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22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Victim of his own Standards, September 2, 2004
Like most of you, I purchased Circle of Snakes the day it came out, and like most of you, I rushed right home to listen to it. The cover was different, and looked more like a Black Metal album cover, and the contents therein were a mix of the usual Danzig imagery and the artwork of some newer BM releases. So I was intrigued - but my first spin through the disk was a disappointment. I didn't let this deter me, because I have a habit of being disappointed with the first listens of the last few albums, but over time, have learned to like each one (though I'll admit I still have some issues with 5.). The same here. I left it alone all day, and checked it out later that night, and...
The album is heavy, no doubt helped out by Tommy Victor, and sometimes, as others have mentioned, Glenn's vocals are lost in the maelstrom. I noticed others have stated that John Christ's guitar played suited him but, but remember the Samhain albums, and several of the Misfits albums (Earth A.D.) were mixed the same way. I think the main problem is the absence of Rick Rubin, who seemed to know Glenn's vocal strengths well. Think, we went from Samhain to You and Me from the Less Than Zero soundtrack - did you ever hear Glenn's voice as powerful as that. Since Danzig's split with American, the voice has never sounded the same. Glenn does tend to sing more here than on the last couple, but his voice isn't nearly as strong. Most likely that's just age catching up.
I don't consider this as good as 1-4, and right now, maybe not as good as 7, which I enjoyed alot of the Misfits-like wo-oh's. Circle of Snakes definitely brings back an older style of song structurings, and the vocal melodies are reminiscent of 1-4, but the guitars are as heavy as can be. I like the album and I think it will copntinue to grow on me.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If It Must Be So, Go Out On A High Note, September 14, 2004
Let me clear this up immediately: Danzig will never top "III: How The Gods Kill". The mere notion that ANYONE thinks that this is possible is propping themselves up to be let down hard. Though I've owned every Danzig album ever released and have enjoyed them all; sans Blackacidevil, to varying degrees, I'm content knowing that Danzig III is Glenn's "Abbey Road". All I ask from Danzig is to just be Danzig and since the release of "Satans Child", I haven't had to do much asking. Even though I admire Glenn for standing by "Blackacidevil", the album was a complete mess but, in many ways, it is his ability to not back down from anyone or anything that has endeared me to him and his music for the past 16 years.
Unlike many artists, even when Danzig is at his most experimental and unorthodox, it is completely obvious who is behind the music you are hearing. Any of Glenn's true fans know the trials of getting the music to the people who follow his near 30-year career which; to me, makes it all that much more satisfying to hear his anger resonate through the speakers. From "Blackacidevil", Danzig has weened off of the electronics that encompassed that album. "Satans Child" was a healthy blend of more modern, compressed guitar tones with some of the bluesier riffing and the electronics took a supporting role. With album 7 and in a more pronounced fashion on his latest "Circle Of Snakes, Danzig has stripped all of the electronics out of the mix for a full-on guitar assault with hints of hautning keyboard accompaniments.
One of the aspects that the listener will notice almost immediately is the much heavier and darker guitar tone on "Circle Of Snakes". The production is much more raw and though I've heard of complaints on the vocals being too low in the mix, it really only presents a problem on the second song "Skin Carver". Some of the tracks have feeling that can only be mustered in Danzig's first 4 recordings and his vocals are much improved over "I Luciferi". To his credit, I will list each track individually to further enhance the overall color that "Circle Of Snakes" bears.
1. Wotans Procession - Basically, this is an instrumental track with some keyboard interludes and haunting moans behind the sinister riff. Nice opener.
2. Skin Carver - Despite the vocals not being mixed high enough for my liking, this song crushes. It is one of the heaviest Danzig songs to date without trying to stray from the sound captured on his past few releases.
3. Circle Of Snakes - Though much heavier, it has a more up-tempo rhythm that's similar to his earlier albums. Catchy, memorable chorus.
4. 1000 Devils Reign - Again, another one of the songs where the music becomes secondary. Glenn's voice carries the music throughout this one.
5. Skull Forest - A pretty moody track with great atmosphere. This whole track is fronted by Glenn's more eery and Morrison-esque vocal tone.
6. HellMask - Another fast one. It kind of gets lost in amidst the more interesting tracks on either side of it but holds it's own with the massive chorus.
7. When We Were Dead - One of my favorites. I find Danzig at his best when he lets his haunting voice take over.
8. Night, BeSodom - Vocally, a good mix of his singing and more gruff vocals. Musically, this is a more up-tempo song that balances well with the more brooding and crushing tracks.
9. My Darkness - Has a pounding rhythm that holds up well enough. Glenn's lyrics are a little bit lacking here though.
10. Netherbound - Another early favorite, combining a crushing riff with interesting vocal subtlties.
11. Black Angel, White Angel - If I had to pick an absolute favorite, this song is the clear winner. Everything hear is the closest to classic Danzig as you can get without the help of John Christ, Chuck Biscuits and Eerie Von. Best album closer since Danzig II.
I'll admit that I am biased. I am clearly willing to give Glenn Danzig multiple chances that are reserved for those artists like Slayer and Iron Maiden that have done more to change my life than anyone else. Bias notwithstanding, "Circle Of Snakes" is my favorite Danzig album since "VI".
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The good and the bad about this cd, plain and simple., September 5, 2004
First off, artists tend to re-cycle things. Danzig has yoked two other songs out of Twist of Cain's mold. First on Lucifuge he had "Snakes of Christ" with the same bluesy descending type of riff with the auto-harmonics tweaked in for effect, and now the title song for his new album. But, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, the chorus riff from Killer Wolf had been around (albeit in a different key) since All Murder All Guts All Fun.
That is generally the tone of this album. Danzig claims it doesn't have a theme, but the theme seems to be an updated nostalgia. Not that all the songs sound like things he has done before, just a general feel. There is something from almost every stage of his songwriting career.
At different points while listening to this, I felt a twinge of Samhain, or a little bit of Misfits - not really the song structure or the sound, but a general feel. Skull Forrest, done with a more punky delivery could have been a Misfits song for it's message. It's like the collection has grown since "Skulls" and now there's a whole forrest of them. In style and feel certain songs have an almost elegiac tone to them (Netherbound, When We Were Dead)
I only have two complaints with this cd. Some of the lyrics seem a bit "bottom of the barrell". "I want to creepy-crawl across your town" and "Come down and lay in the danger"....and then the "Blackrock, spirals down this reptile highway..." = Honestly, if any other singer besides Danzig was delivering some of these lines, I wouldn't be able to tolerate it too long. My other complaint is the length of this cd, but that complaint rides for most of his stuff. Danzig 1 only had ten tracks, and Lucifuge only had 11...I guess I was a bit spoiled by I Luciferi's track count.
All the songs are well put together, and Glenn's voice sounds alot stronger then it has for a while. Hellmask stands out for me, because I've wanted a song like that for a while. Something with riffs you would expect to hear a some stereotypical metal grunting and growling over, but instead getting to hear Danzig going all out. The whispered part in the middle is one of my favorite parts of the whole disc.
Bottom line, not once was I really dissapointed with this CD. Personally this one has a higher replay value for me then 6 or 7 because the main draw for me is Danzig's voice, which sounds so much better here. Yes, it reminds me of some of his older stuff in places but there is more then enough "new" here. Buy it, and unless you absolutely hate the way Danzig sings, or you hate heavy guitar rock/metal you'll get more then your money's worth out of it.
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by Danzig 
