trent reznor said he went to a depeche mode concert during their black celebration tour in 1986, and the concert gave him the will and motivation to work to make music

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Song Of Faith And Devotion album yet. You should really make a reaction to it.

Trent rezner of NIN was influenced by dMode

I hope you listen to Ultra album one day. The band was almost dead from drug addiction, their moving force Alan left. Everyone thought Depeche Mode were done, and they release that masterpiece.

That album is perfection!

Glad to hear that you enjoyed (most of) it! Policy of Truth really is a banger. Some background informations here: All of the songs were written by Martin Gore (the "mastermind" of Depeche Mode), who also sung on Sweetest Perfection and Blue Dress and did many of the background vocals. Most of the songs are sung by Dave Gahan, who has just a fantastic voice which fits perfectly with the sound of the music. The lyrics (also written by Martin Gore) are mostly about some kind of addiction, may it be love, drugs or anything else. He also sometimes uses religious metaphors to talk about these things which is pretty interesting. There's a whole lot more to be said about them and Violator but I don't wont to overflow you with informations xD Just a small last information: The outros of Enjoy The Silence and Blue Dress are instrumentals that connect the album, especially the second half is meant to be played as a whole. Just for fun here's the songs from Violator ranked by me: 1. Policy of Truth 2. Clean 3. World in My Eyes 4. Enjoy the Silence 5. Blue Dress 6. Waiting for the Night 7. Personal Jesus 8. Halo 9. Sweetest Perfection (but all of them are fantastic imo) If you want to listen to another one: Black Celebration (my favourite and their darkest album, but less Rock elements and more ballads) Songs of Faith and Devotion (their most Rock album, interesting to hear that this is were they went right after Violator) Ultra (My second favourite and a very macabre album filled with lyrics about depression, desperation and death. During the sessions of this album Dave Gahan (singer) overdosed with Heroin but was revived and is clean since then. The album also comes closer to NIN imo than Violator, but the songs are slower here.)

I'm glad to see your reaction to this superb album. I had exactly the same reaction to Policy Of Truth as you the first time I heard it on the radio in 1990. It was the song that made me fall in love with this band, and took me on a journey of discovery with all their earlier albums. Been a massive fan ever since. 😁

What's interesting about what you said in terms of vocals is that not all songs are sung by the frontman (Dave Gahan). The songs Sweetest Perfection and Blue Dress are sung may Martin Gore, so maybe this change in vocals threw you off haha. Sweetest Perfection is one of my favourite songs by them, it might grow on you. I'd recommend you to listen to somme of their other stuff (they dived into many different styles). The album Black Celebration is may personal favourite and it is one of the most influential by them (Trent Reznor cited it and its tour as an influence for Pretty Hate Machine as well). But you have to know that that album is probably the one with the most songs sang by Martina Gore haha. Their other albums from the 90s might be more likely for you. Great reaction btw! Looking forward to seeing more

The bsides in the deluxe version are a second violator on their own, at least as good as some tracks in the main line-up.

“It was the summer of ’86. I’d dropped out of college and was living in Cleveland trying to find my way in the local music scene. I knew where I wanted to go with my life but I didn’t know how to get there. A group of friends and I drove down to Blossom Music Center amphitheater to see the Black Celebration tour. Depeche Mode was one of our favorite bands and the Black Celebration record took my love for them to a new level.” - Trent Reznor

At last! I've found someone in Britain reacting to Depeche mode.

Flood produced this album and PrettyHateMachine within a year

I am a big fan of DM, love to see you reacting to it and being honest if you like it or not. Loved your expressions when you liked Policy of Truth. I would deffinitely like to see your reactions and thoughts of another DM album "music for the masses" from the 80s. It is easy to listen, of course love other albums but many of them you need to listen multiple times to really understand its vibe and meaning. Good work!

Just recently seen them live and the energy this band has is just amazing. Momento Mori, the latest album is just fantastic, I think they can still write a cracking album, but im a massive fan and my all time favourite band, sadly they have been over looked looked in the UK, but still selling out venues.

