Editing Danzig II: Lucifuge

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox album|
| name       = Danzig II: Lucifuge
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Danzig (band)|Danzig]]
| cover      = Danzig2na.jpg
| alt        = 
| released   = June 26, 1990
| recorded   = June 1989 – May 1990
| venue      =
| studio     = {{hlist|Hollywood Sound (Hollywood)|[[Larrabee Sound Studios|Larrabee]] (Hollywood)}}
| genre      =
* [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Hicks|first=Robert|date=December 22, 2006|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/dailyrecord/access/1749223771.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+22%2C+2006&author=ROBERT+HICKS&pub=Daily+Record&desc=Danzig+brings+metal+and+mythology+to+Sayreville+show&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130710025326/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/dailyrecord/access/1749223771.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+22,+2006&author=ROBERT+HICKS&pub=Daily+Record&desc=Danzig+brings+metal+and+mythology+to+Sayreville+show&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 10, 2013|title=Danzig brings metal and mythology to Sayreville show|newspaper=[[Daily Record (Morristown)|Daily Record]]|location=Morristown|access-date=July 9, 2013|quote=the band redefined its identity with a combination of heavy metal and goth romanticism on its CD Danzig II}} {{subscription required}}</ref> 
* [[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     = 49:26
| label      = [[Def American]]
| producer   = [[Rick Rubin]]
| prev_title = [[Danzig (album)|Danzig]]
| prev_year  = 1988
| next_title = [[Danzig III: How the Gods Kill]]
| next_year  = 1992
| misc       = {{Extra album cover
 | header      = Alternative cover
 | type        = studio
 | cover       = Danzig II Lucifuge's alternative cover, used for later CD reissues.png
 | border      =
 | alt         =
 | caption     = ''Danzig II: Lucifuge's'' alternate CD cover}}
{{Singles
 | name        = Danzig II: Lucifuge
 | type        = Studio
 | single1     = Her Black Wings
 | single1date = 1990<ref>{{cite web|url=http://danzig-verotik.com/danzig/danzig2.html |title=Official Danzig Website |publisher=Danzig-verotik.com |access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''''Danzig II: Lucifuge''''' is the second studio album by American [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Danzig (band)|Danzig]]. It was released in 1990 on [[Def American Recordings]] and was reissued in the US and UK in 1998 by Def American's successor, [[American Recordings (record label)|American Recordings]].

== Music and recording ==
''Lucifuge'' was recorded at three studios in Hollywood: Hollywood Sound Recorders, Larrabee Sound Studios and Summa Music Group over an eleven-month period, between June 1989 and May 1990; up to this point, it was the longest time Glenn Danzig had taken to make an album.<ref name="recordingsessions">{{cite web|url=http://www.misfitscentral.com/danzig/sessions.php|title=Danzig Recording Sessions|publisher=misfitscentral.com|access-date=January 15, 2017}}</ref>

''Lucifuge'' has a pronounced blues influence that adds a sinister edge akin to records by [[Howlin' Wolf]] or [[Robert Johnson]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=muscle.90|title=Review of Danzig II|date=Summer 1990|publisher=Metal Muscle|access-date=December 19, 2009}}</ref> who have both been accused of playing the "Devil's music". Thematically, a number of songs throughout the album ask questions about the concept of [[evil]].<ref name="NYTimes" />

Glenn Danzig said that the song "Killer Wolf" is "my version of an old blues song about a guy who wolfs around the door of every girl in town."<ref name="Faces">{{cite web|url=http://misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=faces3.90|title=Danzig: By His Own Design|date=Summer 1990|publisher=Faces magazine|access-date=December 19, 2009}}</ref>

Glenn Danzig has described "I'm the One" as "another blues song...about a guy realizing his destiny."<ref name="Faces" /> "I'm the One" was originally recorded for Danzig's debut album, as [[John Christ]] explained: "We actually recorded 'I'm the One' for the first record, but we decided to save it for this record. It fit the mood of the second album much better. Glenn wanted to do that song for a long time – he even knew what kind of video he wanted it to have long before we did it. It's a cool song: just some guitar and vocals and a little [[Hi-hat (instrument)|hi-hat]] in the background."<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>

The introduction to "Long Way Back from Hell" begins with the use of the [[Dive bomb (guitar technique)|dive bomb]] guitar technique.<ref name="Guitar School" /> Guitarist John Christ explained: "We worked on the beginning of that song for a long time before we finally got it right – it always sounded too empty. But when [[Eerie Von|Eerie]] came in with that galloping bass-line, it all kind of fell into place. It has a lot of energy to it and was probably one of the best songs on that album."<ref name="Guitar School" />

