The Damage

Tapping The Vein | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 16, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nuclear Blast Americ
• ASIN: B00005RCG9
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,108 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #43 in Music > Alternative Rock > Goth & Industrial > Industrial > General

Track Listings

1. Ledge

2. Butterfly

3. Sugar Falls

4. Beautiful

5. Again

6. The Damage

7. Fingertips

8. Broken

9. Hurricane

10. Everything

11. Falling In

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great new band finally releases a full-length album!!!, June 21, 2002

By 

Ilker Yucel "Kryptych" (Annapolis, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Damage (Audio CD)

I've been a fan of Tapping the Vein for some time now, ever since first hearing their music [...] and seeing their live shows. It was quite a thrill to finally buy their first full-length album, and it was well worth the wait. This is a band with the right mixture of musical talent and emotion to make it big in the gothic/electronic scene. [...] and adding in their own touch of melancholic beauty, they've created an album that is bound to satisfy. The reworked version of "Butterfly" takes the original and ups the musical ante, using more sonic experimentation and just improving an already wonderful song. The same can be said for "Beautiful," "Everything," "Broken," and "Falling In," all songs from the previous two EPs that gave the band a name. Aside from that, we have six new songs that show the band continuing on the path that their fans know and love, while at the same time expanding on it. The electronics are lush and even more present, but without overpowering the organic element of the band members. The music is moody, but it is real and not contrived like all the "woe-is-me" electro-gloom bands in the genre. And then there's Heather Thompson's amazing voice. She can carry the softest notes with such sweetness before going into a wailing scream. My new favorites on this album are "Sugar Falls" (a song that reminds of latter-day Cure), the title track, and "Hurricane." The album artwork is a great visual effect as well, slightly reminiscent of designs used by Projekt bands like Attrition. Tapping the Vein are sure to take their place among the gothic/electronic elite. They have the musical chops, they have the attitude, and above all...they are just that damn good. Give it a listen...you won't regret it.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tragic diva seduces the nation, July 27, 2002

By 

Michael A. Ventarola "mavjb" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Damage (Audio CD)

Tapping the Vein successfully recreates the studio sound when playing live. Every band in the do-it-yourself arena could take a page from the book of this quartet, to learn what it is like to be among the hardest working rock bands to grace the planet in decades. Despite their continued growing popularity, the band members remain humble and extremely close to their fan base, which only endears them even more to the throngs who have come to love them and their music.

Doe eyed beauty, Heather, is the front woman who caresses our ears with lyrics that are at once seductive and then fiery. She can deftly pull you in then hurl you out into the stratosphere with the drive and energy that comes from each note in her blessed tiny throat. Her range can go from seductive kitten to fiery dragon in a split second, which often surprises and delights those who hear the band for the first time.

Now recently signed to the Nuclear Blast label, they are not hurting for work by any stretch of the imagination. Wherever they play, they sell out the venue and pack them in until it is standing room only which includes the tops of the tables if necessary. Their fans are legion and loyal from one state to the next and is growing faster than a virus in an enclosed space.

Tapping The Vein stretches each range of tragic emotion on every recording and delivers it without wallowing in murky pity party type of sounds. The rock is edgy yet danceable. The lyrics are poetic and painful, and the vocalist is a true Diva if ever there was one. Having had the good fortune to watch this band play live, it is uncanny how Heather imbibes the character for each song and delivers a new persona with each one. She does not utilize flashy costume and makeup changes. In the blink of the eye, she pulls some inner switch to become one with the song. The skill with which she accomplishes this makes you *think* there was a scene and costume change.

The four members that make up this band demonstrate a tightly knit camaraderie where each will work off the others energy in order to involve the audience. Whether you hear them on CD or see them live, you are immersed for a time into their world and truly will come away grateful for the experience of such deft musicianship. It is only a matter of time before this band is a major phenomenon.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Judge for yourself, February 7, 2006

By 

neonxaos (Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Damage (Audio CD)

I've been reading through the reviews of this album, and I've had a few good laughs. The things people get offended about... There are those who see the Nuclear Blast label, and expect something very specific, in terms of the musical style. Well, Nuclear Blast has every right to sign different acts, and you have every right to choose whether or not you listen to them. Who buys music just because it's on specific label? I choose to listen before I buy, unless I know the band well in advance.

Enough moralizing. I listened to this album online some years back, and I've wanted it ever since. The sound is very much like Kidneythieves, mixing goth-ish rock with electronica and indeed pop. I believe that's why some people won't like it, since it's rather hard to place. But it happens to fall well within my taste. The lead singer Heather has a very interesting voice, which is often rather beautiful, but also powerful and slightly awkward at times. To me, that makes for a very interesting listening experience, and I feel that the band would be a lot less interesting without her. The musical arrangements are not *that* fantastic, apart from a few songs like "Butterfly," but her passionate, penetrating voice elevates this band above the masses.

In short, if you're thinking of buying this just because it says "Nuclear Blast" on the cover, give it a listen first. This is not a goth metal act. But it is a fine example of dark electronica with goth *rock* elements, and a band that deserves some more recognition.