Really enjoyed your thoughts on what is my favourite album of all time. There are zero 'filler' tracks (even Sweetest Perfection has it's place) and as you quite rightly said, the production is absolutely top notch from beginning to end. Although I've been listening to this album for over 30 years now, I'd never really appreciated the journey the album takes you on due to the order of the tracks, but 'Clean' is absolutely the perfect ending to a perfect album. Really glad you enjoyed it, and suggest you check out Black Celebration and Music for the Masses too where you'll really get a sense of the band at the peak of their powers.

this album has two classic songs in Enjoy the silence and Personal Jesus. Their last album Memento Mori was really good.

... And you discovered WHY this album is a classic!

Nice reaction, it's always good to see a non-fan or someone generally unfamiliar listening to DM for the first time. As you cite NIN as your all-time favourite band, I second several commenters' recommendations that you listen to the Songs Of Faith And Devotion album, which came three years after Violator. I think you may find that you like that one more. Released during the height of the grunge era, there's definitely more of an organic, rockier feel to it that you'd probably appreciate. Flood, the record producer on Violator and Songs Of Faith And Devotion, also worked extensively with Trent Reznor on Pretty Hate Machine, Broken and The Downward Spiral. Unrelated trivia: the working title for Violator was "Perversion". Perhaps more fitting with the themes of the album itself, but I think they went with a better final title.

I bought this on tape in Oxford St HMV whilst visiting the Tate, listened to it on the coach on loop on the way back to Durham, loved it ever since Mary.

10 out of 10. Total classic.

I’m a massive DM fan and I agree. Policy of Truth is an absolute banger. Don’t know what it is about that song but it’s my favourite on Violator too

I LOVE 'Sweetest Perfection'! the instrumental at the end is amazing

Gosh your knowledge of music is incredible such a good ear. I'm old enough to remember DM when they first came out in early 80;s and still a fan. Blue Dress was sang by Martin Gore I think whereas Dave Gahan was the lead singer for the rest with his powerful baritone voice. When Songs of Faith and Devotion came out in 1992 I was gutted at first when I played it, the sound was such a departure from the clean crisp electronic sound DM were famous for and it had this 90's heavy bass electric guitar distiorted sound and Dave's vocals were more raw. It's an album that quickly grows on you though after 2 or 3 listens and some of the songs became my favourite like Walking In My Shoes. Great reaction I thoroughly enjoyed hearing this classic album again and the trip down memory lane.

Music For The Masses and Violator combined launched em where they are today Halo is a masterpiece and my favourite off it!

I'm definitively sharing your feelings about Policy of Truth too, this song has it place in my Top 3 absolutely.

I listened to Violator for the first time in 90, but now I'm listening to it with you like it's the first time too. Thank you for your sincere emotions, it's worth a lot.

For a little bit of context, DM started way back in 1980, with Vince Clarke, Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andrew Fletcher. Vince left the band at the end of 81 and Alan Wilder joined the following year. Then Alan left the band in 95. Dave is the main singer, but sometimes, only sometimes, Martin takes the lead vocals (specially for the balads), Martin is the main songwriter, Alan and Vince were, in their times, the most musically creative and Andy... Well, he was Fletch, to this day there's still people who hate on him, he maybe was the least talented or involved creativity, but I believe he kept the band going all those years (he unfortunately passed away in 2022, since then DM is a duo, only Martin and Dave). Many people think DM without Alan is not the same, and while I agree, I believe what they do since its still really good, just sometimes they pick the wrong producers (something Alan wouldn't had allowed). Now, to comment on your commentary, yeah, Clean of course is about drugs and other things, but ironically, after the tour for Violator, Dave lost control of his addictions and got hooked to heroin. He almost died multiple times before he actually got clean in 96. And Martin struggled with a really bad alcoholism until 06. Now they are both the cleanest they been.

