Violator

Essential New Wave listen, a track-for-track opus from the band

It might be very disrespectful, even though Depeche Mode is a great and legendary band, but they are in my opinion a one-album band. They have a long and eventful discography, but never before or after they hit it so right as in "Violator". It is extremly reductionistic on my part, but as an average fan of the genres - which in this case range from electronic rock/pop, to even resemblances of gothic rock, only this album sticks out and I'm happy to revisit anytime. The main part of every Depeche Mode's song, or album is Dave Gahan's vocal. His deep voice and certain way he is singing, almost talking, through a song is a big highlight and the most recognizable feature of the band. His persona creates a terrific atmosphere on the album, easily turning every riff or melody into a bit darker and ambient versions of themselves. In term of instrumental side, the riffs are very simple, but catchy, which very often is the case. Seven or eight notes, rather slower tempo, electronic background and that's it, we have a recipe for success, like the best (or second best) single from "Violator" - "Personal Jesus". Even though two most known songs really pushed their way to the top of pop-culture at some point, the rest of the album isn't that far behind. "Sweetest Perfection", "Waiting for the Night" and "World In My Eyes" are really good songs, staying in the general atmospheric surrounding of the album. A session with Violator is a really well spent time and it's important to know it, because there is plenty of covers there, so the connection will be much easier.

This is not an objective review as I really like Depeche Mode

This is the definition of the 80s.

вообще я не любитель депешей но ооооочень редко могу их послушать, и они мне зайдут вот сегодня тот самый вечер, когда я получила удовольстве от их музыки и инопланетно-космических мотивов)

Awesome album

10/10 glad i’ve been getting more new-wave recently I can never get enough of this genre

Un grande

Brilliant, really enjoyed it. Contains some classics such as Personal Jesus

Depeche Mode are one of the first bands I ever truly loved so I’ll always tell them. Personally I think Black Celebration edges this out (and it’s CRIMINALLY not on this list) but Violator is a close runner-up.

Generalmente me pasa con los discos que contienen canciones muy famosas que se sienten desbalanceados pero éste no es el caso. Es un trabajo más oscuro que el otro que ha salido en este conteo (Music For The Masses) pero no por eso menos virtuoso. Sube y baja como quiere, letras interesantes, no tiene queja alguna. Además de las obvias, destaca Halo y Blue Dress y Clean cierran muy bien.

Classic

Fenomenal!

Absolutely incredible album. Just perfect.

El synth pop sublimat a la categoria d'art. No només és una obra mestra, la primera dels '90, sinó que té un mèrit sobrenatural ser capaç de continuar un disc com 'Music for the Masses' i la seva gira posterior amb un àlbum que va més enllà, en tots els sentit i eleva la banda a una nova categoria. Himnes immortals com 'Personal Jesus', 'Enjoy the Silence', 'World in My Eyes' o 'Policy of Truth'. I els que no ho són, continuen sent peces d'orfebreria igual de fina

Vibes.

Not the best Depechemode album but still solid af

Overall an amazing album.

Such beautiful and dark album. I wrongly considered Depeche Mode a fluffy pop band before this and had my eyes/ears opened hearing Personal Jesus when it first came out. Nothing prepared me for Enjoy the Silence, how could it be so slow and so intense at the same time. Happy memories of this album as well. Of getting convinced to go to a Goth club by a workmate and after being scared of entering a room full of living vampires I had the delight of watching those mad kids pounce around so joyously to tracks from this album.

Excellent Depeche Mode.

Masterful journey. Ranks up with dark side - maybe just below.

already loved

Ilu depeche mode

Шедевр, пиздец!!

Show!!!!

killerrr. personal jesus a personal best yes

A fave from my teen years. Their best work.

Another I'd have given 4.5 stars, but happy to round up. Musically strong, brilliantly produced, well presented album. Lyrics seem more a mood thing, but it was a ride I'd take again.

Super bloody awesomezorz

Killer album! Love the sounds Depeche uses.

Just perfect

5 and beyond. I'm pretty much over Personal Jesus but there are so many hits on this one. Super super good.

Awesome!

280921 10:34 5

Потрясающий альбом. Классика.

Great sound great memories!

классический альбом, который до этого я слушал, но не мог расслышать переход с blue dress на clean - находка музыка бам синты во

beep boop before beep boops were cool

This is definitely my sort of jam! Some excellent earworm tracks on here and peak Depeche Mode.

If you listen to just the 9 track original this album is really really excellent. Great songs, slick production. The 2006 remaster adds a bunch of filler for no good reason...maybe to add "value"

Great album! From World in my Eyes to Clean. Great track after great track

funny cause i listened to this recently after i read that it was an inspiration for pet shop boys' 'behaviour' which was also on the list and i kinda liked. i listened to violator twice and i'm liking it even more on this third listen. the hits are amazing but sweetest perfection is the best song here. honestly there are maybe 2 meh songs but im giving it a 5 cause of the replay value, i like it more with every listen.

Funky beats. Enjoy the silence.

5/5

Ой бля, вроде дохуя культовая классика для сфер, в которых я не особо секу. Не, вроде по кайфу местами прям норм, но шишка не сильно встаёт. Просто дело в том, что если 4 ставить, то это всего на балл выше нигерского попса, что был до этого, Первый трек чёт интерес отбивает, второй уже тащит. Персональному Иисусу должное уже вполне отдаю. Признаю, что Енжоу Тхе Силенце мб ваще один из самых пиздатых треков в истории человечества. Ещё в бонусах там Дагероус маленько раскачала. Тут дело в том, что имхо вокальные партии порой тащат на порядок выше инструментала. Чего прям ваще в охуенных альбомах быть вроде не должно. Но я вроде остановился на том, что со своими взятыми из головы условиями 5 я буду ставить только альбомам, что слышал до этого, а это - полная залупа. Тут хотя бы ощущение, что слушаешь что-то охуенное и эпохальное. Так что пускай будет 5, похуй.

