Just whipped out Damage Done

[King Chaos]

Actually that's a lie, I never really ever put it away.

And yet everytime I listen to it it takes me back to the days when I first heard it. I was young and just starting to realise I needed to make some choices in life. This album definately influenced those choices, pointing me in the direction I currently travel.

This album is, from a fanbase perspective, by far their most under-rated work in my opinion. I'm pretty sure it got near 10/10 reviews everywhere in the media though.

When Stanne said in the online webcast earlier this year that the band's ultimate dream was to make "that one perfect album", I couldn't help but wonder why Damage Done is not considered "it".

Guess this thread is similar to the projector one and if anything it's asking you guys: 5 years on, how do you see this masterpiece?

 

[Kovenant84]

To be honest, its the one DT album that pulls me back to a specific place and time as well. I won't go into the details, as they're so lovingly preserved in the old 'fucked up relationships' thread for all of internet time, but to be quite honest, Hours Passed in Exile has the same emotional impact on me now that it did then.

I'll be totally open and state that I can't say I really listened to the middle of the cd until recently. I remember hearing the songs, repeatedly, but I never connected with any of them until a couple of months ago. Treason Wall always rocked, but I never quite realized how hardcore. Single Part of Two, Cathode Ray Sunshine, and Format C: For Cortex are incredible, and I don't think the listening I originally gave it all those years ago really did them justice.

It'll always be an important album to me, as it was the first I ever pre-ordered, but I really don't think I ever gave this one a place in my mind besides fixing it at that point in history.

~kov.

 

[King Chaos]

Single Part of Two, Cathode Ray Sunshine, and Format C: For Cortex are incredible,

Oddly they're my favourite tracks on the album. Format C: For Cortex has always been a big favourite.

 

[Siren]

This album is, from a fanbase perspective, by far their most under-rated work in my opinion.

I think i will agree with you.
It was the first album that came out after i got into metal and DT, so it's the first (and possibly only) album i listened to with such devotion. I remember the anticipation and the excitement i had. I can't say there's a single song on Damage Done that i don't love or connect to. I knew all the lyrics and in all possibility i can still sing along to most songs without much effort. I think it's the most coherent DT album to this day, the flow from one song to the next is simply amazing. When i listen to it i always can play the opening tune of the next song in my head. And the songs meant a lot to me back then.
So it's a pity i don't listen to it more often. I had underrated it in my "top DT albums" list.

 

[stardrowned]

It's easily my favorite Dark Tranquillity album - that's settled. The album is generally fast with striking riffs. The song order is simply perfect; opening with Final Resistance and ending with Ex Nihilo - which is the best part. Also the only album that I never skip any tracks in. By the way, Martin did all the guitar-work, right?

 

[plintus]

To be honest, its the one DT album that pulls me back to a specific place and time as well.

It pulls me back to Philly on September 25th 2002, where dt were playing with In Flames, Sentenced and Killswitch Engage (best line-up ever so far).

Five fucking years.

 

[Kovenant84]

Old Bridge, NJ. Same line-up. Killswitch was horrific, totally botched the whole night. Sentenced was hysterical - they knew about the rumors that he had gotten drunk and forgotten lyrics, so pretended to fuck up in the middle of The Suicider, only to launch right into I Kill Myself. Man, the boos he got for that prank. DT was excelleent. Still remember the intensity.

~kov.

 

[Siren]

My first gig, 5 years ago. Ah, the memories.

 

[GONE Ridin' Hood]

^ Lucky you hehe .

I actually believe "The Mind's I" is DT's most under-rated album ye know? I mean, IMO nobody ever seems to talk about the album. True, "Insanity's Crescendo" is always mentioned a lot, but the album as whole not much to be honest. But yeah, "Damage Done" is pretty under-rated too .

If you think about it, in general terms every DT album is under-rated since DT is an under-rated band , obviously not as much as before ("Character" helped a lot), but the band is still pretty under-rated IMO.

And I am thankful for that .

 

[King Chaos]

Funny you should say that. Every time I read reviews or articles for dt they are always recognised for their importance as a band shaping and reshaping the gothenburg sound as well as getting really good reviews for every album.

I think the only people who under-rate dt are the ignoramous' amongst the metal population. The type who start a 'boring' chant for them, just because they don't do breakdowns or whatever. Or people who find themselves to be too grim and think dt sounds more like the pogues than metal . But I guess that's just personal preference.

