Lost Tracks of Danzig [2 LP Vinyl]

Danzig | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (July 8, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Evilive Records
• ASIN: B001AI1QQI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,712 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Pain Is Like An Animal

2. When Death Had No Name (1st Version)

3. Angel of the Seventh Dawn

4. You Should Be Dying

5. Cold, Cold Rain

6. Buick McKane

7. When Death Had No NamE (1992 version)

8. Satan's Crucifiction

9. The Mandrake's Cry

10. White Devil Rise

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Lick the Blood off My Hands

2. Crawl Across Your Killing Floor

3. I Know Your Lie

4. Caught in My Eye

5. Cat People (Keep Putting Out Fires)

6. Bound by Blood

7. Who Claims the Soulless

8. Malefical

9. Soul Eater

10. Dying Seraph

See all 13 tracks on this disc

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100 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Long Awaited Lost Tracks Does Not Dissapoint, July 10, 2007

By 

Joe H. (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lost Tracks Of Danzig (2CD) (Audio CD)

It was around 1998, I want to say, when the idea of a Danzig boxed set was floated around by Glenn himself that would contain a bunch of unreleased material spanning his solo career up to that point. It was around the same time that former Danzig/Samhain bassist Eerie Von had his own hot-line and would play unreleased Danzig songs in the background much to the delight of fans. Some really promising stuff was present on those hot-line recordings (specifically the ballad "Cold, Cold Rain") and ever since then fans have been dying to get a hold of this material.

Here we are, nearly 10 years later, and the Lost Tracks of Danzig has finally been released. It took a lot of legal action, some label shopping, numerous delays, and several trips to the recording studio to get it here but the wait has paid off. It would be hard to review this as an album, because it's not, it's a collection of songs much like a greatest hits album, so the only way to really review this is to go song by song. I'll rate each song on a numerical scale ranging from 1 to 5. Each rating will carry a specific meaning outlined below:

5 = Exceptional Danzig, one of the best songs he's ever done.
4 = Essential, this song should have been on the album it was recorded for and is a must have for Danzig fans.
3 = Good, careful consideration should have been made as to whether or not this should have been included on the album it was recorded for.
2 = Filler, not bad, but one can see why it was left off initially.
1 = there's a reason why this was never released up until now.

Now, onto the songs which are presented on the album in chronological order, though with some debate:

Pain is Like an Animal (4 stars) - Sometimes referred to as "Pain is Such a Loving Thing" (which is the chorus). This was originally recorded as part of the last Samhain sessions (the same ones which spawned "Twist of Cain," "Possession," etc) and was recorded multiple times. Glenn claims this is the version from the first Danzig record, though the vocals place it more around the time of Danzig III. Nevertheless, it's a great rockin' tune that has a good drive to it. The production isn't perfect, but this is an old recording. At any rate, it would have probably made both Danzig and Danzig III better records had it been included the first time around. A great song to get started with.

When Death Had No Name '88 (2.5 stars) - Another song that was recorded for several different albums, here it is present in two forms. The original 1988 version and the one previously released on the Dirty Black Summer Single. It's a very slow tempo song that picks up towards the end. Most people are probably already familiar with this tune. It's pretty good, but the version from '92 is a little better which is why I gave it a 2.5 rating.

Angel of the Seventh Dawn (3 stars) - A song that takes its name from the old Danzig Fan Club. It's a nice blues-based rock song from the Danzig II sessions and definitely worthy of being on an album. Unfortunately for this song, it was recorded for Danzig II, arguably the best album Danzig has ever made, and there just wasn't any room for it. Especially considering a more deserving song was left off as it is. This one features some imaginative lyrics about a guardian angel and has really good pacing. A nice solo from John Christ caps it off before a powerful outro where Glenn's vocals shine.

You Should Be Dying (2 stars) - It starts off sounding like a Black Sabbath riff before going into a faster tempo complete with trademarked Danzig guitar squalls. The vocals are not very good, and I question if these were recorded in '90 or more recently. Not to say Glenn's voice is poor at this stage of his career, but the mix just isn't strong. The chorus is repetitive, and ultimately the song just isn't that interesting, though it will get stuck in your head from time to time.

Cold, Cold Rain (5 stars) - Probably the most eagerly anticipated song on this release. This is another song from the Danzig II sessions. It's basically a 50's era ballad. What sets it apart from other songs from this era of Danzig are the vocals which really shine. Apart from perhaps "You and Me" from the Less Than Zero soundtrack, this is the best vocal performance from Glenn at this point of his career. The song starts off quiet and has nice buildup throughout culminating in a patented Danzig wailing outro. Fans shouldn't be dissappointed with this one!

Buick McKane (3 stars) - This is a TRex cover from the Danzig III sessions. It was supposed to be released as a B-side but never was for some reason. It has a great main riff and Glenn brings out a little bit of the rock-a-billy voice for this one. Just a solid rocker. If I had one complaint about it it's that it drags on at the end and it's easy to lose interest.

When Death Had No Name '92 (3 stars) - Very similar to the other version, but with better vocals and stronger playing all around. Most have probably heard this one as it was previously released as a B-side for "Dirty Black Summer." Needless to say, it's a solid Danzig tune and worthy of re-release.

Satan's Crucifiction (4 stars) - It's 1994, and the band is coming off it's first commercial hit with "Mother '93" and it's time to record what would become Danzig 4p. Some executives at American Recordings see this as the time to really catapult the band into the spotlight, and they don't want to mess it up, so the band is asked not to make the new record "satanic." From this we get "Satan's Crucifiction," a song recorded just to mess with the execs over at American Recordings and it was never meant to get released, and yet, it's pretty awesome. It definitely could have taken the place of a song like "Sadistikal" on Danzig 4p but they chose not to do anything with it. It's very slow, but very heavy, and the lyrics are pure metal cheese but the song is a lot of fun. I'll admit, I had low expectations going in but I came away impressed.