Classic

Tätä on tullut joskus silloin aikanaan kuunneltua ei nyt raivolla, mutta useasti kuitenkin. Pääsi kuitenkin yllättämään positiivisesti. Ennalta tutut biisit tempasivat mukaansa ja herkkyyttäkin löytyi sopivassa suhteessa.

viajesotote

One of the best electronic pop albums ever made, it has a very clean sound and ambiance. It will definitely make you feel things.

U la la chulada

Fantastic

Recognized 2 songs!

I liked this more than music for the masses. Expanding their instrumentation made it a little more accessible

Already have listened to this one quite a lot, but always a great listen.

great headphone album

Bold move sampling the Skype call sound, I had war flashbacks when I heard it

Half of their greatest hits come from this album. It’s timeless.

Solid album, the hits are iconic and there's a few of them but I found myself tuning out between those songs not really feeling the others.

I liked this quite a bit. It was dark and brooding. Nice melodies. Kind of a smooth, steady voice over rhythmic synths. Nice surprise.

Ah the finest from Basildon’s finest. To me, along with The Stone Roses release in late 1989, this album marks the symbolic end of the 1980s, a passing of the chalice from predominantly synth electro pop back to traditional guitar led bands. This album includes two absolute classics, Enjoy The Silence (which I bought as a single) and Personal Jesus (although my favourite version of the latter is the Johnny Cash cover), and a decent collection of supporting songs. I haven’t listened to this for a while but loved it just the same as I did back in 1990. A healthy 4 for Gahan and gang

En oo oikein koskaan lämmenny Depeche Modelle, mut kun kuulin vuonna 2023 heidän silloin uuden Ghosts Againin olin ihan ”😮”. Nyt tapahtu tätä levyä kuunnellessa viimein jotain vastaavaa. Hitithän on aina ollu hyviä, mut nyt lähti aukeaan muutkin biisit aika mukavasti! Tää levy on ihanan anteeksipyytelemätön ja tuntuu että tässä on tehty taidetta taiteen ehdoilla. Ihan en kuitenkaan vitosta pyöräytä, vaikka sekin kävi välillä mielessä.

Minä pidin, hyvä moody syssylevy!

Uno de los mejores álbum de esta banda

Heb m al eerder moeten luisteren en waarderen. Toen een 5, nu een 4

Fantastic!

Violator is synth-pop at its finest. This is Depeche Mode at the top of their game, with so many strong tracks that are ridiculously catchy while still having that distinct, polished Depeche Mode sound. It also feels like a fitting farewell to the ’80s while opening the door to a new decade. There’s something about the production that still feels sleek and modern even though the album came out in 1990. There are just so many iconic tracks here, and when the album hits, it really hits. I’m giving it four stars because there are a few songs that feel more like filler and don’t quite reach the same heights as the bigger tracks. Even then, though, there are still plenty of good melodies, synth textures, and little bursts of noise that keep things interesting, even when the songs themselves aren’t as memorable as the singles. Overall, I really enjoyed this one, and I’m honestly surprised I didn’t listen to Violator sooner. It’s one of those albums where I already knew some of the songs, but hearing everything together makes it pretty obvious why this era of Depeche Mode is so highly regarded. 4/5

Great collection of songs that holds up.

There’s a real thrill of recognition when the hits come up when I listen to this. I like that because the rest of the album doesn’t disappoint, it all exists in one space stylistically and in terms of quality, I just don’t know it all yet.

OK, so this was in heavy rotation for me in the ‘90s. Good driving music, good party music, great in the headphones. “World in my Eyes” opens it. All techno, no instruments, yet like Yak and Haircut 100 very human, unnatural in a manmade way that still has soul and spirit. Dave Graham’s vocals make this possible, but Martin Gore learned from Vince Clarke. Graham isn’t Alison Moyet, but he gives the human touch to Gore’s synthetic sound. There’s no Stephen Morris to provide drumming, just drum machine. “Sweetest Perfection” is beautiful and followed by the sarcasm of “Personal Jesus” makes this more than just sound effects. Love the Johnny Cash cover of it. “Halo” in reverse.

World in my eyes - 3 Sweetest perfection - 3 Personal jesus - 5 Halo - 3 Waiting for the night - 3 Enjoy the silence - 5 Policy of truth - 5 Blue dress - 3 Clean - 3

This album felt so big and rich and important when it came out. It’s still really good for alternative electronic synth music, but not sure it’s quite as important as I thought it was when I first heard it in 1990. I saw this pop up in my project and got excited to revisit it. A few really good highlights like “Personal Jesus” and “Enjoy the Silence” & “Waiting for the Night” still stand out. An excellent record overall if not quite as perfect as if remembered.

First time ever hearing this, I knew “Personal Jesus” and “Enjoy The Silence” but was blown away by “Waiting for the Night” and “Clean”.

Very sick to me, if a little late to the sounding-sick-in-this-way party. I find Personal Jesus kind of annoying but I think that’s Johnny Cash and Rick Rubin’s fault more than Depeche Mode’s fault.

A masterful collection of songs ambient electro pop with sophisticated arrangement. Very nice and relaxing.

I did enjoy this, it’s easy to get into and it’s produced wonderfully. This style of music always feels a little drab to me and not necessarily something I would reach for, but I can appreciate it and should put it in the rotation for more listens.

Really fun. The hits alone make this a 4, but the rest is good too.

It's quite densely packed with sounds, but I don't think it's ever overwhelming which is nice. Enjoyable listen.

Not even a Depeche Mode fan and this is a great release. Moody, dark and smooth as silk. The add on 7 inch and other mixes are glorious and have won me over completely.

11/09/2026 A very good album for the time. Spotify listeners: 20.4 million

Cool

A classic that is a bit more chill than I usually like, but can’t deny the vibes.

Great album with iconic songs. Good production.

