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{{Infobox Album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{Infobox album
| Name = Danzig
| Type = [[Album]]
| name = Danzig
| Artist = [[Danzig (band)|Danzig]]
| type = studio
| Cover = Danzig.jpg
| artist = [[Danzig (band)|Danzig]]
| cover = Danzig cover.jpg
| Background = Orange
| Released = August, 1988
| released = August 30, 1988
| recorded = September 1987 – April 1988
| Recorded = 1987-1988 at Atlantic Recording Studios and Chung King Metal in [[New York City]]
| studio = Atlantic Recording Studios and [[Chung King Metal]] (New York City)
| Genre = [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]
| genre = [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]<ref name="AllMusic"/><ref name=Pitchfork/>
| Length = 40:57
| length = 40:58
| Label = [[Def American|Def American Recordings]]
| Producer = [[Rick Rubin]]
| label = [[Def American]]
| Reviews =
| producer = [[Rick Rubin]]
| year = 1988
*[[All Music Guide]] [[Image:3hvof5.png]] [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Aoe851vsjzzua link]
| next_title = [[Danzig II: Lucifuge]]
|
| Last album =
| next_year = 1990
| This album = ''Danzig''<br />(1988)
| Next album = ''[[Danzig II: Lucifuge]]''<br />(1990)
}}
}}
'''''Danzig''''' is the debut studio album by American [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Danzig (band)|Danzig]], released in August 1988. The album was the first release on producer [[Rick Rubin]]'s new label [[Def American Recordings]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=concrete.88|title=DANZIG: Def New Music|last=Ma|first=Maria|date=December 10, 1988|publisher=Concrete Foundations|access-date=December 28, 2011}}</ref> Def American's successor, [[American Recordings (US)|American Recordings]], reissued the album in the United States and United Kingdom in 1998. It remains the band's best-selling album having been [[certified gold]] in the U.S. in 1994,<ref name="Kerrang!">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=kerrang.94|title=Black Gold!|last=Chirazi|first=Steffan|date=Spring 1994|magazine=[[Kerrang!]]|access-date=December 29, 2011}}</ref> and has since been certified platinum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unratedmagazine.com/bios/danzig.cfm|title=DANZIG Interview|last=Farr|first=Sara|date=August 2005|publisher=Unrated Magazine|access-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref> Danzig promoted the album with a successful world tour in 1988–1989.<ref>{{cite web|title=Danzig Tour Dates|url=http://www.misfitscentral.com/danzig/tourdates.php|publisher=misfitscentral.com|access-date=August 14, 2018}}</ref>


==Music and recording==
'''''Danzig''''' is the 1988 debut album by the eponymous [[Danzig (band)|band]], led by [[Glenn Danzig]], formerly the songwriter and vocalist of [[The Misfits]] and [[Samhain (band)|Samhain]].
''Danzig'' was recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios and [[Chung King Metal]], and mixed at Smoke Tree and Village.<ref>''Danzig'' liner notes</ref> These sessions took place between September 1987 and April 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.misfitscentral.com/danzig/sessions.php|title=Danzig Recording Sessions|publisher=misfitscentral.com|access-date=January 15, 2017}}</ref>


The song "[[Mother (Danzig song)|Mother]]", retitled as "Mother '93" and with live audience overdubs, became a hit on radio and [[MTV]] in 1993–94 after a new video-single with live footage was created to mark its inclusion on ''[[Thrall-Demonsweatlive]]''.<ref name="Kerrang!" /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,301185,00.html|title=On the Same Track|date=February 18, 1994|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=December 29, 2011|archive-date=April 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421092941/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,301185,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The song was also later included on various hard rock and heavy metal music compilations, and featured in the video game series ''[[Guitar Hero]]''. It also appeared on the soundtrack to the 2013 film ''[[The Hangover Part III]]''.
The album was also the first release on producer [[Rick Rubin]]'s new label [[Def American Recordings]]. Def American's successor, [[American Recordings]] reissued the album in the [[United States|USA]] and [[United Kingdom|UK]] in 1998. It was recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios and Chung King Metal, and mixed at Smoke Tree and Village.


