Machine Gun Etiquette

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Possessing a circus-esque feel with horns and cymbals abound and Vanian’s dark vocals, the song sure is an experiment, whether or not to consider filler is up to you, but it doesn’t hurt the album. The new version of the band that emerged in 1979 had Rat Scabies and Dave Vanian on drums and vocals as before, but Captain Sensible had switched to guitar with Algy Ward coming in on bass.

The Damned – Machine Gun Etiquette (2021, Pink - Discogs The Damned – Machine Gun Etiquette (2021, Pink - Discogs

Captain Sensible is a great character, the Damned is a punk powerhouse; this album is one of the best things ever recorded. A thrilling, wild ride, it took in hyper-speed, guitar-driven pop, psychedelic pop and surreal pop songs drawing from the girl’s comic Bunty and Vanian’s fascination with Hollywood and horror.Time went on and I started to collect as many Damned releases as I could get my hands on (witch was quite a bit) but the only ones I listened to with any regularity were _Damned Damned Damned_ and _Machine Gun Etiquette_ (ok, _Light at the End of The Tunnel_ got a lot of play as well).

The Damned – Machine Gun Etiquette (2016, Vinyl) - Discogs The Damned – Machine Gun Etiquette (2016, Vinyl) - Discogs

The track Smash It Up (Part 1) was written by Captain Sensible as a tribute to the late great Marc Bolan. But as always, the energy, a representation of their earlier works often made by Vanian’s tone, is present here which makes it a fun listen. Forming in 1976, they were the first British punk band to release a single (‘ New Rose’, from their debut album).With this LP they revealed themselves as "something more" than a punk band with the ability to give their compositions a more elaborate musical touch than the Sex Pistols or the Ramones themselves. Yet they haven’t forgotten their punk roots; Anti Pope is a scathing, breakneck takedown of organized religion that would have been scandalous on release, while Melody Lee begins with a beautiful piano performance from Sensible before suddenly transforming into a thrilling barely controlled speed-punk hook-fest and Noise Noise Noise in contrast puts the fanciness aside for an uncomplicated straight-ahead punk asskicker. With the title track providing the rationale for getting the Damned back together (plus nabbing the Saints' bassist), the rest of the album is back to gleeful basics, chaotic punk heavy on doomy mood.