Danzig 6:66: Satan's Child

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Danzig

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OK, an overview first. In the beginning there was "Danzig", the self titled album, a blues oriented rock music. Then "Danzig II" followed the same vein, more bluesy guitar, more howls, better writing. Following that was "How the Gods kill", a slight departure, but similar enough to keep the fans happy. With the fourth album, aptly titled "4", Glenn tried to grow a little, and do something different. In my opinion, an exceptional attempt. What is wrong with growth and a little change? Some fans didn't like it. I loved it. The fifth album, "Blackacidevil", brought Glenn the opportunity to go even further, and try even more experimentation. Whether, the old band quit, or was fired, or was called to the pits by the dark one, Glenn needed new allies. Enter Joey Castillo, Joseph Bishara, and Josh Lazie, a new band, a new sound. Gone is the bluesy guitar, to be replaced with a more electronic modern sound. But the song writing here is still exceptional. This album was to be yanked summarily from shelves by Danzig's then distributer. Down, but not out, Glenn shopped for another. And in a short time one was found. "666: Satan's Child" is the first album Glenn and friends have recorded with the new company. But this time, Glenn tries to merge his former sounds together. The bluesy guitar with the techno thump. A new sound emerges, and this is wonderful. 5 finger crawl, unspeakable, 13, Lilin, heck all the tracks on this album rock. Though this isn't exactly "Danzig II" or "Blackacidevil" it is the best of both.

On my initial examination of this album, I was disappointed. The cover artwork and photography is hackneyed and cliched, and the tracks, from first to last, lacked the originality and verve that hallmarks all of Glenn's previous offerings; from "Cough/Cool" to "Blackacidevil" (a MUCH better album than most seem to think, one of the finest in the Danzig canon, in my opinion), Glenn's presence was obvious. Not so here. At least, not IMMEDIATELY. Despite the continuing downward spiral of Glenn's lyrical imagination, a few gems can be unearthed here nonetheless, most notably the urgent "Unspeakable", and Danzig's own take on "Thirteen", the track written for, and recorded by, Johnny Cash in 1994 ("Come To Silver" on the "Blackacidevil" album was also submitted to Cash, but rejected in favour of "Thirteen") - although I feel that Cash's version is superior. Many reviewers have lamented the departure of the other members of what I suppose should be considered the definitive Danzig lineup (Von, Biscuits, Christ) since the split from American Recordings, but they really shouldn't be too surprised since Glenn has been chopping and changing his band lineups throughout his career, and although Castillo and Lazie do not stamp their mark on this album with as much authority as the previous Danzig incumbants, they do what is required of them with considerable aplomb. Yes, this album is derivative of all of the acts mentioned elsewhere in these reviews (Korn, Rob Zombie etc.), and yes, this is a shame for long-time fans since all other releases by Glenn Danzig escape any comparison or classification other than simply "DANZIG", but new listeners will find that this album is an album ultimately worth owning, although I would hasten to advise that anyone new to Glenn's work should try ANYTHING else that he has recorded other than this first in order to maximise their appreciation of this unique talent. It IS his worst effort to date, but "poor" by Glenn Danzig's standards is still "pretty damn good" by anyone else's, and as I said, it'll grow on you...