[[Glenn Danzig]] originally wrote the songs "Twist of Cain" and "Possession" for his previous band, [[Samhain (band)|Samhain]].<ref name="PennyBlood">{{cite web|url=http://www.pennyblood.com/danzig.html|title=Glenn Danzig - Horror Business|last=Cipollini|first=Christian|publisher=Penny Blood|access-date=April 16, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821145247/http://www.pennyblood.com/danzig.html|archive-date=August 21, 2008}}</ref> Lyrically, "Twist of Cain" is inspired by the biblical story of [[Cain and Abel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the7thhouse.com/news/Articles/rip87_2.jpg|title=Glenn Danzig: Resurrection of a Misfit|last=Gitter|first=Mike|date=October 1987|publisher=RIP magazine|access-date=June 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017174656/http://www.the7thhouse.com/news/Articles/rip87_2.jpg|archive-date=October 17, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Guitarist [[John Christ]] described the recording of "Twist of Cain": "We started writing that song even before [drummer] [[Chuck Biscuits|Biscuits]] joined the band. At first we started recording it in G, then at the last minute we decided that A was better. We kept the drum tracks as they were and re-recorded the guitars, bass and vocals. Not many people know this, but [[James Hetfield]] (of [[Metallica]]) came down and recorded some backing vocals on that track."<ref name="Guitar School">{{cite web|url=http://www.misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=gschool.94|title=Prime Cuts: John Christ|last=Kitts|first=Jeff|date=July 1994|publisher=Guitar School|access-date=August 23, 2010}}</ref> Hetfield also recorded backing vocals on "Possession"; however, due to contractual reasons, he could not be credited in the album insert.<ref name="CityPages">{{cite news|url=http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2013/08/glenn_danzig_interview.php|title=Glenn Danzig: Democrats are Fascists Disguised as Liberals|last=Grow|first=Kory|date=August 16, 2013|newspaper=[[City Pages]]|access-date=September 3, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828201136/http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2013/08/glenn_danzig_interview.php|archive-date=August 28, 2013}}</ref> A backwards piano track is used during the intro to "Possession".
The song "Mother" became a hit on radio and [[MTV]] in 1993-94, and was later included on various hard-rock/heavy metal/alternative music compilations, including the [[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]] soundtrack.


John Christ has described "She Rides" as "Our first sex song...it's such a stripped-down song, just a couple of guitar tracks and almost no bass. "She Rides" probably has the best vocal performance on the album, though. There are also some really weird background noises and moaning sounds on it."<ref name="Guitar School" /> Generally the song refers to mythology on [[Lilith]]. References to "she rides/from the daylight in chains" reflect traditional methods for binding demons.<ref>Black Koltuv, Barbara. (1986). ''The Book of Lilith'' (p.91).</ref> The song also appears to take inspiration from the poetry of [[Christopher Brennan]], in particular part xiii of the "Lilith" sequence of The Forest of Night: "She is the night: all horror is of her..."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/brennan-christopher/iii-the-shadow-of-lilith-0020035|title=Australian Poetry Library|website=Poetrylibrary.edu|access-date=May 21, 2023}}</ref>
==Track listing==
# "Twist of Cain" – 4:18
# "Not of This World" – 3:42
# "She Rides" – 5:10
# "Soul on Fire" – 4:36
# "Am I Demon" – 4:57
# "Mother" – 3:24
# "Possession" – 3:56
# "End of Time" – 4:02
# "The Hunter" – 3:31
# "Evil Thing" – 3:16


All songs written by Glenn Danzig, except "The Hunter", written by [[Albert King]].
While the album's liner notes expressly state "All songs written by Glenn Danzig", the song [[The Hunter (Albert King song)|"The Hunter"]] was written by [[Booker T. & the M.G.'s]] and Carl Wells. Originally recorded by [[Albert King]], the Danzig version of the song only features slightly modified lyrics.


