Danzig - Deth Red Sabaoth
Rating
RIYL
The MisfitsSamhain
Son of Sam
Release Date
06/22/2010
Label
Evilive RecordsTracklist
1. Hammer of the Gods2. The Revengeful
3. Rebel Spirits
4. Black Candy
5. On a Wicked Night
6. Deth Red Moon
7. Ju Ju Bone
8. Night Star Hel
9. Pyre of Souls: Incanticle
10. Pyre of Souls: Seasons of Pain
11. Left Hand Rise Above
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So you thought after sixteen years of declining quality and diminishing returns one of the most influential men in the development of heavy music was a has-been? I suppose you’d be forgiven for such a sentiment, as the latter-day Danzig records have been somewhat lacking (the failed experiment that was Blackacidevil can be cited as the watershed moment when things started to decline). Sixteen years of uneven output is a long time, though it’s not like Glenn Danzig wasn’t pushing himself; the pieces just didn’t fit. If there’s a silver lining to be had for Danzig (both the band and the man, though I suppose by now they’re pretty much synonymous), it’s that those years have made this late-career renaissance possible, and what a tremendous re-birth Deth Red Sabaoth is.
The biggest reason Deth Red Sabaoth works so well is its vintage feel, and this is not just limited to the fact that the album was recorded in analog and the guitars were played through ’70s Kustom amps. The songwriting has hearkened back to elements of Danzig’s heyday, combining the bluesy stomp and balls-out rockin’ of the early Danzig records, the artwork, aesthetic, and pre-occupation with the occult of Samhain, and the strong sense of melody exhibited by the timeless Misfits. To top this off, Glenn’s pipes sound stronger than they have in quite some time. Combine these things together and you have the best Danzig record since 1994’s IV or, arguably, since 1990’s II-Lucifuge.
From the opening pinched harmonics of “Hammer of the Gods” (which is the translation of Deth Red Sabaoth) everything sounds energized and re-focused, as if Danzig’s awoken from a slumber, or more appropriately for the artist, content, and sound, as if the corpse has been exhumed and is now stalking the night consuming living flesh. “The Revengeful” is another classic Danzig rocker, and “Rebel Spirits” digs into that Samhain ground. “Black Candy” exhibits the influence of the more textured sound Danzig started experimenting with on his third and fourth records (How the Gods Kill and IV), and “On a Wicked Night” has almost a classic rock flavor to it (I hear echoes of Led Zeppelin oddly enough).
“Deth Red Moon” has Samhain and Misfits influences all over it, before Danzig returns to the straight-ahead drive of “Ju Ju Bone.” “Night Star Hel” flirts with eerie atmospherics surrounding a mid-paced rocker before launching into a full-on metallic attack. “Pyre of Souls: Incanticle” is a more polished, less campy (but ultimately less effective) version of “Halloween II,” and the song segues into “Pyre of Souls: Seasons of Pain,” a sprawling number that references elements of all of the past work of Glenn Danzig in some fashion. The record closes with “Left Hand Rise Above,” a suitably dark and somber ending for Deth Red Sabaoth.
In retrospect, it all seems so obvious that the man behind Danzig, Samhain, and The Misfits would outfit his band with new guys and release another killer album. Everything from the production to the songwriting hearkens back to the greatness of Danzig in his prime, and he’s obviously re-captured that magic here. Hope springs eternal, baby. The lesson here is simple, folks: never underestimate a legend.
--Jake Oliver
Comments
Fishers, Indiana
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Infinitely Inwards
Daaannnzzziiigg......you want somethin' to eeaattt?
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Minnesota
MOTHER!
Find me EVERYWHERE:
San Diego, CA
Haha thank you sir
Too old to bother, too young to give a shit.
Pittsburgh, PA
Haha, he was in an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force... it was hilarious.
RAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Minnesota
Such a great episode for such a great show. That reminds me, I need to pick up the latest DVD set...
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Pittsburgh, PA
I haven't really seen much after season one, I really need to get up on that lol
RAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Reno, NV
Just going through the review archives and saw the new Danzig review. Totally agree! It's got the early Danzig I, II vibe, which is a good thing. Have heard lots of negative reviews about this album which prevented me from actually sitting down and listening to the entire album. I really dug the 'Lost Tracks of Danzig" double disc set that came out a few years back. Some real hidden gems in there. Anxious to hear the new cover album that supposedly is in the works.
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