The Damned Things - Ironiclast

 

Released: December 13, 2010

I was leery but hopeful when I first heard about The Damned Things because the band is made up of members from bands that wouldn't seem to naturally coexist in any natural environment: Every Time I Die, Anthrax and Fall Out Boy.  Yeah.  Right?  Now, I had complete faith in Keith Buckley is a vocalist and lyricist, but the rest of the line up is: Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano of Anthrax, and Joe Trohman of Fall Out Boy, all playing guitar; Josh Newton of ETID on bass, and Andy Hurley of FOB on drums.  I've not really cared about Anthrax in years, despite them putting on a good show when I saw them on a reunion tour, 8 years ago.  Dudes are getting old.  And Fall Out Boy... Well, let's just say I've never been a fan.

It turns out that they all love classic blues-inspired riff rock and they perform it well.  Ironiclast is so damned (ha) catchy it's silly.  Every time their first single "We've Got A Situation Here" ends, I just want to skip right back to the beginning and hear it again.  And that's not a singular phenomenon, there's delightful melodies and harmonies and fun riffs and huge choruses being flung around like a cat clinging to a ceiling fan!  If this is what a modern rock record sounds like, then count me in.  I just hope the world follows their lead and forgets about the Puddle of Nickelcreedbacks out there, but honestly, that's been a dream of mine every time any record comes out. 

Do yourself a favor, get this album and hit the highway with it because this is driving music, dammit!