Did you ever have a cold, gloomy band that cut an arty silhouette with a sonic signature that now sounds dated but that you can't help to still have an affection for? I know I do. And, maybe for you, there's a name, song or album that came to mind when I asked the question. Despite the craft on display here, it's not Depeche Mode for me either. Violator has some of the most well-received singles of their career — a few of them are even among my Depeche Mode favorites. And still this album suffers similarly to many of their other records: jagged highs of perfectly distilled sentiment exploring the pain of being in the world atop sculpted found-sound and industrial-acoustic instrumentation (yes!) but ultimately burdened by the addition of tracks blatantly expressing their self-pitying, pretentious emotion over soon-to-be dated gimmicky electronic textures mired in repetitive/plodding synth compositions (no!). Violator has enough of the stunning highs for me to enjoy the album when it's on. But overall, they've dodged perfection again.

I love this album. It's interesting, it has a distinct sound that stands a little apart. And it had more storytelling that I recalled.

8/10. probably objectively worse than the Marvin Gay album but i love techno and this album could serve as a greatest hits for depeche mode

Great album. The second half was my absolute favorite and reminded me so much of what I loved about Music For The Masses, which was my first ever Depeche Mode album on here and an instant 5 stars for me. The first half, especially World In My Eyes, gave me very strong Kraftwerk vibes, which I know is a strong influence for them. The Man-Machine by Kraftwerk was also an instant 5 star album for me and I could hear almost identical beats from it. It kind of threw me off a little and the album didn’t really hit for me until Personal Jesus and after. I’d be very very surprised if any Depeche Mode, hell—any synthpop album—would get less than a 4 from me. Inject this genre of music into my veins. Favorites (aside from Personal Jesus & Enjoy The Silence): Waiting for the Night (STUNNING song) Blue Dress (this is my #1 from the whole album—so haunting and dark!) Clean (if the whole album was like this and Blue Dress, it would’ve been an instant 5 star album for me!)

Nice. Not immediately amazing though

I really enjoyed this one and I’m not the biggest electronic music guy. This felt like actual songs with lyrics and not just a collection of beep and boops to a drum beat. Good songwriting front to back and even some stellar guitar sections. 4/5

Another 80s band which I knew very little about but who I thoroughly enjoyed. Love the full, atmospheric sound and 80s vibe. I will listen to this again.

I was a bit disappointed with the other Depeche Mode album on the list but Violator was much more enjoyable for me. Several of the big singles are on it and the rest of the tracks are pretty good as well. For me, it felt like Depeche Mode at their peak. I still don't think it was quite enough for me to a give a full five, but I might be wrong. One to revisit I think.

Depeche Mode was verboten in my household growing up - Dad Rock only Dad would always quip “no instruments were harmed in the making of this song” whenever anything vaguely electronic played on the radio. So he was very upset when I got into NIN and started working my way backwards into synth pop proper! But this album is great! Would be a 5 but the vampire castle instrumentals at the end are a little lacking. But still, enjoy the silence into policy of truth is an all timer one-two punch

This album slaps. Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus are bangers, but the rest of the album is still well worth listening to. Great production. Clean vocals. Solid all around.

Reach out and touch me. i didn't love the album but the lyrics 'your own personal jesus' require a 4

It's funny that I just listened to a XTC album cause there's a number of bands that I group together in my head and XTC and Depeche Mode are two of them. I know now that they're nothing alike, but I still get them confused. Duran Duran's another one. And INXS. I'm probably sounding like a real moron confessing this, but whatever. You don't know me. What does it matter? Anyways, unlike XTC, I actually like this.

:)

1) World In My Eyes 2) Enjoy The Silence 3) Personal Jesus Least Favourite: Blue Dress

Sweetest Perfection is the owner of the most ironic title in history, it lets the album down from being a 5

I’d probably need to revisit this multiple times to truly appreciate it, but off the bat I like the very specific mood it curates.

Yes I enjoyed this one and will definitely be giving it another listen.

Yep. Definitely a milestone in music.

Was having a harder timer getting into this than Music For The Masses for some reason, but it eventually grew on me. Especially once we hit the singles. “Enjoy The Silence” is a fantastic song. “Policy of Truth” is also excellent. Both surprisingly late in the album! Great album, and quite possibly the most recognizable sound in music. Loved the production and backing orchestrals too. 8/10 Most Excellent

The fact that I’m kinda disappointed and still love it says something.

I got this one

Interesting album, I've never really listened to something like this in full. Fuck me Enjoy the silence into Policy of truth is a killer b2b Clean is kinda peak - overall second half kinda carries for me Honest feelings 3.8/5

Cool stuff both part of ahead of its time.

I usually hate synth-pop, so the fact that I enjoyed almost this entire album says a lot. Violator has a much darker, more sinister sound than most of the synth-heavy stuff that normally drives me crazy. “World in My Eyes” is a solid opener, and “Halo” actually sounds pretty heavy in places. “Dangerous” was another good one, but really most of these songs are. The atmosphere is probably what won me over. The instrumentals at the end sound like they could’ve inspired some of the scores to American Horror Story. Everything has this creepy, slightly sexual undertone to it, and the synthesizers are being used to make the music sound unsettling instead of like an aerobics video. And of course “Personal Jesus” is a classic. That riff alone sounds completely different from what I normally associate with synth-pop. I’m still not coming around on the genre as a whole, but apparently if you make it dark and sinister enough, you can get me on board because I enjoyed Music For The Masses when I got it a while back too. Favorite song: “Personal Jesus”

Disco icônico do post-punk. Melodias sensacionais. Celest Phoenixcall.

All time classic and influential beast

hay que decir que este disco es una maravilla.

Great

I didn't realize I liked Depeche Mode but this was a surprisingly approachable album. It's dark, moody, pop-y at times and a genuinely great listen. Although it's not an album I would put on anytime, it's great for a specific vibe in a specific time/place.

Not to sound like the adding Gen Xer that I am, but family if this one don't bring me back. Enjoy The Silence was the first song to associate with a girl. Dances, the club, all of it. It's all wrapped up in this one.

RATING: 9.5/10 HIGHLIGHT: Policy of Truth LOWLIGHT: World in My Eyes

Decent album. Not the most exciting for me, but some absolute classic songs. Enjoyed it though.

this was actually pretty dope. but different.