Glenn Danzig spoke about the challenge of writing the song "Her Black Wings": "I always know beforehand what kind of record I want to make. Those ideas dictate how the songs will sound. And sometimes it's not always easy to execute the ideas. For example, writing 'Her Black Wings' was a laborious and tedious experience – but that's the way it had to be for the song to come out right."<ref name="Flux">{{cite web|url=http://www.misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=flux.94|title=The Dark Knight Returns|last=Kitts|first=Jeff|date=September 1994|publisher=[[Flux Magazine (US)|Flux Magazine]]|access-date=April 20, 2011}}</ref>

"777" is a song about the biblical concept of [[Armageddon]]<ref name="Faces" /> and includes the use of [[slide guitar]].<ref name="Kerrang!">{{cite magazine|url=http://misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=kerrang.690|title=Glenn Danzig: Brawn to be Wild|date=June 30, 1990|first=Mike|last=Gitter|magazine=[[Kerrang!]]|access-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref>

"Blood and Tears" is a [[Roy Orbison]]-like ballad about "a girl's failed relationship and her subsequent torment",<ref name="Faces" /> and is one of Glenn Danzig's personal favorites from the album.<ref name="Kerrang!" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=unknown.s90|title=Danzig Returns|last=Zogbi|first=Marina|date=Summer 1990|publisher=Misfits Central|access-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref>

The lyrics to "Snakes of Christ" tell of Glenn Danzig's view that the teachings of Christ have been perverted by religious groups.<ref name="Faces" /> Glenn Danzig has mentioned in interviews the very noticeable similarity between the main riff from "Snakes of Christ" and that of the later [[Stone Temple Pilots]] song "[[Sex Type Thing]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the7thhouse.com/news/Articles/seconds44.htm|title=Glenn Danzig Interview|first1=Steven|last1=Blush|author-link1=Steven Blush|date=October 1997|publisher=[[Seconds (magazine)|Seconds]]|access-date=December 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814051516/http://www.the7thhouse.com/news/Articles/seconds44.htm|archive-date=August 14, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Regarding the song "Tired of Being Alive", John Christ has suggested that "Lyrically, I think the words are about the way Glenn was feeling at the time."<ref name="Guitar School" /> The remaining songs feature subjects including love, sex and religious themes.<ref name="Faces" />

A song titled "The Other Side" was finished but not released on the album.<ref name="RIP">{{cite web|url=http://misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=rip.790|title=DANZIG Into The Black|last=Chirazi|first=Stefan|date=July 1990|publisher=[[RIP (magazine)|RIP magazine]]|access-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref>

Prior to the album release, Glenn Danzig noted how the band had improved in the interim between the [[Danzig (album)|debut recording]] and the recording of ''Lucifuge'': "Everybody's much more comfortable with each other now.  We've toured with each other, hung with each other. The rhythm section is much tighter. It's just a much better band, and that comes through on the album."<ref name="RIP" />

== Album title ==
Before its release the album had been tentatively titled "777".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=maniacs.90|title=DANZIG: A Helluva Guy|last=Zogbi|first=Marina|date=May 1990|publisher=[[Metal Maniacs]]|access-date=December 6, 2009}}</ref>
The title "Lucifuge" is the [[Imperative mood|imperative]] form of the Latin compound verb ''lucifugere'', "to flee the light", derived from the noun ''''lux'''<nowiki/>' (light) and the verb ''''fugere'''<nowiki/>' (to flee). If the title is to be taken literally, "Lucifuge" is thus a command: "flee the light", a phrase included in the lyrics to the song "Girl". It could also be a reference to the [[Grand Grimoire]] demon [[Lucifuge Rofocale]].

== Artwork and packaging ==
The original full-color "faces" album cover, composed of portrait photographs of the four band members, is featured on most formats: these include the 12" vinyl LP, the audio cassette, and original pressings of the European and Japanese CDs. The most widely distributed format, the North American CD, also features this cover on the external CD [[longbox]] in which original pressings were sold, but its interior CD booklet (like that of later reissues after the longbox had been phased out) features the alternate "chest/cross" album cover, a cropped black-and-white close-up of the photograph of Glenn Danzig found on the back of the LP sleeve and on the interior of all formats. All CD releases feature the "faces" picture on the rear of the CD tray.

