Black Aria

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Black Aria
Glenn Danzig - Black Aria album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Released1992, 2000, 2006
Recorded1987–?
Genre Neoclassical dark wave, dungeon synth
Length23:48
Label Plan 9, E-Magine, Evilive
Producer Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig chronology
Danzig III: How the Gods Kill
(1992)
Black Aria
(1992)
Thrall-Demonsweatlive
(1993)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Leviatan Magazine(6.9/10) [2]

Black Aria is an instrumental album composed by Glenn Danzig, the vocalist/songwriter for Danzig and previously of Samhain and the Misfits. It was released in 1992, and is Danzig's first album as a solo artist.

Contents

The mostly instrumental album is a departure from Danzig's earlier work in metal andpunk rock, and debuted at number 1 on the American Billboard classical chart. [3] The original release was on Glenn Danzig's own label, Plan 9 Records, and like his Misfits and Samhain releases, was distributed by Caroline Records. The album was reissued in 2000 on E-Magine Records, and a sequel followed on Evilive Records in 2006. A third reissue occurred, again on Danzig's Evilive label in conjunction with Cleopatra Records, in July 2023, along with Black Aria II.

Music and recording

The album is largely modern instrumental classical music, and is very dark, with gothic metal tendencies.

Although it was not released until 1992, some of the material on the album was recorded as early as 1987. Select tracks from the album had served as intro music to early Danzig shows, and excerpts of some songs were included on Danzig's first two compilation home videos released by Def American Recordings in 1989 and 1991.

The first six song titles reference a soundtrack to John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost , [4] which describes Lucifer's rebellion from the Christian God, and his subsequent expulsion from Heaven with the angels who joined him. The final three tracks, written by Danzig while he was still in Samhain, reference Celtic mythology. [4] "The Morrigu" relates to The Morrígan, a mythical phantom queen. "Cwn Annwn" refers to the spectral hounds of the same name.

All tracks were written by Glenn Danzig, who also performed all instruments. [5] Engineering was provided by Nick Didia, Martin Schmelze, and Bob Alecca. Female voices were provided by Janna Brown and Reneé Rubach.

Artwork and packaging

The photograph of Glenn Danzig in the liner notes was taken by Anton Corbijn. The album's front cover is by renowned comic book and graphic artist Michael William Kaluta, who also drew the interior illustrations for Danzig's fourth album.

As the musical content of Black Aria is a departure from the music of the band Danzig, the album has a written disclaimer to warn buyers that it is not a rock record. [5]

Track listing

All music is composed by Glenn Danzig

No.TitleLength
1."Overture of the Rebel Angels"2:42
2."Conspiracy Dirge"1:59
3."Battle for Heaven"3:54
4."Retreat and Descent"3:53
5."Dirge of Defeat"1:48
6."And the Angels Weep"1:18
7."Shifter"1:33
8."The Morrigu"4:25
9."Cwn Anwnn"2:13
Total length:23:45

Credits

Production

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Misfits (band)</span> American horror punk band

The Misfits are an American punk rock band often recognized as the pioneers of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery. The group was founded in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey, by vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist Glenn Danzig. Danzig's first recruit to the Misfits was drummer Mr. Jim and bassist Diane DiPazza, however, DiPiazza never showed up. Mr. Jim was replaced by Manny Martinez shortly after. Jerry Only joined on bass guitar shortly after. Over the next six years, membership would change frequently, with Danzig and Only being the sole consistent members. During this time period, they released several EPs and singles, and with Only's brother Doyle as guitarist, the albums Walk Among Us (1982) and Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood (1983), both considered touchstones of the early-1980s hardcore punk movement. The band has gone through many lineup changes over the years, with bassist Jerry Only being the only constant member in the group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danzig (band)</span> American heavy metal band

Danzig is an American heavy metal band led by former Samhain and Misfits singer Glenn Danzig. Formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey, the group early on became a unique voice in the rock scene, playing a bluesy, doom-laden metal with Glenn Danzig crooning in the style of Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley. Danzig's openly satanic lyrics and image stirred controversy. After a major hit with a live version of its 1988 song "Mother", the band experimented with industrial music but later returned to heavy metal. As of 2023, Danzig has released 12 studio albums, two EPs, one live album, and one compilation album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenn Danzig</span> American rock musician

Glenn Allen Anzalone, better known by his stage name Glenn Danzig, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is the founder of the rock bands Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig. He owns the Evilive record label as well as Verotik, an adult-oriented comic book publishing company.

<i>Danzig</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Danzig

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. 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, and has since been certified platinum. Danzig promoted the album with a successful world tour in 1988–1989.

<i>Walk Among Us</i> 1982 studio album by the Misfits

Walk Among Us is the debut album by the American punk rock band Misfits, released in March 1982 by Ruby Records and its parent label Slash Records. It was the first full-length album to be released by the band, although it was the third to be recorded, after Static Age and 12 Hits from Hell. The recording sessions for Walk Among Us took place at multiple studios between June 1981 and January 1982, and the album also includes the track "Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?", which was recorded live at the Ritz in New York City. The album features a re-recording of the single "Night of the Living Dead", which was released on October 31, 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samhain (band)</span> American rock band

Samhain was an American rock band formed by singer Glenn Danzig in 1983, immediately following his departure from Misfits. Glenn Danzig originally planned Samhain as a side project with Eerie Von. After the Misfits' contentious 1983 dissolution, Samhain became Danzig's full-time band.

