Customer Reviews

Black Aria II

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Glenn Danzig returns with another foray out of the realm of metal and into that of atmospheric music.

Black Aria II eschews the more traditional orchestral stylings of the original Black Aria and replaces them with a thicker, Middle Eastern sound. Like the original Black Aria (and even moreso on BAII), Glenn's compositions are at times shallow and lacking in dynamic progression. Judged purely on a track by track basis, Black Aria II is a lackluster album. Few of the songs stand out as anything more than background music, and the CD on the whole is very reminiscent of a movie score.

The saving grace of (or best excuse for) Black Aria II is the fact that this is clearly a concept album. Glenn Danzig has a story in his head, and has chosen to express it through an instrumental CD. The song titles themselves offer the only clues as to the content of this story, and the listener's willingness to interpret them will go a long way in determining how much enjoyment that they can get out of this album. Personally, the only song that really grabbed my attention after my first play-through was "Shiddin" (Track 10 on the CD, and still my personal favorite). I was ready to pull it out of my stereo and move on, but I usually spin every new CD two times. At some point during my second listening I got *it,* and the CD didn't end up leaving my stereo for three days.

This is definitely not a CD for everyone (especially fans that are still stuck on Danzig 4). However, for those that are willing to show it a little patience and imagination, BAII offers a dark, compelling journey. (3.5 Stars, rounded up to 4).

To those people who wrote prior reviews, such as, "not what I expected," or "not as powerful as...." well, if you know Glenn Danzig, he's never done what ANYONE has expected him to do. This release is just as powerful as Black Aria I. Although, personally, it would've fit better as the Jaguar God Soundtrack, as he had mentioned before (maybe there's other stuff he has laying around), but for the most part, this record is by and far one of the most impressive things I have heard in quite some time.

Anyone who knows the Black Aria themes should've of known that this is NOT a rock, punk, or any other category, record. It is what it is. I've been following Danzig since '86 (yes, I'm that old), and I have always been blown away by the "things" that transpire in the mind of Mr. Glenn Danzig.

Listen to this record without pretense, without an "expectation," and you might find that this record can be consuming. I'm listening to it NOW, for about the 20th time. I just bought it last night!

Recommended for those who dig Earth, Sunn O))), and any "drone-type" music!

Word,
T

Great album for any fan of Glenn Danzig, classical music or even film scores. Great sounds, voices, and a haunting biblical atmosphere. Far better than the first Black Aria (not to take anything away from that one, however.)
I give this album 5 stars not because it's perfect, but because it's exactly as I expected and I think the artist accomplished what he had in mind.

This is precisely atmospheric music for an eerie embience. Haunting instrumentations go floating into the atmosphere with an etheric grace, manifesting the phantasmagoric muse from antiquity's thrall. A memorable melody underlies the opus throughout, beginning with 'Overture: Winged Night Demon'.

Black Aria II has a very Egyptian/Middle-eastern feel to it, almost 'Necronomicon'-like, wherein one can picture spiraling pillars in some temple of flesh, flickering torch-light upon sinfully hypnotizing contortions, hidden away in ancient wind-blown dunes, where unspeakable horrors emerge from abyssal archways to embrace and consume.

'Unclean Sephira' features a very Diamanda Galas-like voice beckoning the listener to invigorating terrors; 'Bridal Ceremony of The Lilitu' is definitely the gem of the opus, where the strains of the organ blast forth only to give way to a regally demonic procession in all of its unholy splendor. Immediately blending into a spectral dance, both compelling and repulsive; 'Shiddin' unleashes the beast across the sands of time, where shadowy warriors take upon black stallions with sabres, and strange creatures rise from spilled blood from crevasses to devour mortality. 'Zemaragad' employs the theremin to create that quintessential spooky sound for delightful chills and evocative thrills.'Abandonment/Recreation' lends an impression of generating dark forces by chanting echoes from a fathomless pit; Beware the 'Lamia' who will draw your life with a kiss - the music presents a conjuration nicely.

Black Aria II definitely delivers that enthralling darkness we find so pleasant, where visions are projected from deep within the subconscious painting the black canvas with wickedly captivating forms of wonderfully ghoulish fear and lust.