Pretty good album. Ended up listening to the deluxe version by accident which had songs I didn't really like. It's good artistically but not really my vibe?

S'einzige album woni kenn wo en 80s und en 90s hit druf hed. unabhängig vom release datum personal jesus isch en full on 80s hit während enjoy the silence als song de offizielli übergang vo de 80s id 90s markiert depeche mode isch wie nine inch nails für d'mall

Depeche Mode isn’t a band I listen to all that often, but I’m very familiar with and like their big hits. And this album is packed with them. While it’s not something I really click with on a personal level, I can’t deny its greatness.

A bit depressing but there were definitely some gems.

Such a well-produced record. It is a masterpiece that incorporates a very good synth work to build a very dark aesthetic that is not represented better by any album in existence. 9/10 [KEEP]

I’m not usually a huge fan of depeche mode, but this is actually a pretty good album! World in my eyes was a nice enough start, just slightly repetitive at times. Sweetest perfection was alright, and Personal Jesus had a nice steady beat to it. I actually quite liked Halo. It had a decent progression to it. Waiting for the night was almost like a lullaby. I’d heard Enjoy the Silence before. A pretty decent track. Policy of truth was alright and Blue Dress was a bit too slow. Clean ended things pretty nicely. 4/5 ⭐️ 213/1089

amazinggggg!

This album is a collection of really good pop songs, with Enjoy The Silence being the definite standout. Considering the length of the songs, I miss some dynamics within the songs. A few of them could have benefitted from a little quiet/loud or crescendo building.

Really quite good, but probably not enough to get a 5/5 from me

Maybe another case of listening to an album on the right day but I was in a ‘gotta lock in’ situation and this album really came through for me. I don’t know if I really think there’s a bad song on this album but since I’m basic, Enjoy the Silence always hits. Season: True Autumn Favorite Song: Enjoy the Silence

Joyous synths, iconic

Enjoy the Silence и пару песен из альбома мне нравятся, так что близко к 5, но нет

I love Depeche Mode and was fully prepared to give this a five, but it just didn't hit that way for me. It's a really good record with some real classics ("Enjoy the Silence" is kind of the peak of of dark 80s synth), but definitely imperfect.

In my eyes, the sweetest perfection.

Some classics on here I already know, and each track flows well into the next. Sea of Sin is a gorgeously dark closer.

good

Already know Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Slience gonna be my fav songs the album cause I heard of these songs before now listening to the album. world in my eyes is a good song and Policy of Truth as well.

It's a little strange that I've never actually listened to this album before. It's came out just after my deepest period of Cure/Smiths fandom and I was starting to get into the Dead around this era. So of course I knew the singles and they are all great but I just kinda left it there. Listening now, it's an excellent album, top to bottom. What the singles didn't quite reveal is a deep love for Pink Floyd that pervades this record. “Clean” flat out rips off the bass intro to “One of These Days” and the bonus track instrumentals are definitely Rick Wright inspired. Floyd aside, DM produced an incredible dark alternative record that was distinct from the mope rock of the Cure or the Smiths and produced pop songs that were both catchy and challenging. Porque no los dos?

Dark and moody, yet refined and intentional. Rhythmic effects that display a freshly evolved DM touching on dance and disco fronts without forsaking their purpose

New sound Good stuff!!

The hits on this album really are quite something - memorable, catchy, well written and superbly produced. The use of electronic synths with traditional guitars are fantastic, especially on tracks like Enjoy The Silence, and the iconic vocals glue everything together. Whilst some of the in-between tracks are still a good listen though, they do lose a bit of impact compared to the 5-6 tracks that make this album pop.

# Album Name: Violator # Artist: Depeche Mode # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Good album but doesnt feel their best. Few big tracks though # Top Tunes: Personal Jesus / Enjoy the silence / clean / policy of truth # Would I listen to it again? Yes

I discovered some new DM songs I liked, overall interesting songs and a good variety of sound

Violator is an album that immediately pulls you into its world. What stood out to me most was its atmosphere—dark, immersive, and hypnotic without ever feeling oppressive. Every synth texture, guitar line, and beat seems carefully placed, creating a mood that's both intimate and cinematic. The songwriting is exceptional. Hits like "Enjoy the Silence," "Personal Jesus," and "Policy of Truth" are deservedly classics, but the album never relies on its singles. Tracks such as "World in My Eyes," "Halo," "Waiting for the Night," and the haunting closer "Clean" deepen the experience, making the album feel cohesive from beginning to end. Dave Gahan delivers one of his strongest vocal performances, balancing confidence with vulnerability, while Martin Gore's lyrics explore desire, temptation, love, guilt, and longing with enough ambiguity to invite personal interpretation. The production by Flood, together with Depeche Mode, is remarkably restrained. Instead of chasing flashy electronic sounds, the album builds rich layers that still sound fresh decades later. What impressed me most is how timeless Violator feels. Many albums from the early '90s sound tied to their era, but Violator doesn't. Its blend of electronic music, rock, blues, and pop creates something distinctive that has influenced countless artists while retaining its own identity. For me, Violator is more than a collection of great songs—it's an experience. Its immersive atmosphere is what lingers long after the music stops, making it an album I'll gladly return to.

Their most commercial work so far turned out to also be their best. Production is warmer and the record has some of their strongest songs ‘Personal Jesus’, ‘Enjoy the silence’, ‘Policy of truth’

Merece todo lo que le den y más Nota: 4.1

Strung all the way through but it’s hard to beat Enjoy the Silence.

4/5 неплохинько

'Enjoy the Silence' is the masterpiece. When that drum beat comes in it's a chef's kiss moment. And of course the classic 'Personal Jesus'. The rest of the album is damn good in its own right, kicking off with 'World in My Eyes', a creeping bit of krautrock-influenced electro-pop, that must be the basis for The Weeknd and others. 'Waiting for the Night' is a cinematically eerie tune - the creeping undercurrent throughout the album is magnetic. Although the rise and fall of the album is very effective, with pop melodies but an unease throughout, there are a couple of moments bordering on sluggish - chief among them 'Sweetest Perfection' which is a bit of a dirge. Overall, an excellent balance of pop songwriting and dark electronica: two timeless anthems surrounded by sparse, sinister tracks.