Early pressings of the CD include a booklet that unfolds into an [[Cross of St. Peter|inverted cross]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=pulse.90|title=Horror Business|last=Weidenbaum|first=Marc|date=August 1990|publisher=[[Pulse! magazine|Pulse!]]|access-date=February 23, 2010}}</ref> The booklet features the passage "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do", the [[King James Bible|King James]] translation of [[Gospel of John|John]] 8:44.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scripturetext.com/john/8-44.htm|title=John 8:44|publisher=scripturetext.com|access-date=February 23, 2010}}</ref>

The original CD longbox was affixed with a Def American sticker that warned, "Contains Language Which May Be Objectionable To Some Listeners". Newer American Recordings pressings, like those of ''[[Danzig (album)|Danzig]]'', ''[[Thrall-Demonsweatlive]]'', and ''[[Danzig 4|Danzig 4P]]'', have a "Parental Advisory: Explicit Content" warning printed directly on the booklet, even though profanity is mild and infrequent: one use of the word "bastard" in both "Long Way Back From Hell" and "Pain in the World", and the word "bitch" twice in "Her Black Wings").

As with the debut album, ''Lucifuge'' was distributed by [[Geffen Records]], but due to the nature of Danzig's music, the company refused to put its name on the packaging.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=faces1.90|title=DANZIG Into the Light|last=Sherman|first=Lee|date=December 1990|publisher=Faces magazine|access-date=April 3, 2010}}</ref>

== Critical reception ==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|author=Steve Huey |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/danzig-ii-lucifuge-mw0000689957 |title=Danzig II: Lucifuge – Danzig &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref>
| rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]]
| rev2Score = B–{{sfn|Christgau|2000|p=72}}
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3Score = A−<ref name="Sandow" />
| rev4 = ''[[Rock Hard (magazine)|Rock Hard]]''
| rev4Score = 10/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockhard.de/megazine/reviewarchiv/review-anzeigen/11461-lucifuge.html|title=Review anzeigen|work=[[Rock Hard (magazine)|Rock Hard]]|access-date=July 9, 2013|language=de}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{sfn|DeCurtis|Henke|George-Warren|1992|p=177}}
| rev6 = ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Select">{{cite magazine|last=Perry|first=Neil|author-link1=|url=http://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2015/10/albums8.jpg|title=Reviews. The New Discs: Playing Devil's Advocate. Danzig – ''Danzig II: Lucifuge''|magazine=[[Select (magazine)|Select]]|date=July 1990|access-date=1 May 2023|issue=1|pages=89|location=London|publisher=[[EMAP|EMAP Metro]]|via=selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk|issn=0959-8367|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811133119/http://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2015/10/albums8.jpg|archive-date=11 August 2020}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev7Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Brod" />
}}

In a positive review for ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', music critic [[Greg Sandow]] said that the album is stronger than its predecessor and called Danzig "a unique hard rock band that thinks evil dominates the world – and seriously examines the consequences."<ref name="Sandow">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2002/04/05/lucifuge/|title=Lucifuge|last=Sandow|first=Greg|date=July 13, 1990|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=August 27, 2010|archive-date=June 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623202033/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,251008,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[College Music Journal]]'' observed "a dank bluesy influence" which makes "thundering riffs crunch and groove as the band delves into more styles than ever before."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prod1.cmj.com/articles/display_article.php?id=13923|title=Danzig: Danzig II – Lucifuge|date=November 10, 2000|publisher=[[College Music Journal]]|access-date=August 27, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070624192321/http://prod1.cmj.com/articles/display_article.php?id=13923|archive-date=June 24, 2007}}</ref> [[Robert Palmer (American writer)|Robert Palmer]], writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'', called it "one of the most accomplished and absorbing rock albums of the year" and a "quantum leap" for Danzig, whose founder displays a voice that makes "the persona he often assumes in his lyrics, that of evil incarnate, all the more powerful and believable."<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news|last=Palmer|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Palmer (American writer)|date=November 4, 1990|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/04/arts/pop-view-dark-metal-not-just-smash-and-thrash.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm|title=POP VIEW; Dark Metal: Not Just Smash And Thrash|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 9, 2013}}</ref> ''[[Trouser Press]]'' gave the record a positive review "''Lucifuge'' corrects the debut's flaws: Rubin's production is much fleshier, and Glenn exercises the theatrical satanic-pagan muscle-stud angle to entertaining effect. The songs (especially the cool, dank beauty of 'Her Black Wings' and the '50s-style melodic tearjerker, 'Blood and Tears') are consistently stronger; a heavy dose of voodoo blues (the stripped-down 'I'm the One') adds pungent flavor to the thematic and musical brew."<ref name="TrouserPress">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=danzig|title=DANZIG|magazine=[[Trouser Press]]|access-date=October 8, 2013}}</ref> Neil Perry of ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]'' said "twenty listens on and 'Lucifuge' still comes at you with fresh vigour. This is a taut, muscular, cunning and perfectly executed record", giving further praise for the album's range, Glenn Danzig's "powerful vocal howl", and the band's "mastery of their own art".<ref name="Select" /> Sounding a note of disappointment, [[Robert Christgau]] wrote in his review of the album that "Misfits fans had convinced me to hold out some hope for Glenn".{{sfn|Christgau|2000|pp=xvi, 72}}

