Editing Danzig (album)

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = Danzig
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Danzig (band)|Danzig]]
| cover        = Danzig cover.jpg
| released     = August 30, 1988
| recorded     = September 1987 – April 1988
| studio       = Atlantic Recording Studios and [[Chung King Metal]] (New York City)
| genre        = *[[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]<ref name="AllMusic"/><ref name=Pitchfork/>
*[[blues rock]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stingley |first=Mick |date=July 8, 2002 |title=Danzig 777: I Luciferi |url=https://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=1083 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=KNAC.COM}}</ref>
| length       = 40:58
| label        = [[Def American]]
| producer     = [[Rick Rubin]]
| year         = 1988
| next_title   = [[Danzig II: Lucifuge]]
| next_year    = 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'' 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]]''.

[[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".

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>

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==
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.

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"/>

==Reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| 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>
| rev2 = ''[[Martin Popoff|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal]]''
| 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>
| 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==
===Danzig===
* [[Glenn Danzig]] – vocals
* [[Eerie Von]] – bass
* [[John Christ]] – guitars
* [[Chuck Biscuits]] – drums
===Additional personnel===

* [[James Hetfield]] – background vocals on "Twist of Cain" and "Possession" (uncredited)

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

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|+ {{nowrap|Album - [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] (North America)}}
|-
! Year
! Chart
! Position
|-
| 1988
| [[Billboard 200]]
|align="center"| 125
|}

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

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Danzig}}

{{Authority control}}

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