The Damned Things

The Damned Things are a quintessential rock supergroup that successfully bridged the gap between the 2000s metalcore/hardcore scene and classic arena rock. Formed by members of Fall Out Boy (Joe Trohman, Andy Hurley), Anthrax (Scott Ian, Rob Caggiano), and Every Time I Die (Keith Buckley), the project was designed to explore a shared love for riff-heavy, blues-oriented rock in the vein of Thin Lizzy and Led Zeppelin.

Their sound identity is defined by the 'twin-lead' guitar attack and Buckley's versatile vocal range, which shifts from gritty barks to soaring melodic hooks. Despite the members' backgrounds in thrash and pop-punk, the band leans heavily into a 'Southern Rock' aesthetic, characterized by pentatonic grooves and high-energy stomp. Their career arc is marked by long hiatuses due to their primary bands' schedules, yet they maintained a cult following through two distinct eras: the polished, anthem-focused Ironiclast (2010) and the slightly more eccentric, experimental High Crimes (2019). Critically, they are praised for their ability to write genuine pop-rock structures without sacrificing the 'heavy' credentials of their constituent members.