On Sunday, February 9th, Damaged & Co. took the stage as part of the inaugural night of Chaotic Playground - Metal Mayhem, a two-day event culminating on February 14th. Before their highly anticipated performance, the audience was treated to two other bands. First up were newcomers Stunt Dix, featuring Damaged & Co.'s own Alexander James on bass and James Byrne on vocals. Both Alexander James and James Byrne pulled double duty that night, with Byrne fronting Rankin shortly after Stunt Dix wrapped up their set. Their unique post-genre sound left a lasting impression and set the tone for the evening.
A few hours later, fans of Damaged & Co. received bittersweet news—longtime keyboardist Keith Muscat announced his departure from the band, hopefully temporarily. His final shows with the group will include Cirque Du Carnival on February 22nd and Dark Malta, set to take place between April 25th and 27th.
However, the spotlight of the night was on Damaged & Co.'s newest addition—drummer Gwen Zammit. The band had only recently introduced her as their new drummer on social media, and Sunday’s performance marked her official live debut with the band. Gwen first made waves in the metal scene with Luciferi Regnum in December 2022. She also co-founded the five-piece soft rock band Poison Cherry, which has played at major events such as Notte Bianca. Fate intervened when she stepped down as drummer for Luciferi Regnum just as Damaged & Co. found themselves in need of a new drummer—leading to what now seems like the perfect match.
Fans aware of this backstory were particularly keen to witness Gwen's debut, and she wasted no time proving her mettle. The band launched into Vengeance Is Mine, and any lingering doubts about the lineup change vanished instantly. Gwen's drumming injected fresh energy into the performance, electrifying both the band and the audience. Their nine-song set was so well-received that the crowd demanded more—prompting an encore of two additional songs, including a reprise of Carpe Diem, a fan favourite.
The night also saw the introduction of three new songs. While it remains uncertain whether Gwen had a hand in their composition, she performed them with the confidence and intensity of a seasoned drummer, seamlessly making them her own. In total, Damaged & Co. has crafted four new tracks, which hopefully shall be recorded soon with Keith before he leaves—marking the end of a chapter and the beginning of a new era.
Gwen Zammit is undeniably a powerhouse behind the drums, and her future with Damaged & Co. looks incredibly promising. If you missed Sunday’s show, you can catch the band’s next performance on February 22nd at The Garage—an opportunity to witness Gwen’s exceptional talent firsthand.
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