Hi Mary, Been a subscriber for a few years and really enjoy your videos. I do like this new series alot! I love this era of Depeche Mode and actually got this album on vinyl for Christmas. I would recommend the albums before and after this called 'Music for the Masses' and 'Songs of Faith and Devotion' although the band have made many other great albums too. In regards to metal albums I would like to recommend the band Agalloch and the album 'Ashes Against The Grain' the band have influences of folk, doom and black metal but incorporated more progressive elements for this album, which some fans didn't like but I loved, and I think you might too. Apologies if you are already aware of the band.

Nine Inch Nails were set to play a concert in Hawaii in 1994 on the same night as Depeche Mode, who already announced a show a few months before. I had tickets for Depeche Mode and sold them immediately after I heard NIN was playing. Sadly, NIN nails only played a 40 minute set and even worse, Depeche Mode announced a second show so NIN fans people have the rare opportunity to see both bands back to back except the second Depeche Mode show sold out quicker than the first and I couldn't get tickets again.

This album was rated in the top 100 of all time! 😊

Awesome. 😎 I’m a Gen X American from California and grew up listening to DM. DM was very popular here in Southern California. If you can watch the videos from Violator , it’s a treat. Their photographer and director I believe was Anton Corbijn, the same Anton Corbijn that worked with bands like U2. 😎

You should listen to the B sides of the album (originally discarded songs present in the singles). Particularly the Personal Jesus b side called "Dangerous" i think you will find really good. One of my favourite songs of all time. By the way at this point the guys were so crazy that made a lot of songs for the singles, so you will find that "World In My Eyes" include 2 b sides, so it does "Enjoy The Silence" as well. I really love your honesty and commentary, keep doing and grettings from Argentina!

Thank you for great reactions!

There are three more album-worthy B-sides that complete the overall vibe of Violator. Sea of Sin is among my favorite dM songs. Happiest Girl has the most sensual yet twisted lines. Dangerous is sparse but vintage Depeche. Not to mention two gorgeously atmospheric instrumentals, Memphisto and Sibeling, that complete the Violator listening experience. For me, all five tracks are essential to the full-album playthrough.

DM is definitely one the more consistent bands regarding the quality of their albums overall. A lot of their 80s & 90s albums include b-sides that aren’t on the album proper, so I’d definitely recommend checking those out if/when you do more. There’s lots of stuff to sink your teeth into the more down the rabbit hole you go. A fun tidbit about this one is it’s the only album to technically feature Andy on lead vocals of a song. Dave is the primary singer, Martin has usually one or two per album, and both Andy and Alan had backing vocals except one song each. Andy’s “lead” is being the one that yells “Crucified!”on the hidden track Crucified after Enjoy the Silence.

Cool to see someone your age, that you mentioned weren't even born when this album came out, like it. Great review

Honestly, I much prefer violator’s successor, songs of faith and devotion. It was written during extreme fragility for the band and especially the singer dave Gahan (who was experiencing a heroin fuelled mental crisis) but exhibits the most versatile and emotional music they would ever write. Highly recommend:)

Linkin Park was influenced by Depeche Mode. Chester said as a kid a dreamt being a lead singer for Depeche Mode. BTW, Alan Wilder whom was their band member was why they were so good. After he left in 95 they were never the same.

EVERY SINGLE track is banging on that album!! In the top 3 of 90s albums

Great review

Love the mode, great vid 🌹

Oh about the drugs you picked up on... by Violator and their next album DM were HEAVILY into hard drug use both Dave Gahan and Martin Gore especially. Martin got his habit under control but Gave Gahan continued to struggle and actually overdosed in a hotel room and nearly died in 1990's. There's references to drugs on an earlier album. I think they started to experiment in the mid to late 80's after Behind The Wheel and Taking a Ride and other songs started to garner DM more mainstream attention in US around that time.

Kudos to Mary … this is an absolute masterpiece …. You should check out Black Celebration and Music For The Masses as well …

For a good round up of their earlier stuff, I highly recommend listening to 101, one of the all time greatest live albums

Happy 34th birthday to Violator. It has been my favorite album since it's release.