PEAK very close to a 5 i think, might change it later

A: Otur för dom att hamna direkt efter Korn. Hade en låt med i mina gillade sen tidigare. Helt okej. Skulle ha kunnat vara med på YLP-list men var inte?? Mid men gillar att den stod ut från dom andra vi lyssnat på. 3,5/5 eller 4/5 på en väldigt bra dag. 7ish/10 (alternativt nånstans mellan A och B tier, vet inte ännu hur jag ska betygsätta domhär. Korn var nog S i jämförelse) *-score D: Lowk int alls va ja förvänta mig, praktexempel av Massive Attack-syndromet. Gillade mycket deras sounds men skulle kunna ha haft mer utstickande delar. Elit++ bakgrundsmusik, får mig att vilja skapa en performative background music spellista. 4/5

Liked this!

Big fan, see why they are well known, charmed by the voice and the sounds

I’ll be straightforward, this album was a let down. The simple reason is I already knew the three songs on this album that are alternative pop icons, those being “personal Jesus” “enjoy the silence” and “policy of truth”. Those three songs are so great on their own they will be in the zeitgeist of alternative pop music for EVER. They are so popular to cover as well, you will always hear these songs, they are actual masterpieces. The problem is the rest of the album is just there. I’m not exaggerating when I say the other SIX songs feel like interludes. They do a great job of maintaining the atmosphere and energy of the “great” songs but they just don’t have that stopping power that the great ones do. I’ve always been a fan of Depeche Mode ever since I discovered them as a kid during an episode of pop up video. But this album wasn’t the juggernaut of creativity that I wanted it to be. So just for the record, if I was rating this album off of JUST those three songs, it’d be a 5/5 easy! But sadly the whole experience brought it down a peg or two.

It sounds like a 2000s sci-fi movie and I'm here for it. Lots of funky futuristic bass and synths. It feels like a spaceship disco. Nice album cover. Really love World In My Eyes and Enjoy the Silence. Policy of Truth SLAPS. Very appreciative of the transition between Blue Dress and Clean.

Sensual and easy to get lost in.

I liked it but not as much as I thought I would

It's rare that a band makes me feel emo while absolutely throwing it back with the beat, but Depeche Mode never disappoint. Enjoy the silence is goated.

Interesting album with a unique style id say. Lyrics are kinda repetitive but the sound gives like chilling feelings.

This is some prime Depeche Mode.

probably the best synthpop album ever made. the highs are high on this album, strong 9/10. first listen tracklist ranking: 1. Sweetest Perfection 2. Enjoy the Silence 3. Waiting for the Night 4. Clean 5. Personal Jesus 6. Blue Dress 7. Policy of Truth 8. Halo 9. World In My Eyes

Liked Halo, Policy of Truth, and Silence. Overall enjoyed the sound, a little funky and different. Didn’t like the handful of slower songs as much.

Though I’ve always had a soft spot for Depeche Mode’s hits, I’d never given Violator a proper full‑album listen until now. It’s an engaging ride—dark in places, beautifully melancholic in others, and unmistakably theirs. “Enjoy the Silence” alone earns a 3.5, but when you add “Personal Jesus” and “Policy of Truth,” the album tightens into something close to a genre‑blending masterpiece of gothic rock, electropop, synth‑pop, and alternative.

Just a great album throughout. The vibe and lush sound is always a welcome respite from the daily grind

4/5

REACH OUT AND TOUCH FAITH

4.5 Never been a huge personal Jesus fan so wasn't expecting too much but honestly there's so much more to this album, and I actually enjoyed that song more in the context of the rest of it

Classic Depeche Mode album. Such great singles on this album, but the whole record is still a great listen!

Heavy, dark electronic music with a rock edge. This one is a lot better than one of their other albums I've recently listened to from the 80s. The second half of the album is my favorite (though the first half is strong as well), with the songs "Policy of Truth" and "Blue Dress" being standouts to me.

made me horny

Personal Jesus Sweetest Perfection Policy of Truth Dangerous Kaleid Sea of Sin Overall good sounding album. Songs start fairly similar but progress as the track goes on.

Great album. Great voice and vibe.

On a different day, this album may have gotten a 5. Really great album. Sweetest Perfection is a banger I'd never heard before I'd listened to this album. So well produced as well. Will definitely listen to more Depeche Mode.

Great album, some hits, some good songs, some experimental stuff. Comes together alright, but not quite 5 stars.

No Depeche Mode album is a full 5/5 for me. But their best ofs are some of the greatest albums ever. This one has their classic template: Half of the songs are all time classics and the other half is either ok or filler, but no complete stinkers. On the merrit of the all time classics, this is a 4/5

Lots of fun songs that hit on first listen

Сара 4 Марко 4

Between this and Sisters of Mercy maybe I’m just a goth now?

Synth-pop, electropop, alternative rock, dance, gothic rock.

I know one of the most popular songs, it’s really one of the great songs, the others are less my interest.

I really enjoyed this. I loved the flow of the songs, the monotone voice of the lead singer juxtaposing with the lively electronic instrumentals works so well. Genuinely solid album.

excellent!

love the electronic instrumentals and the touch of rock. its giving late night drives while yearning

3,75

This is a really fun album. They have their own sound and vibe, which I enjoyed.

So good ugh music is life

Insane gay sex listening to this album

As an appreciator of the general synth pop sound, I always appreciated how Depeche Mode took it to a darker, more alternative direction after Vince Clark left. Violator is probably the culmination of that, considering how much more guitar becomes prominent from Songs of Faith and Devotion onwards. As well as two absolutely phenomenal singles - "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy The Silence," the album tracks such as "Waiting For The Night" are still good enough to be singles for any other synth-tinged alternative dance groups.