In 2002, ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' magazine named ''Danzig II'' the 33rd greatest metal album of all time.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|location=New York|page=98|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xfEjLof28w8C&pg=PA98|title=40 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time|date=September 2002|access-date=July 9, 2013}}</ref> The magazine's Doug Brod said that it is "perhaps the best collection of songs on a Glenn Danzig album" and remarked that Rick Rubin "mightily punched up" his production after producing Danzig's debut album.<ref name="Brod">{{cite journal|last=Brod|first=Doug|date=August 2007|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ezn8AaqFtHUC&pg=PA94|title=Discography: Glenn Danzig|journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|location=New York|page=94|access-date=July 9, 2013}}</ref>

== Music videos ==
Music videos were released for the songs "Her Black Wings", "Killer Wolf", "I'm the One" and "Devil's Plaything". Glenn Danzig and Vincent Giordano directed all videos, aside from "Killer Wolf", which was directed by [[Anton Corbijn]]. The video for "I'm the One" includes a scene where Danzig wrestles a live [[alligator]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=faces.691|title=Lucifuge video review|last=Sherman|first=Lee|date=June 1991|publisher=Faces magazine|access-date=December 30, 2011}}</ref> All music videos from the album appeared on the ''Lucifuge'' home video.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.danzig-verotik.com/danzig/discvideo/danzig_vid2.html|title=Lucifuge – Home Video|publisher=Danzig-Verotik.com|access-date=December 27, 2009}}</ref>

== Track listing ==
{{tracklist
| all_writing = [[Glenn Danzig]]
| title1 = Long Way Back from Hell
| length1 = 4:23
| title2 = Snakes of Christ
| length2 = 4:33
| title3 = Killer Wolf
| length3 = 3:59
| title4 = Tired of Being Alive
| length4 = 4:03
| title5 = I'm the One
| length5 = 3:21
| title6 = Her Black Wings
| length6 = 4:46
| title7 = Devil's Plaything
| length7 = 4:13
| title8 = 777
| length8 = 5:39
| title9 = Blood and Tears
| length9 = 4:19
| title10 = Girl
| length10 = 4:12
| title11 = Pain in the World
| length11 = 5:52
| total_length = 49:26
}}

== Credits ==
* [[Glenn Danzig]] – vocals, keyboards
* [[Eerie Von]] – bass
* [[John Christ]] – guitars
* [[Chuck Biscuits]] – drums

=== Production ===
* Producer: [[Rick Rubin]]
* Engineers: Dave Bianco, Sylvia Massy, [[Brendan O'Brien (music producer)|Brendon O'Brien]], Martin Schmelze, Jim Scott
*Mastering: [[George Marino]] at Sterling Sound, New York City

== Charts ==
'''Album''' – [[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] (North America)
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" style="width:550px;"
|-
!  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|Year
!  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|Chart
!  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|Position
|-  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"
||1990
||[[Billboard 200]]
||45
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xVQbszFuEGMC&pg=PA72|title=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s|year=2000|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]]|isbn=0-312-24560-2}}
* {{cite book|last1=DeCurtis|first1=Anthony|author-link1=Anthony DeCurtis|last2=Henke|first2=James|last3=George-Warren|first3=Holly|year=1992|title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide: Completely New Reviews : Every Essential Album, Every Essential Artist|publisher=[[Random House]]|isbn=0-679-73729-4|edition=3rd}}

== External links ==
* {{Discogs master|master=28172|name=Danzig II: Lucifuge|type=album}}

{{Danzig}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Albums produced by Rick Rubin]]
[[Category:American Recordings (record label) albums]]
[[Category:Danzig (band) albums]]
[[Category:1990 albums]]