DANZIG — Danzig (review)

Album · 1988 · Heavy Metal

5/5 · 2020-10-06
UMUR

"Danzig" is the eponymously titled debut full-length studio album by US heavy rock act Danzig. The album was released through Def American Recordings in August 1988 (it was the first release on the then new Rick Rubin owned label). Danzig was formed in 1987 by lead vocalist Glenn Danzig after his former act Samhain disbanded. Before Samhain, Glenn Danzig was the vocalist in horror punk act The Misfits. Samhain bassist Eerie Von is also a member of Danzig. The remaining part of the lineup consists of guitarist John Christ and drummer Chuck Biscuits.

"Danzig" has a pretty interesting release history, as it was initially relatively commercially successful, but 5 years after it´s release sold even more copies due to a live version of the track "Mother" being included on the "Thrall: Demonsweatlive (1993)" EP and a video version of the track receiving heavy rotation on MTV.

Stylistically the music on the 10 track, 40:56 minutes long album is a departure from both the sound of The Misfits and Samhain as all punk/hardcore influences are shed and instead a blues based hard/heavy rock sound is introduced. Glenn Danzig more than ever before sounds like a combination of Elvis and Jim Morrison and his voice and singing approach suits the music perfectly. The music is dark, heavy, and hard rocking and the often occult subject lyrics provide the album with an even more gloomy atmosphere.

No less than four videos were shot for the tracks "Twist of Cain", "She Rides", "Am I Demon", and "Mother", which probably make those tracks the most known tracks off the album, but there are several other quality tracks featured on this debut album like "Not of This World", "End of Time", "Possession", and the cover of the blues standard "The Hunter". The tracks are relatively simple vers/chorus structured songs with a few riffs, a powerful catchy chorus, and a guitar solo. So there are few revolutionary ideas here, but the combination of the basic elements including the occult subject matter and the generally dark atmosphere of the album are what makes the difference.

The musicianship are also on a high level. Glenn Danzig´s distinct sounding vocals are defining for the band´s sound, but the powerful organic drumming by Chuck Biscuits and the skilled and inventive guitar playing by John Christ are also worth a mention. The latter´s guitar solos are for example absolutely killer. Eerie Von is a bit more anonymous in the soundscape, but he gets the job done. Rick Rubin´s organic and stripped down production job is another great asset, which makes the album shine, and upon conclusion it´s a high quality release of dark heavy rock and considering that it´s a debut album it´s a very strong first statement by the band. A 5 star (100%) rating is deserved.

more than 2 years ago
Permalink
Report #624492

Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer

Please login to post a shout

Vim Fuego wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Glenn Danzig has one of those love it or hate it voices

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Danzig is one of those bands that i just can't get into. I think it's the vocals actually.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I love the first three albums and the 4th is alright too, but I haven´t been enjoying much from Danzig from album five and onwards. I love The Misfits too.

Vim Fuego wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Mother got popular again when it was featured in the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack.
I didn't really like Danzig's style much when I first heard it, possibly because I'd heard The Misfits first and like them better, but this album and the second one are both vital parts of my music collection now.