==Artwork and packaging==
==Personnel==
Original LP, CD, and cassette versions of the album cover had no identifying text whatsoever, only a white skull on a black background. The skull, also used on the Samhain albums ''[[Initium]]'' and ''[[November-Coming-Fire]]'', was taken from the cover of the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] comic book ''[[The Saga of Crystar]]'', ''Crystal Warrior'' (issue 8). It was drawn by artist [[Michael Golden (comics)|Michael Golden]], who is not credited. The skull on the album cover was drawn by Danzig.
* [[Glenn Danzig]] - [[Vocals]]
* [[Eerie Von]] - [[Bass guitar|Bass]]
* [[John Christ]] - [[Guitar]]
* [[Chuck Biscuits]] - [[Drums]]


Later pressings of the compact disc added the Danzig band name logo in the lower right. While 1990–1998 pressings of the CD had the [[Parental Advisory]] label in the form of a sticker on the cellophane wrap, pressings since 1998 have the label printed on the artwork. ''Danzig'' is one of few albums labeled as "explicit" despite the virtual absence of profanity, save for one use of "whore". Glenn Danzig commented on this use of the advisory label: "That's because of its content. We're making people think. You're not allowed to make people think in the United States. You're not allowed to have them question the government or authority."<ref name="CityPages"/>
==Production==
* Producer: Rick Rubin
* Engineers: Dave Bianco, Steve Ett, Jim Scott
* Mastering: Howie Weinberg
* CD Mastering: Barry Diament
* Photography: Mark Weiss


==Trivia==
==Reception==
{{Music ratings
* According to John Christ, [[Metallica]]'s vocalist and rhythm guitarist [[James Hetfield]] sang some of the backup vocal tracks, along with Glenn Danzig, on "Twist of Cain" and "Possession", but because of Hetfield's contractual obligations to [[Elektra Records]], he could not be credited. Apart from the uncredited female vocals on "Possession" and "Soul on Fire" from the same album, this is the only instance in which Glenn Danzig did not provide all the vocals, both lead and backups, on a Danzig studio album.
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
* Earlier versions of some songs, like "Twist of Cain" and "Possession", were originally intended for the planned final Samhain album, [[Samhain Grim]]. These early versions featured different musical arrangements, lyrics, and were sometimes played in a different key.
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/danzig-mw0000197235 |title=Danzig - Danzig review |last=Huey |first=Steve |work=[[AllMusic]] |publisher=[[All Media Network]] |access-date=2021-10-07 }}</ref>
* John Christ has said that the song "I'm the One" was also originally recorded for this album, but a different version was released on [[Danzig II: Lucifuge|Lucifuge]].
| rev2 = ''[[Martin Popoff|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal]]''
* Glenn Danzig said that the songs "When Death Had No Name" and the band's cover of Elvis Presley's "Trouble", both played live by Danzig from 1988-1991, were also recorded during sessions for this album. Later recordings of those songs found their way onto other Danzig releases.
| rev2Score = 5/10<ref name="martin" >{{cite book | last1 = Popoff | first1 = Martin | author-link1 = Martin Popoff | title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties | publisher = [[Collector's Guide Publishing]] | date = November 1, 2005 | location = [[Burlington, Ontario]], Canada | page=84|isbn = 978-1894959315}}</ref>
* In a 1989 issue of [[Guitar World]], Metallica's James Hetfield and guitarist [[Kirk Hammett]] listed Danzig as their favorite album of 1988, while bassist [[Jason Newsted]] cited it as his second favorite.
| rev3 = ''[[Melody Maker]]''
| rev3Score = (favorable)<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Dead Zone |journal=[[Melody Maker]] |date=October 22, 1988 |last=Mercer |first=Mick |authorlink=Mick Mercer |url=https://www.misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=melodym.88 |access-date=2021-10-07 }}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev4Score = 8.5/10<ref name=Pitchfork>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/danzig-danzig/ |title=Danzig - Danzig |last=Camp |first=Zoe |publisher=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=October 31, 2017 |access-date=2021-10-07 }}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Rock Hard (magazine)|Rock Hard]]''
| rev5Score = 7.5/10<ref name="rockhard">{{cite magazine|last=Kupfer|first=Thomas|title=Review Album : Danzig - Danzig|url=https://www.rockhard.de/reviews/danzig-danzig_190125.html|issue=32|year = 1988| magazine = [[Rock Hard (magazine)|Rock Hard]] |access-date=October 7, 2021 | language=German}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev6score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="RS">{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=177}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev7Score = 7/10<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Misfits|first=Eric|last=Weisbard|title=Spin Alternative Record Guide|title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide|editor1-first=Eric|editor1-last=Weisbard|editor2-first=Craig|editor2-last=Marks|publisher=[[Vintage Books]]|year=1995|isbn=0-679-75574-8|pages=254–255}}</ref>
}}
* [[AllMusic]] - "Danzig debuts with a record of simple, pounding, bluesy metal featuring lead singer Glenn Danzig's trademark [[Elvis Presley|Elvis]]-meets-[[Jim Morrison]] bellow and outlandishly dark, evil lyrics. There isn't a great deal of musical variety or complexity here, but the band powers its way through such signature tunes as 'Twist of Cain,' 'Am I Demon,' and the (future) hit 'Mother' with a primal energy."<ref name="AllMusic"/>
* ''[[Thrasher (magazine)|Thrasher]]'' - "Glenn Danzig has built up a new unit that's so damn powerful, so relentlessly brutal, it staggers the senses just to comprehend. The ensemble drives forth with a new force, an ambitious direction and absolutely ferocious power. Glenn's vocals have matured with age; his [[Crooner|croons]] are commanding expressions of the full range of his voice...the music explodes with a vigorous combination of hooks and punches that wallop a tight, clean drive; a forceful nucleus of hard rocking energy. All together Danzig provide a heavy dose of pure entertainment that has awesome momentum and pile-driving fury. ''Danzig'' becomes more impressive with every listen."<ref name="Thrasher">{{Cite web|url=https://www.misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=thrasher.87|title=Look At This! :: MisfitsCentral.com|website=Misfitscentral.com|access-date=May 21, 2023}}</ref>
* ''[[Trouser Press]]'' - "''Danzig'' is a crunchy and lusty demonic cross between [[The Doors]], [[Misfits (band)|Misfits]] and [[Black Sabbath]]. Roughly half of the album is ominous and mighty, the rest displays the weak underbelly of Rubin's thinly homogeneous production."<ref name="TrouserPress">{{cite web |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/danzig/ |title=Danzig |last1=Fasolino |first1=Greg |last2=Robbins |first2=Ira |publisher=[[Trouser Press]] |access-date=2021-10-07 }}</ref>

