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Class 6(66)

Danzig: III - How the gods kill

30/09/09  ||  Daemonomania

Introduction

After reviewing three of Danzig’s “classic four”, I now seek to complete the circle (or square) by covering III. Why the wait? Wellllllll, the third piece of plastic from New Jersey’s most lovable little devil worshiper is my least favorite. “How the gods chill” is a step in between the classic rockin’ greatness of “Lucifuge” and the interesting semi-industrial experiments of “IV”, but doesn’t seem to have the winning charm of either. Still there are some magnificently midgety moments on here, so into the Class it goes.

Songwriting

7.5. When Glenn Frey gets it right, he takes that songwriting pigskin to the endzone. And when he fails, his freethrow average plummets. And in the rare case where the tunes are mediocre, it is sticky fucken wickets all the way. As stated, “III” is a bit on the experimental side and doesn’t always benefit from it. Kinda like the Doors’ “The soft parade”. Take a winning formula, tinker with it a bit, and see if you get cheeseburgers or tripe. Mostly burgers in Danzig’s case. You’ve got the ominous title track, which always sends a chill up my spine when they hit that first big riff, the hilariously sing-along “Heart of the devil,” pretty ballad “Sistinas” (good funeral song), and the ripping “Do you wear the mark?” in the endzone category. “Anything,” “Dirty black summer”, and “When the dying calls” fall into the sticky region. You can guess which tunes end up looking like Shaq on the foul line. Did you know I hate sports and know jack shit about them? Bet you could guess.

Production

7. Pretty darn good. Not overly clear and crystallized like things could get on “IV”, not murky like “I”, but lacks the punch of “II”. There’s gonna be a lot of Roman numerals in this review. Maybe more than in TPH’s band name. Who knows? Anyhoo, the doom and gloom shines through while allowing you to hear everything. Asking for more would be folly.

Guitars

7.5. The Christman was coming into his own at this point. Despite some songwriting choices he probably didn’t make, you can tell the man knows how to suggestively rub the fretboard. Solos exist, “Do you wear the mark” is almost thrashy, but mostly the other J.C. is content to pump out the rock and doom riffs that keep your ears happy. I’ll ask again, what is this guy up to now? If you guessed making fun of Smalley, you’re probably right.

Vocals

9. It’s fucken Danzig. Pre-sucking. Gotta be good. He’s just starting to hit that range in his voice which suggests weight and age gain. Not to bring up The Doors again, but this shift in tone reminds me of Jim Morrison circa “Morrison Hotel” quite a bit. Danzo’s crooning on “Sistinas” is executed to perfection, the cheese of his lines and the conviction with which he delivers them in “Heart of the devil” is pure Hellvis, and on the title track he manages to convey an aura of mysterious rituals being performed just out of sight. He cannot be successfully imitated.

Bass

7. Lake Eerie also shows signs of improvement, and gets some time to play amidst some of the stranger interludes on “III”. Stage name alone gives this dude a 5, so it’s all just gravy from there on in.

Drums

7. Another member of the classic lineup, Chuck was not a bad drummer at all but nothing jaw-dropping takes place on “How the gods bill you for your home theater installation”. Again it might have something to do with the odd and unconventional song structures. Limp Chuckscuits probably did his best skinbashing on “II”.

Lyrics

9. Danzig’s always done an impressive job of talking about the occult without being too explicit. And throwing in just the necessary amount of toughguy spice to officially qualify his lyrical chicken sandwiches as Cajun. Most of the sex stuff has hit the skids to be replaced by performing arcane rituals, loving and being loved by evil, and other such awesome topics. Can’t beat plain and simple lines like:

Devil on the left
Angel on the right
There is no mistake
Who I’ll be with tonight

Cover art

9. Watch out Ripley! The queen grew a snake and is totally ambiguous about her sexuality! H.R. Giger is a cool motherfucker fo sho.

Logo

0. There is no logo on the front cover. So a zero. Glenn, you are so avant grabass ye Rider of Bro-han.

Booklet

9. The cover art folds out into a larger image that is sexy in a dirty “Alien” sort of way. Lyrics are inside. Had this one for a long time, so I kinda forget the rest but remember it was cool. Maybe if it folds out to be over a foot high, there is a scale image of Danzig himself in there somewhere.

Overall and ending rant

Everyone loves Danzig’s first four, and the strong material outweighs the eh and the mediocre on “III”. A worthy addition to your collection without a doubt. If you just got “Lucifuge,” well firstly you’re a noob and secondly you’ll be disappointed. If you’ve got some of ‘Zig’s more recent discs you’re still a noob, but this will seem a billion times more awesome. If you’re cool you’ve already got “I-IV”, this review will simply serve to awaken nostalgia and might cause you to spin it again. Lastly, to fulfill my quota for height-based personal insults within these reviews: Danzig is short.

7,5

  • Information
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Def American
  • Website: www.danzig-verotik.com
  • Band
  • Glenn Danzig: vocals and keyboards
  • John Christ: guitars
  • Eerie Von: bass
  • Chuck Biscuits: drums
  • Tracklist
  • 01. Godless
  • 02. Anything
  • 03. Bodies
  • 04. How the Gods Kill
  • 05. Dirty Black Summer
  • 06. Left Hand Black
  • 07. Heart of the Devil
  • 08. Sistinas
  • 09. Do You Wear the Mark?
  • 10. When the Dying Calls

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