You can hear the influence of earlier electronic bands, like Kraftwerk, and earlier new wave bands, like Tears for Fears, but Depeche Mode clearly had their own thing going for them. “Enjoy the Silence” is an excellent synth-pop track and makes the whole album worth the price of admission, though there’s plenty more to enjoy throughout the record. I met a composer of jingles once, who complained that a client once asked for a jingle in the style of Depeche Mode—a band he HATED. He played the track for us, and it sucked. You could hear the disdain in the notes he played. It’s a shame he couldn’t hear what was great about them beyond the bloops and bleeps he so reviled.

This album is like 90% beeping and drum machines and still slaps

4 stars for Personal Jesus - the album overall is not my thing, but a jam.

Alright, some classic tunes

Great album from the Essex boys

Love Depeche Mode. Actually was my first in person concert long ago. They hold a special place in my heart.

I was so dismissive of that "new wave synthesizer stuff" back in the day. My loss then but at least I can enjoy it now! "Enjoy The Silence" is so so good.

Fun to hear them

emotional attachment to this one biiig memories of living in Paris and listening to this non stop, it was winter 1992 -34 yrs later it still sounds great - there are a couple of the typical slow, dark moan moan DM tracks but on the whole I still think this album kicks ass.

The singles rule the day for DM - twas ever thus. But what changed this time around: - the singles are bigger, better and more sonically dynamic - there are more of them - the album tracks don't completely suck - hooks hooks hooks

Great album. Fantastic production, an iconic sound and a couple of all timers 8/10

Overall: 4.29 (rounded to 4) Consistency: 4.67 Originality: 4 Enjoyment: 5 Virtuosity: 3.5 1. World in My Eyes - 5 2. Sweetest Perfection - 5 3. Personal Jesus - 5 4. Halo - 5 5. Waiting for the Night - 4 6. Enjoy the Silence - 5 7. Policy of Truth - 5 8. Blue Dress - 4 9. Clean - 4

This is my second time listening to this. Multiple projects going. I decided to do it again. Curious how I feel about it today. Today it gets a 4! Went back and saw I gave it a 3 before. Well… this exercise is making me a Depeche Mode fan. Straight up. I actually love Music for the Masses more easily. But this honestly does show musical development and maturity worth noting. Man, when it comes up again, it might get a 5! Go Depeche Mode! Not at all appreciated by my teenage self, adult me is getting won over one listen at a time. 4 Boolean:YES, looking forward to the three user submissions if I can cross the line. Now THAT is some LOVE

this was stunning

gostei bastante do álbum, ele tem uma vibe meio eletrônica e sombria. as músicas que eu mais gostei foram as mais animadas, com essa pegada de sintetizadores. Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth, Clean e Happiest Girl foram as que mais me pegaram.

I wanna give it a 5, but I just can’t. It’s so so good though.

다 처음 들어보는 노래인데 느낌이나 분위기가 좋았다. 중간 중간 리듬이 귀에 확 꽂히는 곡들이 있었다. It was my first time hearing these songs, but the feeling and atmosphere was good. There were songs whose rhythm caught your ear.

Enjoy the Silence & Personal Jesus are masterpieces of their own, songs that would forever remain in the sands of time, but the rest of this album is quite wholesome and epic too 💫

cream of the crop synthpop, not much better

Violator? I barely know ‘er!

This is really good - would never have imagined in 1983 that Depeche Mode would become global rock stars, and it even seems unlikely with this album. It's gloomy and electronic but the tunes are great and the production is perfect. And the cover is beautiful.

Depeche mode is always so good

You'll dance to anything

great

Cool to have recognized a few of these tracks, whether it be from the song itself or as a sample from another. Enjoyed the 80s/90s synth sound.

This may be peak synth. What the 80s were marching toward, they achieved in 1990. I was pleased and surprised that Spotify didn't have some super extended remastered version of this album, just the original 47 minutes as it was intended. I am shocked that I only knew the hits on this album. Could it be that I never listened to the whole album? Given when this was out, that seems shocking. Glad once again to fill a cultural gap.

Flere bangers, og de som ikke e bangers e fremdeles kul og behagelig. Forstår at mange elske det her

Favorite Track: Enjoy the Silence

Immensely influential to a lot of the stuff I love already, I plan on adding more from their discography after giving this a thorough listen

Fun synthy album you would only get with Depech Mode. Two absolute bangers in here and a few less known ones. Overall a great time imo. This is music to walk harshly to.

I liked this one. Obviously a bit dated in the sound. But still something engaging about it and the songs are well written. Personal Jesus is a genuine classic

For me, who only knows Depeche Mode from the radio, it was a real pleasure to get a glimpse of what they sound like outside the mainstream monotony. The repertoire expands far beyond Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus, which remain strong contributions to the album, but, due to their huge appeal, sound more washed out and weaker to me compared to the other songs. Their fusion of synthetic sound, dark wave, and pop makes for a well-rounded listening experience: gloomy, mysterious, and hypnotizing. Disturbingly beautiful. Love it!

pshicodelic, strange, but this album has 3 hits! Respect to this band. I heard that it's one of the fathers of electronic music.

+ Waiting for the Night + Enjoy the Silence + Policy of Truth + Blue Dress + Clean

I feel like I've just walked into a the wrong room in Rock World and suddenly surrounded by people in long black leather coats like in the opening bloodbath scene of Blade! Vampire music for 80s teenagers. Favourite lyric... "I'm waiting for the night to fall when everything is bearable" says it all really! If I'm honest my way into this was the Johnny Cash version of Personal Jesus, and hadn't heard this album before until today. The production is superb (I just looked it up and it's Flood Nine Inch Nails, New Order, Nick Cave - so this makes sense) love the tight drum machine programming, cut with the string pads and delay drenched guitars. Complex arrangements that work well as a bed for the monotone vocals, that strangely carry a lot of emotion considering how (intentionally) flat they are. Loads of catchy melodic hooks and actually a proper grower of an album the more I listened to this today. Definitely going to have a dig into the back catalogue and listen to this again.

