Self-Titled is the debut album by Damned If I Don't: written, performed, engineered, produced and recorded by Daniel Stacey Herber throughout the course of 2018. This fact in itself speaks volumes and is referenced in the title of the album. The album takes one on a musical journey through a diverse range of rock songs which have touches of thrash metal, punk and pop at times – a subtle nod of acknowledgment to the band who have influenced Daniel to take a versatile approach to songwriting.
The edgy opening track Never Again introduces audiences to the rock flavor of the album, which is then followed by the raw Constellation, which offers some tongue-in-cheek social commentary on popular culture as it is today.
Next is The Clamour, an homage to popular punk rock with the inclusion of many lyrical clichés to accompany a sound as familiar as many of these sayings. Bass-driven Octane follows as a shout-out to indie rock coupled with the raw vocal style that can be heard throughout the album.
The thrash rock of Second Time Around hits hard and as a calling card, the ambiguous lyrics are open for interpretation – family, politics or another concept entirely, the meaning of these songs are open for interpretation.
The juxtaposed gentleness of Hold On was written at a time when great musicians and people took their own lives in 2018 and is a response to these tragedies. The anthemic You Are You showcases a slightly more alternative and progressive sound and features many sonic contrasts.
An Ode to the Past is a nostalgia punk rock recollection of days gone by, after which the lighter pop approach of Tartan is introduced, whose central theme revolves around the idea of friendship and departures.
Out From Under picks up the momentum of the album at this juncture with its eclectic delivery and lyrical musings. The album closes with the hard-hitting number We Should Be Better, by its design ending the album on a poignant note.
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Links to Damned If I Don't
Website: http://damnedifidontband.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Damnedifiband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5BXKupVH4voPviesc6MojA