In 2017, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked ''Danzig'' as 23rd on their list of "The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theprp.com/2017/06/21/news/rolling-stone-share-choices-100-greatest-metal-albums-time/|title = Rolling Stone Share Their Choices for 'The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time'|website=Theprp.com|date = June 21, 2017}}</ref>

==Music videos==
Music videos were released for the songs "Twist of Cain", "Am I Demon", "Mother" and "She Rides". Upon its release the music video for "Mother" was banned by [[MTV]] for containing controversial imagery.<ref name="Metal Mania">{{cite news|url=http://misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=mania.89|title=Danzig on Thin Ice|last=Zogbi|first=Mariana|date=Spring 1989|publisher=Metal Mania|access-date=October 28, 2009}}</ref> All four music videos later appeared on the ''Danzig'' home video.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.danzig-verotik.com/danzig/discvideo/danzig_vid1.html|title=Danzig - Home Video|publisher=Danzig-Verotik.com|access-date=December 20, 2009}}</ref>

==35th anniversary==
In May 2023, Glenn Danzig unveiled a series of live performance dates in celebration of the 35th anniversary of the self-titled debut album. The band played the first Danzig album for these concerts.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.danzig-verotik.com/danzig/news.html
|title= Danzig 35 Year Anniversary Live Dates Announced
|website= danzig-verotik.com
|access-date= 2023-08-21
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230728051020/http://www.danzig-verotik.com/danzig/news.html
|archive-date= 2023-07-28
}}</ref>

