The Damned return with 1st new album in a decade — hear ‘Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow’

Photo by Steve Gullick

British punk icons The Damned this week announced plans to release Evil Spirits, their first new album in a decade, this coming April — and they’re preceding the full record with the debut of its first single, “Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow,” which can you can stream below via Spotify.

Produced by Tony Visconti, the new album — the band’s 11th since coming together in 1976, and first since 2008’s So, Who’s Paranoid? — is due out April 13 on Search and Destroy/Spinefarm Records.

The new album also see co-founders Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible re-enlisting former bassist Paul Gray, who played in The Damned from 1980 to 1983, and again in 1989 and 1996, and performed on The Black Album and Strawberries. Gray’s return follows the departure of Stu West, who had joined in 2004.

In announcing the new album, Captain Sensible says:

“We deliberately recorded the album retro style. The same way our debut album was made, basically. There’s something wonderful about the ’70s sounds; glam, rock and punk records, they all sound so great and Tony specializes in beautifully crafted old school production. He had us all playing live, bashing it out in the same room with a focus on getting the initial band version of each song as close as possible to the finished thing.“

Below, get an earful of the new single, see the Evil Spirits tracklist and check out the band’s tour dates.

Tracklist: The Damned, Evil Spirits

1. “Standing On The Edge Of Tomorrow”
2. “Devil In Disguise”
3. “We’re So Nice”
4. “Look Left”
5. “Evil Spirits”
6. “Shadow Evocation”
7. “Sonar Deceit”
8. “Procrastination”
9. “Daily Liar”
10. “I Don’t Care”

The Damned ‘Evil Spirits’ U.K. tour dates:

Jan. 26: O2 Academy, Newcastle
Jan. 27: Caird Hall, Dundee
Jan. 28: O2 Academy, Glasgow
Jan. 30: O2 Academy, Leeds
Jan. 31: Academy 1, Manchester
Feb. 1: O2 Academy, Birmingham
Feb. 3: O2 Academy, Leicester
Feb. 4: Rock City, Nottingham
Feb. 6: Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone
Feb. 7: Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Feb. 9: Great Hall, Cardiff
Feb. 10: O2 Academy, Bristol
Feb. 11: O2 Academy, Bournemouth
Feb. 13: O2 Guildhall, Southampton
Feb. 14: De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhilln
Feb. 17: O2 Forum, London

PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS

• The Damned headed into the studio with Tony Visconti as bassist Paul Gray rejoins band
• The Damned drafts T.S.O.L. for short ‘Hallow-East Tour’ of U.S over Halloween
• Video: The Damned rehearses 1980’s ‘Black Album’ for this fall’s 35th anniversary tour
• Damned playing ‘Damned Damned Damned,’ ‘Black Album’ on 35th anniversary tour
• The Damned cancels U.S. tour after failing to obtain visas for October concerts