<i>Initium</i> 1984 studio album by Samhain

Initium is the 1984 debut album by American deathrock band Samhain, released on lead singer Glenn Danzig's independent record label Plan 9. In various interviews, Danzig stated that the album's title, which translates from Latin to English as "beginning", represents his new start after disbanding his prior band, Misfits, in 1983. Most of the final track, "Archangel", was actually recorded in March 1981, and was originally meant to either be a Misfits song featuring Dave Vanian or a track for the band the Damned. The track "Horror Biz" likewise dates to Danzig's Misfits era, as it is a new version of "Horror Business" with different musical arrangements. The album was recorded at Reel Platinum studio in Lodi, New Jersey, excluding the introduction which was recorded at Eerie Von's home on a four track cassette.

<i>Unholy Passion</i> 1985 EP by Samhain

Unholy Passion is the first EP and second overall release by American deathrock band Samhain, Glenn Danzig's band after the disbanding of the Misfits. According to bassist Eerie Von in his photographic book Misery Obscura, the album was "a departure from our first release: more underground, more tribal. A step back further into the darkness". The song "All Hell" is a re-recorded version of the Misfits' "All Hell Breaks Loose".

<i>Samhain III: November-Coming-Fire</i> 1986 studio album by Samhain

Samhain III: November-Coming-Fire is the second studio album by American deathrock band Samhain. It was released in February 1986, through lead singer Glenn Danzig's independent record label, Plan 9.

<i>Final Descent</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Samhain

Final Descent is the third and final studio album by American deathrock band Samhain, first released in 1990, more than three years after lead singer Glenn Danzig and bassist Eerie Von had recruited guitarist John Christ and drummer Chuck Biscuits to form Danzig.

<i>Samhain</i> (box set) 2000 box set by Samhain

The self-titled box set of American deathrock band Samhain was released in 2000, more than 13 years after the band effectively ceased recording and performing. The set's five CDs and one VHS tape compile nearly all of the band's original catalog, newly remastered from the original master tapes, as well as previously unreleased material, the latter of which includes a live CD and a VHS video cassette of live footage.

<i>Blackacidevil</i> 1996 studio album by Danzig

Danzig 5: Blackacidevil is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Danzig. It was released in 1996 on Hollywood Records, and was reissued through E-Magine Records in 2000 with three extra tracks. The album sees the band shift to a largely industrial-based sound.

Eerie Von is an American musician best known as the original bassist for the heavy metal band Danzig. His preferred bass is the Fender Jazz Bass.

<i>Misfits</i> (Misfits album) 1986 compilation album by Misfits

Misfits is a 1986 compilation album by the American punk rock band Misfits. Officially titled Misfits, but also known as Collection, Collection 1, or Collection I, the album features twenty songs by the band. The tracks include some of the group's early singles, as well as songs from their 1982 album Walk Among Us, their 1983 album Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood, and the 1985 compilation album Legacy of Brutality, which was curated exclusively by vocalist Glenn Danzig after the band had dissolved in 1983.

<i>Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood</i> 1983 studio album by Misfits

Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood is the second album to be released by American punk rock band Misfits. It is the last album the group recorded with founding member Glenn Danzig on vocals, who issued the vinyl record on his Plan 9 label in December 1983, two months after he played his last concert with the band. Though the original album runs under 15 minutes in length, it is listed as an LP.

Kryst the Conqueror was an American Christian metal project formed in August 1987 by two former members of the horror punk band, The Misfits. The project was led by bassist Jerry Only, who adopted a new stage name, "Mo the Great", and his younger brother, guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein. The band fused fantastical and sci-fi imagery with religious themes and messages. The band has also been referred to as a "guitar shop project", as Only and Doyle constantly tweaked and refined their instruments throughout the band's existence, in an attempt to create what they felt would be the ultimate bass and guitar.

<i>Black Aria II</i> 2006 studio album by Glenn Danzig

Black Aria II is a 2006 album by Glenn Danzig and the follow-up to his 1992 Black Aria classical solo album. Despite being discussed in various interviews throughout the 1990s, Black Aria II was not released until October 17, 2006. The album reached the top 10 on the American Billboard classical music chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halloween (Misfits song)</span> 1981 single by the Misfits

"Halloween" is the fifth single by the American punk rock band Misfits. It was released on October 31, 1981 on singer Glenn Danzig's label Plan 9 Records. 5,000 copies of the single were pressed on black 7-inch vinyl, some of which included a lyrics sheet. This was the first Misfits release to use their Famous Monsters of Filmland-inspired logo, as well as the first to refer to the band as simply "Misfits".

Son of Sam is an American horror punk band that is a side project created by Todd Youth in 2000, during his tenure as the guitarist for Danzig. The band's initial line up featured members of Samhain, Danzig, and AFI. Much like its members' other work, Son of Sam plays in the horror punk style, and also infuses metal and deathrock elements into their music. The name of the band was inspired by the iconic serial killer David Berkowitz, known as the notorious "Son of Sam". This also draws reference to the band Samhain.

<i>The Lost Tracks of Danzig</i> 2007 compilation album by Danzig

The Lost Tracks of Danzig is a compilation album by American heavy metal band Danzig. The set showcases a number of previously unreleased Danzig songs, ranging from the band's first recording sessions in 1987–88 until the sessions for Danzig's 2004 studio album, Circle of Snakes.

References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r175159
  2. "Danzig - Black Aria". Leviatan Magazine. 2008. Archived from the original on 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  3. "Glenn Danzig Unleashes 'Black Aria II' To Follow-Up His Classic Release". Metal Underground. August 30, 2006. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  4. 1 2 "Glenn Danzig chat". Trans World Entertainment. January 27, 2000. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
  5. 1 2 Kitts, Jeff (September 1994). "The Dark Knight Returns". Flux Magazine . Retrieved 2011-04-20.