==Track listing==
All songs written by [[Glenn Danzig]], except "The Hunter" (Jones/Jackson/Dunn/Cropper/Wells).
{{track listing
| title1 = Twist of Cain
| length1 = 4:17
| title2 = Not of This World
| length2 = 3:42
| title3 = She Rides
| length3 = 5:10
| title4 = Soul on Fire
| length4 = 4:36
| title5 = Am I Demon
| length5 = 4:57
| title6 = [[Mother (Danzig song)|Mother]]
| length6 = 3:24
| title7 = Possession
| length7 = 3:56
| title8 = End of Time
| length8 = 4:02
| title9 = [[The Hunter (Albert King song)|The Hunter]]
| note9 = [[Albert King]] cover
| length9 = 3:32
| title10 = Evil Thing
| length10 = 3:16
| total_length = 40:58
}}

==Credits==
* [[Glenn Danzig]] – vocals
* [[Eerie Von]] – bass
* [[John Christ]] – guitars
* [[Chuck Biscuits]] – drums
* [[James Hetfield]] – uncredited background vocals on "Twist of Cain" and "Possession"

'''Production'''
* [[Rick Rubin]] – producer
* Dave Bianco – engineer
* Steve Ett – engineer
* Jim Scott – engineer
* Howie Weinberg – mastering
* Barry Diament – CD mastering
* [[Mark Weiss]] – photography


==Charts==
==Charts==
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
'''Album''' - [[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] (North America)
|+ {{nowrap|Album - [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] (North America)}}
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="550px"
!align="left"|Year
!align="left"|Chart
!align="left"|Position
|-
|-
! Year
|align="left"|1988
! Chart
|align="left"|The Billboard 200
! Position
|align="left"|125
|-
|-
| 1988
| [[Billboard 200]]
|align="center"| 125
|}
|}


{| class="wikitable" border="1"
'''Singles''' - Billboard (North America)
|+ Singles - Billboard (North America)
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="550px"
!align="left"|Year
!align="left"|Single
!align="left"|Chart
!align="left"|Position
|-
|-
! Year
|align="left"|1993
! Single
|align="left"|"Mother"
! Chart
|align="left"|Mainstream Rock Tracks
! Position
|align="left"|17
|-
|-
| 1993
|align="left"|1994
|align="left"|"Mother"
|rowspan="2"| "[[Mother (Danzig song)|Mother]]"
| [[Mainstream Rock Tracks]]
|align="left"|The Billboard Hot 100
|align="left"|43
|align="center"| 17
|-
|-
| 1994
| [[The Billboard Hot 100]]
|align="center"| 43
|}
|}


==References==
[[Category:Danzig albums]]
{{reflist}}
[[Category:1988 albums]]

[[Category:Debut albums]]
{{Danzig}}

{{Authority control}}


[[pl:Danzig (album)]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Danzig (Album)}}
[[Category:1988 debut albums]]
[[sk:Danzig (album)]]
[[Category:Danzig (band) albums]]
[[Category:American Recordings (record label) albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Rick Rubin]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Chung King Studios]]

Latest revision as of 16:00, 25 November 2024

Danzig
Studio album by
Danzig
ReleasedAugust 30, 1988
RecordedSeptember 1987 – April 1988
StudioAtlantic Recording Studios and Chung King Metal (New York City)
GenreHeavy metal[1][2]
Length40:58
LabelDef American
ProducerRick Rubin
Danzig chronology
Danzig
(1988) 		Danzig II: Lucifuge
(1990)

Danzig is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Danzig, released in August 1988. The album was the first release on producer Rick Rubin's new label Def American Recordings.[3] Def American's successor, American Recordings, reissued the album in the United States and United Kingdom in 1998. It remains the band's best-selling album having been certified gold in the U.S. in 1994,[4] and has since been certified platinum.[5] Danzig promoted the album with a successful world tour in 1988–1989.[6]

Music and recording

[edit]

Danzig was recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios and Chung King Metal, and mixed at Smoke Tree and Village.[7] These sessions took place between September 1987 and April 1988.[8]

The song "Mother", retitled as "Mother '93" and with live audience overdubs, became a hit on radio and MTV in 1993–94 after a new video-single with live footage was created to mark its inclusion on Thrall-Demonsweatlive.[4][9] The song was also later included on various hard rock and heavy metal music compilations, and featured in the video game series Guitar Hero. It also appeared on the soundtrack to the 2013 film The Hangover Part III.

