Artist: Danzig Album: Circle of Snakes

Year: 2004
Duration: 42:33

A Critical Review of Danzig's Album Circle of Snakes

Glenn Danzig is a name well-known in the music industry as a pioneer of the heavy metal genre, with a career spanning over four decades. Danzig has released twelve studio albums to date, and each album takes the listener on a journey through his dark and twisted mind. One of the more interesting albums in his discography is Circle of Snakes, released in 2004. This album saw Glenn Danzig returning to the roots of his former band Samhain, with a heavy influence of blues music. In this blog post, we will give you a brief history of Danzig, review the Circle of Snakes album, break down the best songs, critique the album, and highlight the most innovative parts.

Glenn Danzig rose to fame in the late 70s as the founder, lead singer, and songwriter of the horror-punk band Misfits. Danzig left Misfits in 1983 to form his own band, Samhain, which had a more gothic sound than Misfits. Samhain released three albums before Danzig disbanded it in 1987 to pursue a solo career. Danzig's self-titled debut album was released in 1988, followed by Lucifuge, How the Gods Kill, and Blackacidevil, among others. Danzig's music is known for its heavy guitar riffs, blues influences, and horror themes.

Circle of Snakes is an album that sounds like the love-child of Danzig's Blackacidevil and Samhain's November-Coming-Fire. The album has a heavy blues influence, with a lot of slide guitar and slow, brooding tempos. The album opens with the title track Circle of Snakes, which has one of the heaviest riffs on the album. Skincarver and 1000 Devils Reign are two of the best tracks on the album, with catchy choruses and blistering guitar solos. The ballad Bound by Blood is a standout track, showcasing Glenn Danzig's soulful voice and emotive lyricism. The album's closing track Without Light, I Am is a haunting tribute to all those who have lost their battle with addiction.

While Circle of Snakes has more than its fair share of great songs, the album as a whole is somewhat lackluster. The production is flat, and the songs tend to blend together after a while. There are also some questionable choices, such as the inclusion of a spoken-word track (When We Were Dead) and a cover of The Circle Jerks' Golden Shower of Hits. While both of these tracks are interesting, they don't quite fit with the overall sound of the album.

One of the most innovative parts of Circle of Snakes is the way Glenn Danzig incorporates the blues into his music. While he has always had blues influences in his music, Circle of Snakes takes it to the next level. The album has a very Southern Gothic feel to it, with songs that sound like they could have been written by Robert Johnson or Lead Belly. Danzig's ability to blend different genres of music and make it his own is what makes him such a unique and talented artist.

In conclusion, Circle of Snakes is a solid album that showcases Glenn Danzig's creativity and talent. While it may not be his best work, it is still a worthwhile addition to any heavy metal or blues fan's music collection. The album contains some great tracks, such as Skincarver and Bound by Blood, and shows off Danzig's ability to blend different genres of music. Circle of Snakes may not be for everyone, but for those who appreciate Glenn Danzig's music, it is definitely worth a listen.