4.5

Is it all supposed to sound like the soundtrack for a sex crime thriller like Basic Instinct or Fatal Attraction? Also Bo Burnham, that you? Legit, moody as hell but clean and creative and feel like there are a million new things you’d hear with each listen.

yeahhhhg

Enjoyed this far more than I expected

Enjoyed this more than expected, and more than my previous foray into Depeche-land. Good melodies and the 80s production is slightly toned down.

I fucked w this one generally speaking

Feels like a retrowave movie soundtrack

fun 80s antisocial music

très fort 4/5

A dark and energetic album.

well produced album, however feels a bit repetitive

Very futuristic for its time - a songwriting reminiscent of the 80s, but production is surely entering the 90s. Dark brooding synthesizers work well with the these slightly cheesy, but catchy melodic songs. Faves: Personal Jesus, Halo, Enjoy the Silence, Policy of Truth

Super chill. Really like the moody vibes. Similar to nine inch nails in a way. Didn't hate this one bit

7.5/10

On haïssait Depeche Mode pis la musique de tapettes, on fumait des Export'A vertes en écoutant VOIVOD! Un bon setteur d'ambiance, j'aime définitivement mieux que l'autre album qu'on a eu, des bouts un peu dep à la The Cure, des bouts un peu peppés à la Tears For Fears. Je savais pas que je connaissais Enjoy the Silence (elle est très bonne). Mais trop d'instruments électroniques à mon goût pour un 5...

Not sure if angsty is the right word for this one but it wasn't peppy. There are some good ones but some of it plodded. Again, it needs a .5 capability. I have to round up but only for nostalgia. This came out my senior year of HS.

Low-end 4. A little synth heavy for my taste but elevated by Waiting for the Night

I didn't think I'd ever enjoy Depeche Mode. This was pretty solid!

This is a great album. It is very moody, industrial and synth heavy, with great production. I probably enjoyed Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence and Policy of Truth the most, but really every song on the album was great. I love the haunting vocals throughout, which takes the music to a dark place in a good way. This is definitely something I would listen to again.

More a 3 & 1/2

I think I dig it?

As a skeptic of the genre, this is absolutely solid. Dark, melodic, and intricate.

very dramatic dance album. feels like it would fit in a john wick club action scene, giving off that berlin hidden nightclub in the cold war feel. Depressing, dark, but still dancey.

Now this is much better.

Blind album, thank you list for the opportunity to finally listen to this. Wasn't as great as I thought but still good overall. 4.

This is a wide-ranging album with a strong grasp on obscure, elusive melodies. It is a series of multi-layered and sophisticated takes on synthpop, never quite settling on one style. My favourite moments are standout singles Personal Jesus Enjoy the Silence. The only song which took me out of it was Waiting for the Night which lacks the strong pulse and forward momentum of the rest of the LP.

God gammel kending.

-This album starts off with "world in my eyes" i was pleasantly surprised by this track - leads to a classic "personal jesus" (personally i don't think its amazing maybe its just overplayed imo) its a good song that captures the essence of depeche mode but would personally skip if it came up in my car playlist otw to work. might be a bearable listen if it was playing at the local gym -the following track however "halo" is unexpected .ove the mix between the funky dirty synths and clean piano sounds. what got me is the chorus and harmony. chord progressions are great sounds joyful yet melancholic with violins - "waiting in the night" sounds like it would be in the score of the apple tv show severance. -"enjoy the silence" is another overplayed classic but this i can actually have on repeat (its that good)the guitar riff with echo >> *note* i did not know this song had an outro lol -"policy of truth" riff is so catchy perfect feel good song to get ready for a night out -"blue dress" a true hidden gem nostalgia at its finest my favorite so far the guitar riffs even feel nostalgic begin/now its over feeling -"clean" overall: themes of rebirth, going through something and coming clean at the end, new beginning, end of beginning?

Toyed with giving this a 5, I do think this is DM's masterpiece and a mostly great listen throughout. It feels dark and almost goth, but with danceable pop sensibility and some all-time great tracks. The production is great, the synths are clean and sparkling, but the energy is brooding. Enjoy the Silence is so well known but also just so good, and Policy of Truth is another banger. Waiting for the Night is one I hadn't heard but has an almost Kraftwerk-like simple beauty to it. Overall really good.

Very unique and different album. Carries over the 80s vibe into the 90s. Has two amazing songs in 'Personal Jesus' and 'Enjoy the Silence'

“Violator” is undoubtedly Depeche Mode's most successful and best-known album—in my view, it's the only one that really matters. Of course, you have to know the four singles—“Personal Jesus,” “Enjoy the Silence,” “Policy of Truth,” and “World in My Eyes”—and in a way, that makes the album a must-listen. But it never really blew me away, neither back then nor now. I like the vibe of DM, but I find the electro-heavy sound a bit annoying over time. For me, this is yet another case of “pretty good, but not top-shelf.”

Cool sounds, really nice album. Synthy, groovy, some rock stuff. Would listen to again.

Meio que álbum icônico, mesmo que eu o escute raramente

Dark and moody. The whole album is a good listen

god I would have gone FERAL if I was 20 when this came out.

I really liked this album. The way that it blends live instrumentation and electronica is right up my alley. At times the songs feel quite controlled, minimalist and almost robotic, reminding me of Kraftwerk. But a lot of these songs open up to extended codas, where the music feels more fluid and human. “Personal Jesus” opens with a harmonic that sounds like a doorbell. What a tune. A proper classic. It's been covered by the likes of Johnny Cash, Marilyn Manson and Placebo, but Depeche Mode’s version is very restrained compared to the covers. You normally never hear the extended coda at the end, which is one of the best parts of the song, when it really transforms into something more free in form. Side 2 is where things get looser and more expansive. Songs don't end, they stretch out and give themselves space. “Enjoy the Silence” morphs into what is technically a “hidden track” at the end “Interlude #2 (Crucified)”. It makes it feel like, true to the track title, you've had the song, now here’s the silence, enjoy. It's trippy, sparse and minimalist, with a fantastic acoustic guitar riff, electronic textures and vocal effects that mimic Pink Floyd's “One of These Days”. To say that Depeche Mode were influenced by Pink Floyd on this album is an understatement. They seemed to really, really love the album “Meddle” from the sounds of it. There's more than a few times it raises its head on side two. The absolutely brilliant “Policy of Truth” dissolves into Meddle-esque guitar feedback towards the end. And “Clean” takes the influence up a notch, building the song around delay-soaked guitar/bass riffs very similar to those in “One of These Days”. It's a really interesting album where tight, controlled electronica expands into something fluid and atmospheric.