Glenn Danzig originally wrote the songs "Twist of Cain" and "Possession" for his previous band, Samhain.[10] Lyrically, "Twist of Cain" is inspired by the biblical story of Cain and Abel.[11] Guitarist John Christ described the recording of "Twist of Cain": "We started writing that song even before [drummer] Biscuits joined the band. At first we started recording it in G, then at the last minute we decided that A was better. We kept the drum tracks as they were and re-recorded the guitars, bass and vocals. Not many people know this, but James Hetfield (of Metallica) came down and recorded some backing vocals on that track."[12] Hetfield also recorded backing vocals on "Possession"; however, due to contractual reasons, he could not be credited in the album insert.[13] A backwards piano track is used during the intro to "Possession".

John Christ has described "She Rides" as "Our first sex song...it's such a stripped-down song, just a couple of guitar tracks and almost no bass. "She Rides" probably has the best vocal performance on the album, though. There are also some really weird background noises and moaning sounds on it."[12] Generally the song refers to mythology on Lilith. References to "she rides/from the daylight in chains" reflect traditional methods for binding demons.[14] The song also appears to take inspiration from the poetry of Christopher Brennan, in particular part xiii of the "Lilith" sequence of The Forest of Night: "She is the night: all horror is of her..."[15]

While the album's liner notes expressly state "All songs written by Glenn Danzig", the song "The Hunter" was written by Booker T. & the M.G.'s and Carl Wells. Originally recorded by Albert King, the Danzig version of the song only features slightly modified lyrics.

Artwork and packaging

[edit]

Original LP, CD, and cassette versions of the album cover had no identifying text whatsoever, only a white skull on a black background. The skull, also used on the Samhain albums Initium and November-Coming-Fire, was taken from the cover of the Marvel comic book The Saga of Crystar, Crystal Warrior (issue 8). It was drawn by artist Michael Golden, who is not credited. The skull on the album cover was drawn by Danzig.

Later pressings of the compact disc added the Danzig band name logo in the lower right. While 1990–1998 pressings of the CD had the Parental Advisory label in the form of a sticker on the cellophane wrap, pressings since 1998 have the label printed on the artwork. Danzig is one of few albums labeled as "explicit" despite the virtual absence of profanity, save for one use of "whore". Glenn Danzig commented on this use of the advisory label: "That's because of its content. We're making people think. You're not allowed to make people think in the United States. You're not allowed to have them question the government or authority."[13]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal5/10[16]
Melody Maker(favorable)[17]
Pitchfork8.5/10[2]
Rock Hard7.5/10[18]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[19]
Spin Alternative Record Guide7/10[20]
  • AllMusic - "Danzig debuts with a record of simple, pounding, bluesy metal featuring lead singer Glenn Danzig's trademark Elvis-meets-Jim Morrison bellow and outlandishly dark, evil lyrics. There isn't a great deal of musical variety or complexity here, but the band powers its way through such signature tunes as 'Twist of Cain,' 'Am I Demon,' and the (future) hit 'Mother' with a primal energy."[1]
  • Thrasher - "Glenn Danzig has built up a new unit that's so damn powerful, so relentlessly brutal, it staggers the senses just to comprehend. The ensemble drives forth with a new force, an ambitious direction and absolutely ferocious power. Glenn's vocals have matured with age; his croons are commanding expressions of the full range of his voice...the music explodes with a vigorous combination of hooks and punches that wallop a tight, clean drive; a forceful nucleus of hard rocking energy. All together Danzig provide a heavy dose of pure entertainment that has awesome momentum and pile-driving fury. Danzig becomes more impressive with every listen."[21]
  • Trouser Press - "Danzig is a crunchy and lusty demonic cross between The Doors, Misfits and Black Sabbath. Roughly half of the album is ominous and mighty, the rest displays the weak underbelly of Rubin's thinly homogeneous production."[22]