 

[marduk1507]

It was the first album that came out after i got into metal and DT, so it's the first (and possibly only) album i listened to with such devotion. I remember the anticipation and the excitement i had. I can't say there's a single song on Damage Done that i don't love or connect to. I knew all the lyrics and in all possibility i can still sing along to most songs without much effort. I think it's the most coherent DT album to this day, the flow from one song to the next is simply amazing. When i listen to it i always can play the opening tune of the next song in my head. And the songs meant a lot to me back then.
So it's a pity i don't listen to it more often. I had underrated it in my "top DT albums" list.

This is really nicely put. I wish I could say that about Damage Done. But alas, as Im an oldie here, these could be my exact words on Skydancer. I remember finding Damage Done quite disappointing after being blown away by Haven. This has changed for the better a bit, but I still find it pretty dull, together with Character.

 

[QRV]

Brings me a lot of memories. I used to listen to DD almost daily, as it fit perfectly with the strong feelings I was passing through at the time. It's actually my favorite DT album along with Projector.

 

[ishkur]

hours passed in exile
first DT i ever heard
its a very good album in my opinion

 

[brownden]

Brings me a lot of memories. I used to listen to DD almost daily, as it fit perfectly with the strong feelings I was passing through at the time. It's actually my favorite DT album along with Projector.

My 2 favorite albums too. Make me wonder what happened in between with Haven. I feel terrible saying it but I couldn't give 2 shits about that album (with the exception of Not Bulit To Last). Maybe it just hasn't grown on me yet, who knows.

 

[King Chaos]

that's odd, I'd say Haven and DD are my two favourites. Projector is probably actually my least favourite, although it has some mint songs on and I really do appreciate the mellancholic style on that album.

Probably havena nd DD cos I got into DT through Haven and DD was the Eye opener for me.

 

[marduk1507]

that's odd, I'd say Haven and DD are my two favourites. Projector is probably actually my least favourite, although it has some mint songs on and I really do appreciate the mellancholic style on that album.

Probably havena nd DD cos I got into DT through Haven and DD was the Eye opener for me.

Absolutely. Its nice to observe how people mention the albums that got them into DT as their favs, no matter what. On the other hand, it doesnt seem to apply to me, as my eye opener was Skydancer, but my top favourites are Haven, Projector and The Gallery. Skydancer does bring back lots of memories, immediately evokes the feelings and associations I had back then, but I dont like it as much as I love Haven. But I dont really know, I love all of them except DD and Character.

 

[Matse]

The first DT album I heard and immediately loved was DD but my favorite one is Projector although I love every single album.

 

[Dark_Silence]

the first DT album I heard was Character. I dont think that i have a favorite DT album, i love songs on each albums, and my favorite songs also are on differents albums.

 

[Kovenant84]

Absolutely. Its nice to observe how people mention the albums that got them into DT as their favs, no matter what. On the other hand, it doesnt seem to apply to me, as my eye opener was Skydancer, but my top favourites are Haven, Projector and The Gallery. Skydancer does bring back lots of memories, immediately evokes the feelings and associations I had back then, but I dont like it as much as I love Haven. But I dont really know, I love all of them except DD and Character.

My very first DT album was Haven. I loved it then, still do. But the album that inspired me to buy all the rest was The Mind's Eye. Apart from the fact that I am very nearly deaf nowadays, and the cd is quite lacking in volume, it remains one of my favorites. Funny enough, The Gallery never really hooked me. Lethe, The Dividing Line, music-wise was all that I ever really got into - but lyrically, it's probably my favorite. It's a strange blend, and it goes back to something someone on here once said.

There's a DT song for every metalhead. You just have to find out which one is yours.

~kov.

 

[QRV]

My 2 favorite albums too. Make me wonder what happened in between with Haven. I feel terrible saying it but I couldn't give 2 shits about that album (with the exception of Not Bulit To Last). Maybe it just hasn't grown on me yet, who knows.

I also find that funny, because I really like Haven. The style sounds more sophisticated than on Projector and there are some great songs in there (The Wonders at Your Feet, Not Built to Last, Haven, Indifferent Suns), but my only complaint is about variety. All the songs have pretty much the same structure and for me that's a bit of a turn off at times; so I actually think the songwriting in Projector is better. But that doesn't make Haven a bad album by any means.

Edit: Oh yeah, and Projector was the first DT I heard... what is it? 8 years already? Damn. I'm not sure that has anything to do with it being my favorite.