Customer Reviews

Final Descent

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you've found previous SAMHAIN works to be to your liking then you won't be disappointed with FINAL DESCENT. This album doesn't diviat from the other SAMHAIN releases & actually contains the whole EP-UNHOLY PASSION (tracks 6-9 & 11 were released as the EP UNHOLY PASSION back in 85 but in different versions). FINAL DESCENT is well worth the price escpecially if you don't have the UNHOLY PASSION material tacked on the end of your INITIUM tape (released in 86) or on the CD version from 87. Other than those repeat songs the other 6 tracks had never been released before. Look forward as well to the much anticipated SAMHAIN BOX SET which will be packed with all previous releases, unreleased material (SAMHAIN recorded most of DANZIG's first album, let's see how they sounded before RICK RUBIN got ahold of them) & a live video!

Like others have said before, this is not Samhain's best work. The original version of "Final Descent" contained the first five tracks on this CD and the rest was filled out with the "Unholy Passion" EP. But now "Unholy Passion" is available on its own (and is worth picking up) and this CD is rounded out with 4 demos, 3 of which ended up becoming Danzig (the band) songs. To me, most of this sounds like it could be a Danzig demo or outtake CD more than a Samhain album. Any one of these songs, with a little work, could have ended up as a Danzig tune. In fact, original Danzig guitarist John Christ is featured on 4 of the first 5 songs (and original Danzig bassist Eerie Von was the only constant member of Samhain, aside Glenn Danzig himself). Danzig himself plays drums, guitar, keyboards, and sings on the first 5 songs, too. As for the new demos tacked on, I believe Steve Zing and Damien are playing with the band, but I'm not sure. There are no credits on this re-release.

This one is really for Samhain and Danzig enthusiasts. Anyone interested in getting into Samhain is best off starting anywhere else.

THIS IS SOME OF DANZIG'S FINEST WORK.ALSO THE LAST OF THE ALBUMS BY THIS GROUP; THE BAND WOULD GO ON TO BECOME KNOWN AS DANZIG. WRITTEN BY GLENN; THESE SONGS SERVED TO BRING US ALL ANOTHER TWISTED X-MAS, WITH ALL THE SOUNDS OFHORROR AND THE NOT SO IFREQUENT CHORUS OF PAIN-FILLED MOANING. ADD TO THIS ANASSORTMENT OF SLOW-GROOVE PUNK SONGS AND YOU ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO SONIC HEAVEN.HIGH POINTS INCLUDE: A REMAKE OF THE MISFIITS CLASSIC ALL HELL[YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE LYRICS], AND THE BEAUTIFUL MISERY TOMB[GOTTA LOVE THAT MOANING]. IT IS A SHAME TO SEE THAT THESE SAMHAIN ALBUMS ARE OUT OF PRINT.HOPEFULLY, GLENN AND CAROLINE RECORDSCAN RECTIFY THIS SOON.

If you love Samhain as much as I do, You'll really dig the tracks Descent, andDeath...In It's Arms. Lords of the Left hand and The Birthing are pretty cool too.

I'm quite a fan of Misfits, Samhain & Danzig but this cd was quite a dissapointment,there are good tracks but songs such as Trouble sound incomplete and mismatched. The standout tracks are Death...in its arms, The Birthing and Possession. Maybe a cd for completists but i think a better introduction to Samhain would be Initium. Glenn Danzig is a talent beyond belief and his earlier solo work is fantastic but this cd shows his flaws!

This was where Danzig was heading after the Misfits....some of the songs later became Danzig hits. Awesome band. Danzig is a metal god!

So in 1990, Glenn Danzig had his own "solo" band, Danzig. He had a few old Samhain songs left over though, and there was some demand for the band since the debut had been so successful (Danzig Self-titled). So what does he do? He releases some of the recordings made BETWEEN Samhain and Danzig, and also records an ADDITIONAL Samhain song with the current lineup of Danzig. Confusing? Of course with all matters Glenn and the voluminous disography that he's had it can be, but here's an explaination. For a short while (86, 87), Samhain was basically Glenn and Eerie Von seeking out new members. For awhile they had London May on drums (from November Coming Fire) and John Christ on additional guitars. They recorded a few demos for what was going to be the final Samhain album(hence, "Final Descent"), Samhain Grim. Chuck Biscuits and Rick Rubin then entered the picture as well, so Samhain was no more and the band (now called Danzig) recorded their debut using all new songs. But there were still songs left over. So what does he do? He basically goes to the Samhain vault and finishes some of the stuff (some was done with drum machine when Samhain was drummerless) and also records an ADDITIONAL song, Death in its Arms with the current Danzig lineup. Half the guitars on here are Glenn, half John Christ, so basically what we have is a "bridge" album between Samhain and Danzig!

And what an album it is! "Night Chill" could be a theme for a non-existent Hellraiser sequel, "Descent" is a thrashy epic featuring some awesome axe-work from the aforementioned Christ.

Whats so cool about the album is this mix of elements. Since it has Christ it has some of the bluesy parts and shreddy solos, but it also has the gothic atmosphere of Samhain.

Its short, but sweet (at 5 songs). I preferred when it was issued with Unholy Passion as the rest of the tracks (on cassette that means side one, Final Descent, side 2 Unholy Passion) but this will do as well (have it in the box set.

As far as the extra tracks on this edition, we have Lords of the Left Hand (an early version, probably the November... Lineup recording it), Elvis's Trouble (with a drum machine, I prefer the later Danzig version because it doesn't have the goofy keyboards and this is DEFINITELY supposed to be a demo), and early versions of Twist of Cain and Possession. These two versions are interesting because they show just how much impact the Danzig Lineup (these were done with the earlier Samhain lineup more than likely) and Rick Rubin had on Danzig's songwriting. Possession is the better of the two, because Twist of Cain I just can't get used to compared to the actual Danzig version.

So is it worth it? I would say along with Initium this is the best Samhain Album, with November Coming Fire coming very close.

I hope the box set (and reissues) get rereleased soon so that we can all share in the dark delight that was Samhain!

Every Samhain album is solid gold, but Final Descent may be my favorite. It fuses what was best about Samhain and what is best about Danzig into one unholy beast! It has Danzig's good production values and a heavier Danzig-esque sound while keeping the some of Samhain's general "vibe" and attitude. In my opinion Lords of the Left Hand, Death...In It's Arms, Descent, Night Chill, and Unholy Passion (that infectious as hell drum beat!!) are among Danzig's best stuff ever. I don't get why this album is routinely snubbed in favor of the albeit excellent Initium and November-Coming-Fire. If you like anything Danzig has done, outside of Misfits (casual misfits fans who don't like danzig's followup stuff, AVOID!) pick this up! I COMMAND YOU!

THIS IS GLENNS LAST ALBUMS WITH SAMHAIN.THERE IS NO INDICDICATION THAT GLENN WOULD CHANGE HIS STYLE SO FAST,BUT LET ME SAY THAT THIS ALBUM CAPTURES THE ATMOSPHERE OF PURE DARKNESS,AND RELIVES THE SOUL OF ALL WHO WILL LET IT STOP FROM SPREADING IT'S GLORIOUS BLACK WINGS!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you get this cd in soon i need it i am a Danzig Maniac and i need every cd Danzig has been on Samhain is the best ive ever heard of Danzig