Sweetest Perfection is one of my fave songs on this album 😊 saw them live twice lately and they were on form ❤

A while back, Depeche Mode celebrated a milestone (can’t remember what exactly) by having a different fan run their social media for a day, every day, for I can’t remember how long. One of the fans ended up being Tony Hawk, and, as part of his day, he got blurbs from a few other celebrities, telling about what Depeche Mode has meant for them. Indeed, one of them was Trent Reznor. Within his brief essay, he said that he was inspired to begin writing Pretty Hate Machine after seeing them live in their Black Celebration tour. And it makes sense. People don’t tend to know this, but Depeche Mode were steeped in the industrial genre at that time, despite not being a heavy group. Starting with their third album, they took an experimental turn, their music being made up almost entirely of sounds they created themselves by recording themselves hitting, clanking, throwing, scraping, and everything you can think of, often at, yup, industrial sites. This, along with their darker, more melancholy subject matter, they distinguished them from other synth-pop acts at the time, who were utilizing pre-programmed wave sounds, and more upbeat, poppy style. You can hear a lot of this influence on Pretty Hate Machine. Hell, on NIN in general.

I found your reaction vid while venturing down a Mode rabbit hole... LOVE your voice! Have you ever considered reading for audio books? 'Policy of Truth' is my all-time fave DM song. Cheers!

VIOLATOR Best Album Of All Time !!

I never really got DM until i listened to this from start to finish. One of my favourites is the album Ultra, been on heavy rotation for me the past few weeks. Definitely worth checking out Ultra if you liked this one.

Please, check out Songs of Faith and Devotion soon!! My favourite album from Depeche Mode since last two months, I also loved it in 2012

I think Enjoy The Silence should end after the title that is spoken at the end and then Memphisto should be in the place of Crucified before Policy Of Truth. The album should have had 10 songs instead of 9 songs on it.

Well I have listen thousend songs of Depeche but HALO is the best! And I prefer Duran Duran than Cure, they do the best ... btw I am natural punk fan ,Iike only the old stuff. I like Stranglers, Exploited, Buxcoxs, PIL ... etc.

Great to see your reaction to this album. You need to check out the b-sides from the singles on this album. They’re good enough to be a-sides: Dangerous Sea of sin Happiest girl Recommend checking out their Music for the Masses album next. The rabbit hole runs deep with Depeche Mode. I’ve seen them in concert 7 times.

The base in Clean is sampled from one of these days! You got it

Hoo boy, just wait until you hear 'Black Celebration '

Its a stellar album but I think the album 'songs of faith and devotion' outstrips it as mode went more grungy and mode expanded in to a new outfit

Given the review is 20+ yrs late to the original release of the album. It is now a classic and music today lazy and lack depth. This is a masterpiece produced by a band that is multitalented with band members that collaborated to produced this masterpiece as a band.

Blue Dress is stunning, Halo, World in Eyes, they're all soooo good

Songs of faith and devotion is an a par with Violator in my opinion, albeit with more percussion. please listen to it.

I knew you’d like Policy of Truth before it started! Their next album, Songs of Faith and Devotion, is such a raw album with more of a dark and grungy feel. It’s my favorite!

Get the deluxe version.. listen to the tracks that didn’t make it.. dangerous, happiest girl, etc.. if you want a couple “hoppy” but not “hoppy”. I like how you said policy of truth changed your life. Cool.. now, turn off lights use real good headphones, not pods, close eyes and listen to I feel you from ultra. It’s not policy of truth 2.0, but it’s policy of truth all grown up. …. Album 9….

Debes escuchar Songs of Faith and Devotion, ese es muyy bueno, mas oscuro, mas rockero y con una producción aún mejor trabajada

Hello Mary, did you know you’ve listened to 2 vocalists on this album? The lead vocals on ‘The Sweetest Perfection’ and ‘Blue Dress’ are from Martin Gore (main songwriter). All the others leads are from frontman David Gahan.

you should see their live video, even better than the album!

Wait until you listen to "Songs of Fauth and Devotion" album. It's emotional, dark, and pure bliss

You should do The Smiths - S/T album

as far as I know the band wanted the title to sound edgy or/and metall-like, hence "Violator" ;)

The combination of Alan Wilder and Flood (who is one of the greatest alternative music producers ever) made the production of this album one for the ages.

