Customer Reviews

Anthems For The Damned

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

You will rate this current offering by Richard Patrick depending on what you are looking for in the band Filter. If you're looking for the nu-metal of their first three cd's then I guess you will be very, very disappointed. But if you're looking for a more mature Richard Patrick like in his side project, 'Army of Anyone', then you will not be disappointed. This is an outstanding release from Patrick and an overall great rock album. Any band that I've ever listened to I never want the band to produce similar sounding cd's time after time because then, what's the point. Although I might consider this an 'Army of Anyone' Part II Patrick gives it enough of the 'Filter' sound here to hopefully satisfy the listener, but probably not. And I totally disagree with one reviewer who states that they only played two songs from this cd on their current tour. Many bands do just that deciding to play more of the older material to satisfy the fans at the concert which is nothing new. I don't give a whole lot of credence to the fact that they played only two songs from this cd. While many are going to trash this cd because they still want Filter from the past I will disagree here because this is a great listen as was his 'Army of Anyone' project. If you love Richard Patrick's voice then this is a keeper, but you will have to judge for yourself. Don't go into this cd with any preconceived notions about what it "should" sound like and listen to it for what it is. For me it's between 4 & 5 stars, but leaning more towards the 5 star rating for a great rock album. The closing track though would be the one drawback of the album as stated in previous reviews and one would question why it's there so that might be the song that keeps this from the five star rating. 11 out of 12 though is okay.

After getting the supergroup thing out of his system with Army Of Anyone, Richard Patrick finally decided it was time to reactivate Filter -- with or without a band to back him up. Heading to the studio with producer Josh Abraham, Patrick collborated with such session talent as John 5, Josh Freese and Wes Borland and finished this thing almost as fast as Trent Reznor releases albums these days. The first Filter album after sobering up nearly six years ago (unlike that other guy who fronts a band with the DeLeo brothers), "Anthems For The Damned" has a big job to do. With a six year gap between albums, expectations will no doubt be higher than usual. Unfortunately, despite all the best efforts, this newest incarnation of Filter is, for lack of a better word, damned.

Maybe you could chalk it up to the fact that Army Of Anyone just wrapped up a year ago. Afterall, half the material here sounds like it belongs on a second Army Of Anyone CD, which wouldn't be such a bad thing, but we're expecting FILTER here. Since "Title Of Record," we've gotten used to ballads being a part of Filter's sound. It worked before, giving them a massive hit with "Take A Picture." It worked on most of "The Amalgamut" as well. Unfortunately, Richard feels the urge to pad half the album with the same kind of material. It doesn't matter that "I Keep Flowers Around" is basically just a rearranged, slightly modified version of "Where Do We From Here" or that "Lie After Lie," despite the signature creeping bass-line, is just a watered down Radiohead wanna-be.

The album does, however, have some legs to stand on. The first four tracks, in particular, stand out. "Soldiers Of Misfortune" and "Cold (Anthem For The Damned)" are ballads well-done, while "What's Next" and "The Wake" are heavy, raw and dynamic old-school Filter. After such a strong start the album pretty much slips into mediocrity like an old man into a bath. There is salvation later on, in "The Take" and "In Dreams," but for the most part, the ship has sunk. Had Patrick incoporated these ideas into a new Army Of Anyone album, or better yet, finished this album before jumping into that band, we might be left with a truer Filter sound. Overall, not a terrible record, but not remarkable either. And certainly not worth sticking out for the six year wait.

I type this review mostly to counter the other "one-star" review here - although I do agree with several points by that reviewer. The former members of the band, particularly co-songwriter Geno Lenardo, are definitely missed here. If I wanted to hear Wes Borland or John 5, both of whom I love and think are great guitarists, I'd listen to my Marilyn Manson and Limp B. albums. They don't quite fit here. But overall, this is still pretty much classic Filter to me, and a step up from the nu-metallish Amalgamut album. However, like that album, where the last two cuts, totalling almost 15 minutes, just drift off into a meandering and pointless mishmash of sound effects, this album, too, ends with a real whimper: a 6-minute non-song, where instead, there should have been one final, killer album-closer. But, if FILTER is what you're after, you'll find it here. There just happens to be only 43 minutes of it!

It's puzzling to me that this CD could get anything less than 4 stars. This isn't some re-invention of Filter that we all must convince ourselves must be good because Patrick is back. This is an excellent continuation and evolved step forward for a very talented name in rock music.

Listening to this CD brings back fond memories of the dozens of listening sessions I've had with the previous Filter CD's.

Excellent CD. Without question this is a must have for any Filter fan.

