Album Review

Damn Vandals – Done For Desire

• 18th Jul 2012

London rockers Damn Vandals’ recent Beautiful Mind EP brought a great deal of praise for the highly rated young band. Their debut full length release Done For Desire is already receiving some fine reviews – and rightly so. Good songs, meaty guitar riffs and commanding vocals are combined to give a powerful and fresh rock sound.

The approach is solid hard rock meets punk, with all of the attitude that implies. At times there is a darkness to the songs and the political content of some of the lyrics is heavy, but the energy and enthusiasm never waver through the ten tracks.

The single Revolution/ Rehearsal gives the album a strong start. Frank Pick’s guitar alternately provides a solid wall of power chords and then throws a delicate melody into the mix. Jack Kansas’ vocals are big and powerful, his deep voice rumbling and making his lyrics sound like weighty pronouncements.

As Seen On TV has a more grungy sound, the guitar slightly subdued as Kansas bemoans the influence of television on society. Kids Want Guns mixes guitar riffs and the pounding drums of Chris Christiansen III to create a fast paced track, although the lyrics here are a little repetitive. King Of Never has a bluesy feel, with feedback rich guitars backing softer vocals in a slightly slower song.

Sex It Narcissus has lyrics that involve an affair between the Greek legend and Jesus, so it’s sure to offend many people. A great bass line from Adam Kilmore Gardens leads the track off before the guitar riffs and vocals come in. The feel to the song is somewhat reminiscent of The Doors, with the prevailing vocals dominating.

This Amazing has a great hook and a fine guitar solo while Don’t Go Dancing When You’re Gone is a fairly straightforward short rock song. The Revenge Of Spider Toothy, apart from being a wonderful title, has some of the best guitar work on the album. The vocals are fast and passionate, showing that while Kansas has a fairly limited vocal range he can use it well.

Trouble With Jesus is reverb rich and has an old style rock n roll vibe. The bass and guitar combine well to back Kansas as he lays out his religious doubts. And then the past single Beautiful Mind, big and anthemic, finishes the album off in some considerable style.

Done For Desire is a good debut album from a young band who clearly have a great deal of musical talent. Their songs are short and to the point and there is little wasted time, with the whole album coming in at little more than thirty minutes. There is a lot of hype around Damn Vandals – but the attention seems to be well deserved.