Sigh....boy do I miss Alan....❤

You should listen to songs of faith and devotion for sure

You should have started with the first album and hear the sonic progression through the years and the lyric progression as well.

IMO, the best album ever

listen to the b side Dangerous", "Sea of Sin", "Happiest Girl"

Please check out Ultra by DM. It’s absolutely fantastic!

Nice review... I like the honest reaction. Music is just a matter of taster after all... Nice good observations and references (9 inches Nails, The Cure, Pink Floyd)... The reference of NIN is funny because Depeche Mode is a great influence of Trent. Which explain this I guess... About Enjoy The Silence, I really disagree about what you said (the song writing was not special)... Well, may be the lyrics didn't resonate for you like other songs of the album which I can understand. As a said before, music is personal and a matter of taste... But about musical theory, it"s quite a very unusual chord progression. In fact, I don't think there are many pop/rock songs that use that progression (Muse's Map Of The Problematic is another one). We are in C minor... So, the chords are Im / II diminished / III major / IV minor / V minor / VI major / VII major The intro riff is Im / III major... great... but then comes the twist ; verse is Im / IIIm (minor and not major as it should be) / V major... wow... how is the hell did they find this progression ??? And then at the end of the chorus you have that B chord that is also out of the scale... In Cm, you have a Bb, not B. Such genius to write a pop song with that weird progression without any people noticing it :). To me, that absolute great song writing :). Anyway, keep on the good job. I really enjoyed (not the silence but) you review :). Take care.

Composer said that Pink Floyd was one of the influences with Clean.

If you thought violator was good you'll love songs of faith and devotion

Hey, if you ever get the chance, please give DMs Never Let Me Down Again a listen, its such a great track which gained a bit of attention because of the 'Last of Us' tv show. Nice and honest views of my favourite album btw!

All girls loves Depeche ... this is about 40 years before and ... now, nothing changed! Yes goth origin is Cure not Depeche, they are some dark not goth, pure origin - Siouxsie and the Banshees, this is goth origin and all begins here!

What you have listened to young lady,….is one of the best albums recorded ever, by any band. Triple-Platinum. 100 listens later and you’ll still notice new things. But, the B-sides like Sea of Sin, Happiest Girl, Dangerous, Kaleid, ……all off Violator are necessary listens…they should have album cuts. Very sexy and deep tracks. I cannot emphasize how important they are, even the remixes of those four tracks. But as a 40 year fan, I am biased!

It will be worth it

Should try the B-sides there’s a lot of hidden jewels

This band do the best live performance ever, if you react to ANY song of DM, do the live version, you ll see how good they are,,,

Anything with Hurts ❤❤❤

You need to react live depeche mode❤

Hehe... if you think that’s good, listen to it again with the lights out!

They were always s massive singles band in the uk, tgis album is ehen tgey started to be taken more seriously.

Halo❤❤❤❤

whar!!! ok violator.. and speack and speel??... and ... abrokend frame ... and.. black celebration? .. see youuu!!

please react to Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas

The first mistake you are making is DEPECHE MODE IS NOT IN ANY CATEGORY..they are genius..you really don’t know what you are doing… stop cutting it off and listen carefully experience a band like no other…

I would like show You world in my eyes... I like pure english language not american bla bla... You are so sweetest perfection... 😀💝😀💝

halo is speciel in the lyric..its a celabration of the evil in a human being

Check out Songs of Faith and Devotion album pleeeeeeaaase!❤

Para comprender bien a Depeche Mode hay que tener la mente totalmente abierta, todo no pueden ser ritmos sencillos y fáciles.

So disappointing that you made no mention of Policy of truth's outro

tent borroad a lot from dm

Thank Flood for the amazing production, he also ironically produced NIN’s Pretty Hate Machine which you mentioned, also produced U2’s Joshua Tree which made them a stadium act, massively influential producer!

Why watch your videos if you are stopping them every 3 seconds?