That sentence is comparing "now" to "the past", though that isn't clearly stated. When people say "X doesn't happen anymore" it is a comparison, but comparing past and present.
As for understanding comparison sentences, your real clue are comparative adjectives. In a perfect sentece, you will see the word "than", but it doesn't have to be used if the comparative object is understood.
Words like "taller", "more comfortable", and "better" clue you in that the sentence is a comparison. If you can't find the word "than", try to figure out what the person is comparing to using the context around it.
In your sentence, the author is splitting the word "anymore" with the expletive "damn", so it may be confusing. If I were going to write that, I would write it "any-damn-more" to make it clear that I'm altering a word. Not all writers agree on rules or follow them.