts you love about the three bands involved...except they're not as good as on each individual group's albums. Huge choruses? Sometimes there, sometimes not as much. Great metal guitar? From time to time. Standout vocals? I can't honestly check that off the list. That's one of the downfalls of the record: It's been neutered.

Most of these songs, the verses sound like they're around to fill space from chorus to chorus. I don't remember the song until the chorus kicks in. And some of the choruses are forgettable, too. Or I want to forget them (well, I want to forget all of track seven, "Little Darling"). The jury's still out on that matter. There's a classic rock approach to the album in that there's some killer riffs and the singing is almost always clean. This would be fine were it not Keith Buckley. Buckley's singing is great-don't get me wrong-but without the more aggressive screams/yells, there's an emotional void.

And maybe that's the real issue here. Everyone here is talented, but they aren't used to their full effect. It's sad. There's a lot of promise here, but after time, the album gets grating. However, with huge choruses, an aggressive outlook, and some cheesy album art, it'll fit right in with the local modern rock station. There's some redeeming parts to this record, but let's just hope this isn't a full-time thing.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

dingbat (January 10, 2011)

I listened. A few songs are awesome, a few are bad, and the rest are good enough, I guess.. It's like listening to the Gutter Phenomenon without the breakdowns.

regreteverything (January 10, 2011)

I want to hate this so badly, and I've got no respect left for the dudes from Anthrax for being willing to share a stage with the cocksuckers from FOB and ETID, but I catch myself occasionally bobbing my head to this and tapping my toes when the guy that drives the carpool puts it on.

Dante3000 (January 10, 2011)

I honestly am just not into this. The video they have is too good for the song (which I nearly immediately forgot after I heard it). There is nothing in any of the songs I've heard that make them stay in your mind. It's literally in one ear and out the other (well, not literally but if that's how forgetting things worked, than it'd be literally).

rickdog81 (January 9, 2011)

If this band were brnd spakning new, i would be happy to have bought it, not in my top ten of the year but a belter all the same but the review is right each band does their bit better full time... i wish we got a situation here was an etid song, a little more screaming would be awesome to my ears

SydBarrett420 (January 9, 2011)

LOL, this is straight garbage and this comes from a very big ETID fan.

Lysdexia (January 9, 2011)

To the guy who said I listened to the album once or twice, I listened to it in my car for about two or three weeks, and probably ten times at home.

moneenerd (January 9, 2011)

Best review ever

spoon_of_grimbo (January 8, 2011)

i think, above all else, this album is just plain FUN from start to finish.

SkolarX (January 8, 2011)

a guy i work with had a good point, its very foo fighters-ish and that isn't a bad thing in any way shape or form. one of my favorite albums of last year

Slamadams (January 8, 2011)

The blues havin' blues is one of the best tracks to come out of 2010.

kylewagoner (January 8, 2011)

Dead to Me was a supergroup that I thought was way better than the bands they came from and still kicks ass to this day. They're about all I can think of...

HeresLookinAtYou (January 8, 2011)

"3/5 is about right. I might go 3 and a half. It's Every Time I Die with Fall Out Boy hooks and Anthrax guitar shreddage. Either you want to hear that or you don't."

Pretty much this.

Michael_Berryman (January 8, 2011)

yeah, fun stuff sucks.

froggerwithmylife (January 8, 2011)

Most of these "promising on paper" supergroups end up kinda sucking.

shawnlw (January 8, 2011)

This review is bullshit. Maybe if you hadn't formed a skeptical opinion before hearing the music and focused more on it than playing the album, you'd realize that this album is full of heavy riffs, big choruses and confident, enjoyable vocals. Pretty much everything you said was barely present. Sorry dude, if you must review a record, listen to it more than once or twice first.

misterspike (January 7, 2011)

I meant 3.5/5 ... And Andy Hurley's drumming is one of the highlights of this record.

misterspike (January 7, 2011)

I'd go with 3.5 as well. It's a good metal record, and a great intro to what I hope is a continuing project with these guys.

thepopeofchili-town (January 7, 2011)

3/5 is about right. I might go 3 and a half. It's Every Time I Die with Fall Out Boy hooks and Anthrax guitar shreddage. Either you want to hear that or you don't.

spoon_of_grimbo (January 7, 2011)

i disagree with most of this. i think it sees all the people involved doing something a little different from their dayjob (anthrax were never this catchy, fallout boy never this heavy, ETID never this melodic), and doing it well. one of my favourites of this year, and i can't say i expected that before i heard it.