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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Damned Goes Gothic, Loses The Punk, March 7, 2003
For longtime Damned fans, "Phantasmagoria" and the follow-up album "Anything" were not welcome creations from the band that started the punk scene (they beat the Sex Pistols and Clash with the first record contract). By 1985, the band's sound was more gothic-pop than punk (Fans of The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, or Clan of Xymox take note). The album cover itself reflects the dark undertones found throughout many of the songs. Plenty of synths, organs, harpsicords and a touch of wind and howling here. "The Shadow of Love" is a haunting song with David Vanian's howl-like vocals and a driving bassline in the fashion of Killing Joke's "Love Like Blood" or Sisters of Mercy's "This Corrosion." "Is It A Dream" and "Edward The Bear" are pure pop and about as commercial as The Damned would ever become while "Grimly Fiendish" is a classic and humourous Halloween-flavoured track with a great harpsicord intro. The final track, "Trojans" (before the two bonus mixes)is an almost romantic instrumental and a perfect end to a very good album. As I said before, this album is not for early Damned fans so keep that in mind if "Smash It Up" and "Disco Man" are favorites. If you are a goth or darkwave fan, you must must must add this to your collection. There is a reason why this album is one of the band's hardest to find. If you like The Cure, Xymox, Sisters of Mercy or mid-80's Killing Joke and The Cult, then grab this CD and the equally dark follow-up "Anything."
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Timeless Fiendish Fun, May 17, 2005
I'm a punk fan and while I think The Damned's self-titled debut and Machine Gun Etiquette are great punk rock records, I prefer their more melodic, darker goth-tinged side. This album picks up where Strawberries left off(also a must have Damned album)with Dave Vanian's vocals at their peak, dramatic and melodic. This album has a heavier synth/piano use than Strawberries, and that record had a lot! There is also some sax on here which works so well, see Street of Dreams. The guitars are more relaxed and swirly on this album with warm, lush effects...almost a Cure-ish sound going on here. The bass is low and thundering, but still very prominent which is good. Like I sad the keys rule on this record, making this album more dramatic and epic in sound. Phantasmagoria has a huge 80's sound mainly from the synth effects and thats another reason I dig this album(I mean it WAS 1985). So strange this is only an import and not an easy find in stores. It is quite a good album with memorable songs. I think the reason I prefer this album and strawberries over the earlier punk albums is that The Damned's music became more layered and complex with a wider variety of instrumentation. This record represents the band coming full circle with the sound they were meant to have. Highlights include Shadow of Love, with the dark, low haunting vocals and driving bass...Is It A Dream is catchy and very 80's but good. Buy this cd if you like melodic dark rock with synths. If you like this you must check out Xymox's Twist Of Shadows and Tones On Tails' Everything album. Definitley recommmended. P.S. Your girlfriend will love this album.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Some Damned fans may not like it but..., September 5, 2004
I love it. Sanctum Sanctorum is haunting, and though someone on The Offical Damned Message boards said "I like the song, but Dave overdoes the Vic Reeves impression", I disagree - Mr Vanian is at his best! There is also the wonderful Grimly Fiendish, which has continued to irritate me (in a nice way, if that makes any sense) every day since I first heard it "Bad lad, bad boy, bad lad, bad boy...". You get the idea. Some other good songs on there include There'll come a day and The Shadow of Love. At first I was confused when I heard "Edward The Bear". "Surely this isn't Dave Vanian singing?!" I asked myself. In fact, it's actually Roman Jugg providing the vocals, so if anyone is confused, there's your answer. Phantasmagoria may not be liked by every Damned fan. If you're obsessed with their first album, Damned Damned Damned, then this may not be your kind of thing. But personally, I love everything The Damned do, and this is one of them.
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by The Damned 
