This is the first album by The Damned since 2001 and it’s been worth the wait.

13 tracks showing that this band, who could out-thrash any punk rock band (and probably still can) have grown up.

The opener ‘A Nation Fit For Heroes’, contains all the energy of those early days, along with the commercial sound that they developed in the eighties.

Dave Vanian’s voice is that of a latter-day crooner and Captain Sensible’s guitar work is easily his best ever.

The Cap himself is very happy with the album. “It’s insanely melodic.” He says, “And I can’t get the song ‘Dr Woofenstein’ out of my head.”

Other highlights include ‘Since I Met You’ and ‘Maid For Pleasure’, but having said that, the whole album demands your full attention.

The only criticism I can think of is the length of the close-out track ‘Dark Asteroid’; a piece of apparent psychedelia which runs to 14 minutes, about four too many.