Finally, after a lengthy hiatus Filter is back. It's refreshing to see them active once again. With the release of this album we get a slightly updated version of Filter. Containing new members and a modernized sound we see what post-rehab Richard can churn out. The sound may be different but hints of past Filter can still be heard throughout the entire album. It's loaded with some great tracks too. Some songs that stand out among the rest are "What's Next", "Lie After Lie", and "I Keep Flowers Around". My track ratings would be...

1. Soldiers of Misfortune - 9/10
2. What's Next - 10/10
3. The Wake - 9.5/10
4. Cold (Anthem For The Damned) - 9.5/10
5. Hatred Is Contagious - 8.5/10
6. Lie After Lie - 10/10
7. Kill The Day - 3/10
8. The Take - 9/10
9. I Keep Flowers Around - 10/10
10. In Dreams - 10/10
11. Only You - 9/10
12. Can Stop This - 8/10

Overall : 87% B

However, despite being a good album it still disappoints me to hear the original Filter style disappearing with each album. It seems that Richard nowadays is more focused on creating a sonic anthem rather than an angry industrial mantra. Don't get me wrong it's still a great album but I miss tracks like "The Missing" and "Welcome to the Fold" from previous Filter releases. It actually isn't a huge departure from the style of "The Amalgamut" but something in the sound is different that I just cant put my finger on. Anyway, most Filter fans that stuck around long after their Short Bus days and into The Amalgamut era will still find something to enjoy on this album. It's worth a purchase, not only for the music, but to support a great band.

I'll keep this short. The album has a similar sound to the two previous albums. The style's a little different. Most of the songs, are softer, and slower. There are a few heavier moments. There are also very few songs that do anything for me, a lot of filler.

Also we get another musician giving us his views on ex president Bush and how much he hates him, God. I get he wasn't a great president, not a fan of him myself, but there've already been too many bands doing this already. Oh yeah and Bush left office, less than a year after this album came out. Congrats Rick, What's Next is now dated, already.

There are some songs I like on here. In Dreams, Soldiers Of Misfortune, The Take(the heaviest song on the album, great verses but the chorus could've been better), Cold (Anthem For The Damned), and Hatred Is Contagious are all decent songs, but none really stand out as great. What's next has the best combination of music and vocal melodies, but onfortunately he has a line about George Bush f-ing us up or whatever he said. Still a good song, but it's dated already. I don't like songs to be lyrically dated, although I'm sure there are some I like.

Overall it's an ok album at best. I found some value. I'm just sick of the subject matter. Maybe if he'd released this a few years back it wouldn't have bothered me, but again less than a year after its release and it's dated. If you 're a Filter fan then check it out, but don't expect it be be a great album.

I was dissapointed to hear new cd anthems for the damned by Filter. Also dissapointed for a new Filter with new members. Why singer Richard Patrick don't sing now with old filter members before Army of Anyone? any answers, I will never understand. I think it's like something lost of band: singer power voice has been lost (his voice seems to me to be a singer classic music opera voice) songs are something not true filter, new members, new show... It's something like old Army of Anyone. "Soldiers of Misfortune" is good, like "Only you" but others song of album are poor. I miss "Short Bus" "Title of Record" "Amalgamut" old albums. But happy Filter is back. One word: I'm just dissapointed music Anthems for the damned isn't a old Filter music. We have now: New poor Filter band since it's back, and 1993-2002 old and good Filter band that status is "dead"... Hope next album will be better. Or I think, Filter can "lose" a fan... And I don't think to buy next like I bought all old albums.

As expected before I'd even heard a single track off this record, it sounds like a combination of earlier Filter (especially "The Amalgamut" and "Title of Record") and Patrick's other collaboration Army of Anyone. "Anthems for the Damned" is something of an evolution away from the harsher industrial sounds of the earlier records. Never-mind though because this is a five star record loaded with rich soundscapes and sonic vistas that will likely induce episodes of contemplation alternating with serious in-car head-banging (and accompanying stares from other drivers). Don't take anyone else's word for it.. listen to it and make up your own mind!

I can't get enough of this record! I've been listening to it everyday for the past few weeks and it's a testament to the brilliance of Richard Patricks skills. I've been a HUGE Filter fan ever since Short Bus(which is my favorite record ever). I was a bit reluctant about this record after seeing some negative reviews about it, but fortunetly, these reviews were horribly wrong. It's a great concept album! I think the songs are simalar to Title of Record(if one must compare to Filter's past). If you've ever liked Filter, you should buy this.

it'd be pretty hard to match the greatness of Filters last cd but Anthems for the Damned delievers. most all the songs can stand on their own as great. this CD sounds like a continuation of the classic Filter sound with lots of overlaying vocals and guitar work.

i love this CD!