In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked Danzig as 23rd on their list of "The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time".[23]

Music videos

[edit]

Music videos were released for the songs "Twist of Cain", "Am I Demon", "Mother" and "She Rides". Upon its release the music video for "Mother" was banned by MTV for containing controversial imagery.[24] All four music videos later appeared on the Danzig home video.[25]

35th anniversary

[edit]

In May 2023, Glenn Danzig unveiled a series of live performance dates in celebration of the 35th anniversary of the self-titled debut album. The band played the first Danzig album for these concerts.[26]

Track listing

[edit]

All songs written by Glenn Danzig, except "The Hunter" (Jones/Jackson/Dunn/Cropper/Wells).

No.TitleLength
1."Twist of Cain"4:17
2."Not of This World"3:42
3."She Rides"5:10
4."Soul on Fire"4:36
5."Am I Demon"4:57
6."Mother"3:24
7."Possession"3:56
8."End of Time"4:02
9."The Hunter" (Albert King cover)3:32
10."Evil Thing"3:16
Total length:40:58

Credits

[edit]

Production

  • Rick Rubin – producer
  • Dave Bianco – engineer
  • Steve Ett – engineer
  • Jim Scott – engineer
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering
  • Barry Diament – CD mastering
  • Mark Weiss – photography

Charts

[edit]
Album - Billboard (North America)
Year Chart Position
1988 Billboard 200 125
Singles - Billboard (North America)
Year Single Chart Position
1993 "Mother" Mainstream Rock Tracks 17
1994 The Billboard Hot 100 43

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Huey, Steve. "Danzig - Danzig review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Camp, Zoe (October 31, 2017). "Danzig - Danzig". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  3. ^ Ma, Maria (December 10, 1988). "DANZIG: Def New Music". Concrete Foundations. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Chirazi, Steffan (Spring 1994). "Black Gold!". Kerrang!. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  5. ^ Farr, Sara (August 2005). "DANZIG Interview". Unrated Magazine. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  6. ^ "Danzig Tour Dates". misfitscentral.com. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  7. ^ Danzig liner notes
  8. ^ "Danzig Recording Sessions". misfitscentral.com. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  9. ^ "On the Same Track". Entertainment Weekly. February 18, 1994. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  10. ^ Cipollini, Christian. "Glenn Danzig - Horror Business". Penny Blood. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  11. ^ Gitter, Mike (October 1987). "Glenn Danzig: Resurrection of a Misfit". RIP magazine. Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Kitts, Jeff (July 1994). "Prime Cuts: John Christ". Guitar School. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  13. ^ a b Grow, Kory (August 16, 2013). "Glenn Danzig: Democrats are Fascists Disguised as Liberals". City Pages. Archived from the original on August 28, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  14. ^ Black Koltuv, Barbara. (1986). The Book of Lilith (p.91).
  15. ^ "Australian Poetry Library". Poetrylibrary.edu. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  16. ^ Popoff, Martin (November 1, 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 84. ISBN 978-1894959315.
  17. ^ Mercer, Mick (October 22, 1988). "The Dead Zone". Melody Maker. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  18. ^ Kupfer, Thomas (1988). "Review Album : Danzig - Danzig". Rock Hard (in German). No. 32. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  19. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 177.
  20. ^ Weisbard, Eric (1995). "Misfits". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 254–255. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  21. ^ "Look At This! :: MisfitsCentral.com". Misfitscentral.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  22. ^ Fasolino, Greg; Robbins, Ira. "Danzig". Trouser Press. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  23. ^ "Rolling Stone Share Their Choices for 'The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time'". Theprp.com. June 21, 2017.
  24. ^ Zogbi, Mariana (Spring 1989). "Danzig on Thin Ice". Metal Mania. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  25. ^ "Danzig - Home Video". Danzig-Verotik.com. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  26. ^ "Danzig 35 Year Anniversary Live Dates Announced". danzig-verotik.com. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
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