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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The soundtrack of doomsday., November 14, 2003
Most know Glenn Danzig's second band, Samhain, as the bridge from his Misfits sound to what you hear today. Initium takes the darker side of the Misfits, fuses it with hardcore, goth and rock, injects it with a strong dose of Paganism and brings it all together with that voice.The result: the music black magic rituals and the end of the world should have playing in the background. Unsuspecting metalheads might not get it. Newer Fiends might not know what to suspect. But for the uninitiated who are willing to take a step beyond the normal conventions of punk rock/hardcore, this album can consume the soul. Right away, Glenn separates himself from his former bandmates with an opening speech that dissolves into the pagan chant 'Samhain'. Songs like 'Black Dream', 'The Shift' and 'The Howl' are dark nightmares, full of vivid imagery, while 'All Murder, All Guts, All Fun' and 'Horror Biz' (originally a Misfits cut) are more aggressive. 'Macabre' and 'He-Who-Can-Not-Be-Named' are more paganistic anthems. 'Archangel' is a melancholy finish, sinister and foreboding - and a hint of what's to come from Glenn Danzig. Like the approaching doom on Halloween night, Initium grooves dark and haunting...
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most evil incarnations of the Danzig legacy..., April 24, 2005
And it's playfulness only makes it that much more disturbing, with lyrics like "And the way the art starts to imitate life, at the end of a gun, at the edge of a knife." makes it an instant classic. Although I cant really recommend this to fans of the Misfits or, much less, the new Misfits because its divinely hardcore status and macabre aura ripped right out of a satanic ritual, make no mistake, this is darkness unveiled. But dont get me wrong it is NOT death metal in the vein of Sayer becauase it is actually very melodic and not even that fast. Its just well...gruesome..like getting your soul put through a meat grinder. Makes bands like Marilyn Manson look tame..
And for that idiot who gave it one star because he thought it was a harmonica playin artist which he so tragically idolizes, you can file his review under "not applicable". Anyone who could actually mistake three shirtless blood soaked men on a cover for everyones favorite blues harmonica player deserves every bit of legal injustice he waves on himself. I recommned reading more of this guy's reviews, its hilarious. I can't tell if hes joking or if he truly is a pathological moron.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Transition from the Misfits, March 23, 2004
There will never be any recordings darker than any of Samhain /Danzig's albums. "Initium" puts to shame any black metal or death metal album. After listening to this album, everything else considered "evil" will sound silly.
Danzig's voice never sounded better than on "Initium" and it kept evolving on the following Samhain albums. His voice easily defies any production value that could take away from it. His howls are just frightening as a wolf after a fresh kill.
The pagan themes are perfectly matched by the music, which makes it very primitive and cold. The fuzzy, simple guitars cut through the soul. The simple beat is like the march of the dead.
The beginning track is an audio apocalypse. Those who look deep will discover a twisted sense of humor in "All Murder, All Guts, All Fun" and "Horror Business".
The ending tracks, "Archangel" and "The Howl", are classics. No Goth band could possibly top these songs. The eerie, gloomy, aggressive feeling comes to a head to close the album.
Even if you listen to "Initium" during the day, it will feel like its night time. If you listen to this album during the summer, it will feel like winter.
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by Samhain 