According to mindset, this opus is quite different from the first, which musically illustrated Milton's epic Paradise Lost. Black Aria II definitely accomplishes its particular theme thuroughly.

The original Black Aria is the best album of its type ever recorded, a true epic, symphonic, atmospheric masterpiece loaded with interesting motifs and original sounds. That album is priceless; it is a religious experience to any with the spirit to hear its wonders.

Black Aria II is nothing like it. I knew it probably was going to be pretty bad when I saw the wretched cover art, but I never could have expected anything this pitiful. This record is simply a travesty that should never have been released. It is impossible that an artist of Glenn Danzig's greatness could feel proud of such an effort as this. Honestly, this isn't even music. An intelligent child with a Casio could beat this. That's not an exaggeration. There are no musical ideas on this album at all. Every track just repeats the same absurdly simple sequence of notes or noises over and over and over for a few minutes, and the sound is nothing but third-rate synth darkwave of the kind Mortiis or Dargaard do, only they do it much, much better. This isn't just bad or boring, it is non-music. It wouldn't even do as the background music for a low-budget computer game. However bad you can imagine this being, it is even worse when you actually hear it.

Those who respect (and in my case adore) his former works, please don't pollute your ears and ruin your good memories by listening to this thing...

Very Different from the Metal Danzig l.p's but very relaxing music and good for Ritual practice as well.

Although Black Aria II isn't as rich as BA I it still presents the idea of the concept. You don't have to be a Christian mythology snob to understand the concept of this album but the background on the demoness Lilth or Lillith will help to understand Black Aria II.
One reviewer said that this is mood music and it is. It is Halloween/ouija board/Jinn research music and while it seems to drag on if you'll turn it up and try to 'experience' the album you may 'get it' too.
Unclean Sephira has a rather dirty feeling to it; the same feeling I had from Invocation on the Danzig IV album. Very creepy. I like all of the other tracks as well and understanding the concept really makes Black Aria II a strong album. Probably not for everyone.

BLACK ARIA II is a good album. I think that by calling it "BAII", Glenn automatically pre-set people's opinions and reactions about this album. To clarify, the fact that BLACK ARIA itself was a classical album in the vein of Wagner, I think that that was what people were expecting. What Glenn has delivered is something that is much more akin to a horror movie soundtrack (THE OMEN is a fave of his, after all) or, perhaps more specifically, a minimalist-type musicality (like Philip Glass, for example).
It took me a few listens to truly appreciate the strength of the music he has created here. I think it is all-too easy to just dismiss it or criticize it outright.
The fact that the majority of the album revolves around the same musical motif or theme is not a weakness. Just a stylistic choice that serves to enhance the theme/story that Danzig wishes to convey.
As to the cover art -- Bill Sienkiewicz is a truly talented, gifted artist. Any criticism of his artistry is a reflection of a narrow view. I like Simon Bisley, but I think Bill's cover for BAII is much more potent and chilling than the SATANS CHILD (sic) cover. But that is just my opinion. They are both fine artists, each with individual styles and strengths.

It seems like this album was written as a meditative aid as opposed to an album written for recreational listening. If you don't have that expectation going in, your reaction will likely be "What's the point?," and you'll be dissapointed by what you hear. Other reviewers who didn't like it pretty much nailed it right on the money when describing the sound. It's minimalist, repetetive, and droney. The best way to describe this is that it's like new age music, but with a dark vibe, instead of light and airy like the majority of music from that genre. If you're open to such an idea then go for it, but if that kind of thing doesn't float your boat, save your money. This is similar in style to Karl Sanders' (the guy from Nile) Saurian Meditation cd, if that helps describe it. I've always had a restless, hyperactive mind since I was young, and over the years I've discovered the benefit of cds like this, because they help relax me and chill me out without using drugs. If you let it, this disc will put you in a trance. The more I listen to it, the more I believe that this is the purpose of it. I gave it a 5 because it's very effective in what I think its designed to do.

This is a masterpiece of a composition, an atmospheric journey into darkness. Worth checking out.