The bleeding light...
Written: May 13 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Manages to maintain the mood of their first record while expanding the sound
Cons: Somewhat weak guitars in the mix
The Bottom Line: Danzig II is a perfect companion to their self-titled debut while at the same time being a perfect stepping stone to an expanded sound.
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| hellfudge's Full Review: Danzig II: Lucifuge [PA] by Danzig |
Danzig's first release cemented their place as an uncompromising metal band that wisely avoided both prevailing schools of thought at the time. The first being that good looks, lots of makeup, and a party atmosphere was the most important thing a band could have, and the second being that the faster one plays, the more intense and "evil" it sounds. Danzig took what had been begun by Black Sabbath, arguably the first real metal band, in the late 60's and early 70's, and brought it forward into the 80's.
And without compromising a single ounce of integrity, Danzig managed to sound more melodic and catchy than any of the partying hair metal bands, while sounding far more evil and thought-provoking than most lightning fast speed metal groups. Their sound was simple but effective, a skill that vocalist/songwriter Glenn Danzig had honed during his career with the Misfits and perfected on the first Danzig release.
It was no surprise, however, that fans were skeptical when Danzig II: Lucifuge was released. It's hard to keep up such an intense and angry vibe for long, especially when rabid fans treat you like a god. How can you possibly stay angry when you're practically worshiped by hordes of people?
But Danzig succeeded in yet again blowing away his audience. From the opening notes of "Long Way Back From Hell," it is apparent that the listener is in for more of the same power that fueled the band's self-titled debut. There is plenty for fans of the first record, with "Devil's Plaything", "Tired of Being Alive," and "Snakes of Christ," the latter of which builds upon the same handful of notes and artificial harmonics that made "Twist of Cain" such a hit.
While the idea of "if it ain't broke" managed to keep bands like AC/DC and the Ramones on top for decades, Danzig was not satisfied to spend an entire career rehashing itself. The second half of Lucifuge begins to branch out and delve into unexpected areas, with songs like the 50's-esque "Blood & Tears" and the acoustic style of
"777", possibly the eeriest song on the disc. And if the rockabilly of the Misfits' "American Nightmare" wasn't enough for music historians, the straight-forward blues of "I'm the One" is sure to turn heads. And Danzig's deep. yet somehow high voice is perfect for the song. In fact, I couldn't imagine even the best blues singer trying their hand at this - regardless of the vocalist, it would never be the same as Danzig.
Lucifuge has its slower moments, with the final track, "Pain In The World", but even it is listenable and mostly enjoyable, if a little longer than it should be.
Above everything, however, what could still make this album a classic, even if everything I've said already weren't true, is the mood of the record as a whole. In an era when records, especially in the metal genre, were built around three singles, two of which would typically be boring, lazy "power ballads", and rounded out with seven or eight pieces of uninteresting and unrelated filler, it was a rarity to hear an album that was so obviously meant to be heard as a whole. Every song fits perfectly into its place and it's hard to imagine any other song replacing any of them. Even better, that same mood was captured brilliantly on their first release, and once both were available, it was easy to think of them as a double album.
The only possible turnoffs for someone unfamiliar with Danzig could be either the lyrical content, mostly directed at Glenn Danzig's discontent with religion (to put it mildly), or the somewhat dated and weak guitar sound. Don't get me wrong, the guitar work is brilliant, but Danzig is one of those bands that one can't help wondering what a second guitar would add to the mix. As it stands, the guitar is often overshadowed and sent to the back burner by Danzig's vocals, which are always clear, coherent, and in your face, giving the impression, along with the name of the band and the cover insert photos, that he wants to make certain it's clear who's in charge.
But that's part of one's perogative when one is in such a clearly defined role as a band's "leader". And while it helps fans relate to his mood and message, in the long run it's somewhat harmful to the band as a whole. Danzig has a fairly large ego, and it's easy to tire of that.
Egos can be somewhat justified, though, when the talent is truly there, and like the Misfits, Danzig proves that its leader contains more than enough of that.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
hellfudge
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Location: Maryland, USA
Reviews written: 91
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About Me:
My babysitter says to get off the computer but I won't because she's mean.
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