Super fun, i loves the chill beats

This album turned out to be much more to my taste than I expected. I had actually thought Personal Jesus was a song by Marilyn Manson, which made hearing the original version even more interesting. While Personal Jesus stands out, I was especially drawn to tracks like Halo, Policy of Truth, and Blue Dress, which reveal the album’s depth and atmosphere. I found myself enjoying it more and more with each listen.

Great listen with iconic songs

Had multiple songs i added to album, overall a good musical vibe.

good rhythm. my taste yeah

Rate: 8.5/10

Lots of classics, truly excellent.

Really good at that unsettling sound, very distinctive and some true classics on this record, I found it did drag on a bit at times but a strong album

I’d listened before but it hit a lot harder this time. Solid writing and vibey

Their best album?

4/5

Me gustó mucho, probablemente se quede en mi biblioteca

8.0/10

Such a good album. So listenable, so cohesive, so relaxing yet not at all.

Wasn't ever a huge Depeche Mode fan back in the day. Personal Jesus is still not a favorite. However, this is a good album. Pitchfork: 7.9 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #167 (2023) Best Songs World In My Eyes Personal Jesus Enjoy the Silence Policy of Truth

i love the sound and style. The melodies are for the most part very addictive with depth, and sound selection is immaculate. Sadly i didnt enjoy many of the singers performances and what they did with the songs, the themes, lyrics and singing ruined multiple songs for me. Still for the most parts I enjoyed it and think it's an amazing album with a very special aesthetic

How did I not know how cool Depeche Mode are? They always kind of got lumped into the "cheesy 80s band" category for me, but that whole group is up for reappraisal, I think. Moody, layered, passionate, and quirky songs really give this album a whole atmosphere that I love. Gonna go 4.5/5 on this.

I expected to not enjoy this, i expected it to be very typically 80s with no soul whatsoever. It was very typically 80s but i actually really enjoyed it (good for a bit of a dance)

Classic. Reminds me of going to high school.

FIRE 🔥🔥 why did the quality increase so much after "waiting for the night" 😭😭

I really like the first 7 songs and then the rest was kinda whatever. But those first 7 songs were REALLY good

Liked it!

Love Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence

My rating 3.8. Depeche Mode finally hits the big time.

Good album i enjoyed it

Rating:4.4/5 I liked this more than I thought i would. It was a ride. I didn't expect a random demon voice or a sexy ballad but it brought both. Would listen again: yes Listen if: in the mood to listen to The Postal Service for the millionth time Sound: early 90s timestamp with clear indie influences to today's artists

Soft. Lo volvería a escuchar.

Heel tof!

Dark dingy and brooding. Personal Jesus and enjoy the silence both excellent. Rest a bit overlooked in comparison

Didn't know what to expect but it was actually pretty decent. They have a strong dark vibe going that isn't really my thing, but is executed pretty well nonetheless. Not an album or artist I would give another listen, but one I would recommend to someone if I know this type of music is their thing.

I liked Depeche mode, they were much more chill than I always thought they'd be. For me they were always like that music homework band, that group you should've listened to if you wanted to be able to say you know music, ironically, though I did really like this album, I don't really feel like I missed out on something truly special though.

Rv

nice listen, Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence are obvious higlights. For some reason i feel very nostalgic listening to them, I guess they were played quite a lot in the 90's when i was growing up. Their music is both energetic and mesmerizing, it reminds me of Joy Division, but less nervous and depressive, still there are some anxiety vibes. Both vocals and music are unique sounding, it is very impresive, that they sound very modern still, more than 30 years after release.

Crazy how old it is. By now there is better in that Genre

Enjoy the Silence, Personal Jesus and Policy of Truth lift this to a 4

I wasn't certain at first, the opening track felt oddly sparse to me. But Depeche Mode are not an unknown quantity and I knew there were some great tracks coming so I persevered. It gets better and better and by the end I was totally hooked.

Very good! Four stars

Con temas ya conocidos, tiene en particular uno que me sorprendió por su sonoridad

Really good album. Especially liked the last song Clean.

No i to jest płyta! Kazdy utwór mógłby być singlem, a i tak widać, że Depeche nie boją się ryzykować. Enjoy the Silence jest trochę ograne, ale tyle tu jest perełek. No i Personal Jesus na zawsze w serduszku. 8/10

Good band, good music. Unique songs. Set their own style.

Words are very unnecessary

3 canciones de álbum, son himnos, me gustan, pero creo el grupo no hace parte de mis gustos musicales.

When I saw that this was the next album, my first thought was, "Man, I hope it's that fun album with Just Can't Get Enough on it!" Nope! It's one of their depressing albums lol. There's still some cool songs on the album but not sure if this is the kinda thing you throw on for your own listening pleasure unless you've had "one of those days." Kinda fun that we go from Kraftwerk to Depeche Mode. You can see the former's immediate impact on music based on the latter's work.

One of many great Depeche Mode albums. Personal Jesus being perhaps their most iconic song. There are few bands in the electronic category that have the depth of songwriting that they do. All the common themes of pop music, of course: loneliness, heartbreak, passion, but also a level of introspection and earnestness that doesn't come off as trite or superficial despite the use of common and relatable phrases.

Jag tycker detta är bra! Mycket har jag hört förut men inte allt. Enjoy the silence är en klassiker och bra! Policy of truth och Personal Jesus också. Waiting for the night är bra och World in my eyes. Saknar gamla Depeche!