DAMAGED hail from New York and came forth out of the band FRIGID BICH. That and actually cut quite a good demo in 1984 called “Tyrants of a Generation”. After a few changes throughout the next two years, it was decided to change the name and it became DAMAGED. What is very clear is the kind of music that the band plays, and it is US Metal down to the core, with some influences shining through from the NY Hardcore scene. Unfortunately that only lasted until 1988, when they diusbanded. As the band FRIGID BICH reformed in 2017, it got the interest in DAMAGED flowing again as well. In that respect it is very feasible that a record company like Metal Warrior Records showed their appreciation of that fact and was very keen to rerelease a lot of the old DAMAGED. A deal was struck, which has resulted in me listening to these recordings with a collective name of “Under Siege”.

As with a lot of music from the eighties, it never made it across to a big audience on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. It will have reached some individuals, but with so many good and impressive records being cut in those years, it is quite understandable that it didn’t get any further. But I can’t help but think that if DAMAGED would have had just that bit of luck, they could have made quite the impression, because I really like what I am hearing. The songs are strong, powerful and full of variety without ever losing face of the fact that they need to imprint themselves on the audience. And they do. “Under Siege” is good stuff.

Yes, even though this is all retouched, and the sound is far from perfect, DAMAGED is making me smile and bang my head. Especially during the live songs, which show how powerful the band presence of the band was when on stage. The latest song of the band, the closer “Damned If You Do” has the kind of production that shows how the band could have sounded if they would have been given the chance. All this put together makes “Under Siege” a very worthwhile release and a must have for the proper US Metal afficionado. But even if you are not one of those, please take your time and have a listen. You can’t get more DAMAGED than you already are. Maybe being “Under Siege” might heal you a little bit?