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The Black Album
Punk · 1980 · 16 tracks

The Black Album

The Damned

A sprawling double-album pivot from punk to gothic romanticism. Church organs, baritone croons, and a seventeen-minute epic define this midnight masterpiece.

October 1980 · Drastic Plastic Records

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A theatrical and sprawling descent into gothic romanticism and psychedelic gloom.

Tracklist · 16 Tracks
02
Lively Arts
3:00
03
Silly Kids Games
2:35
05
Twisted Nerve
4:39
06
Hit or Miss
2:37
07
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
4:35
08
Sick of This and That
1:49
09
History of the World, Part 1
3:46
10
13th Floor Vendetta
5:05
11
Therapy
6:12
12
Curtain Call
17:19
13
Love Song (live)
2:10
14
Second Time Around (live)
1:51
15
Smash It Up, Parts 1 & 2 (live)
4:24
16
New Rose (live)
1:49
17
I Just Can’t Be Happy Today (live)
4:12
18
Plan 9 Channel 7 (live)
4:58
Moments Worth Listening For
The massive church organ swell that opens Curtain Call, signaling the band's total departure from three-chord punk.
Dave Vanian's transition from a whisper to a full-throated croon during the climax of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.
The melodic, driving bass line of History of the World, Part 1 that anchors the shimmering psychedelic production.
Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does The Black Album sound next to the rest of The Damned's catalogue?

Surreal Abstract+1.5σ

The writing leans notably further into surreal abstract than the rest of the catalogue.

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