Mandrake's Cry (3 stars) - This song is also from Danzig 4p. It's simple, and pretty straightforward but something about it just works. The mix could have been better on the vocals, but they get the job done. It's a song about a mandrake who lures people into death with his/her lullaby. An interesting concept and not something I'd expect from Danzig, perhaps that's why it was never released until now?

White Devil Rise (1 star) - I'll let you read the liner notes or one of the many recent interviews where the story behind this song is revealed. It is probably the most interesting thing about the song, and while it's intentions are fine the song still sounds like an anthem for the KKK. That I don't care about so much as the song just sounds unfinished and the chorus is obnoxious (he just screams "White! Devil! Rise!"). Definitely a song I could do without and one I skip over frequently.

Come to Silver (Acoustic) (4 stars) - An acoustic version of a song that appeared on Danzig 5: Blackacidevil. The album version featured some excellent guitar work from Jerry Cantrell. I'm told he played on this version as well, though it hardly matters since the strumming is pretty simple. Sadly, the vocals for this version were either never recorded or too deteriorated to use here so Glenn had to re-do them. The new vocals sound fine, it's more of a talking song than a sing-a-long like "I'm the One," but just to better place it in the time period it was recorded I would have liked to have had the original vocal track here. As an acoustic song, one can really hear how Glenn envisioned this to sound if it had been recorded by Johnny Cash (which is whom the song was written for) and it's a great song, both here and on Danzig 5. I still prefer the version on Danzig 5, but this is a great song in it's own right.

Deep (2/3 stars) - I gave this song two ratings, and I'll explain why. Compared to most Danzig songs, this is more of a 2 star rating as it's not really an exceptional recording. However, given that this was recorded with the other songs from Danzig 5, it would have made Blackacidevil a better record had it been included. A remix would later appear on the Blackacidevil re-issue though. This version was orignally released on the X-Files soundtrack "Songs in the Key of X." The vocals are clean with industrial elements in the background. It gets loud for the chorus but the song never really goes anywhere. It pretty much is the definition of a filler track.

Warlok (4 stars) - I could have given this one two ratings as well, as it is pretty close to a 5 star rating given that it is from the Blackacidevil recording sessions, but I went with a 4 across the board. This one surprised me and will probably surprise most when they hear it. It's pretty simple but just has a nice melody throughout and the vocals are clean and soft. It's a great closing track for the first disc. I imagine it didn't make it onto Blackacidevil originally because it sounds too much like a closing track and Blackacidevil already has a great closing track in "Ashes."

Lick the Blood off My Hands (3 stars) - The first track from disc 2, and the first from Danzig 6. It's a slow, deliberate song but with an evil blues touch. To me, this is what "Hint of Her Blood" from Danzig 5 should have sounded like. A nice way to kick off disc 2.

Crawl Across Your Killing Floor (5 stars) - Awesome song! I don't know why it never made it onto Danzig 6, but this is a great song. It's long by Danzig standards, nearly 7 minutes, but it doesn't feel long. The guitar work is also impressive. Even though session guitarist Jeff Chambers played on Danzig 6, I am told the guitars for this were recorded later by... Read more ›

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Danzig's best album?, July 16, 2007

By 

king wolf (Jotunheim) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Lost Tracks Of Danzig (2CD) (Audio CD)

The definition of an album has changed, I think, due to technology. It's so easy to mix and match tracks these days, does anybody but dinosaurs like me actually ever listen to records in their original order? Aren't there a lot of "albums" these days that take the form of nothing but a computer download? If an album doesn't even really physically exist, what is an "album", anyway?

For that reason, I decided to approach this double-cd set as a double album. My rationale was this: could a reasonably consistent and coherent album be constructed simply by arranging the track selection in an order other than the chronological (as presented in the original)? If so, how good would the result be?

The answers: yes, and great. This might even be Danzig's best album, which obviously means its an instant classic by any reasonable standard. This is Danzig's White Album, his Exile on Main St., his Physical Graffiti (only far more interesting than all that old fossilized rock, of course).

First on an album, obviously, we need a killer opener. We have the best he has ever written in "White Devil Rise" (if that one doesn't get your blood pumping, you're not a real Danzig fan. It has an impressive, almost progressive structure, with a time change into a break. And what an amazing break, the best I recall on any Danzig record. Don't worry about the politically correct, conformist hacks who downgrade this album because of this song; the riff is a little recycled (from Pain in the World) but man, is it ever pure evil old-fashioned Danzig just the way we like it, and his vocals on this track are incredibly aggressive).

Power ballad? Check. Danzig's purest and best power ballad is here, "Cold, Cold Rain"; it edges "Blood and Tears" and "Sistinas" by an angel hair, but it is better. (Also a perfect album closer; it should have been on Lucifuge). And "Bound by Blood", which is on here, is also in the elite league of classic Danzig ballads. It features some of the most beautiful and intelligent lyrics he has ever written, though almost Manowar-ish in their point of view. "Dying Seraph" (a typical Danzig soft-to-loud track) isn't bad, either.

How about an acoustic changeup along the lines of "I'm the One"? We got that covered, and with a better song: the best version ever made of "Come to Silver". This one is a little superior to Johnny Cash's version of the Danzig-penned "13", which it recalls sonically, just because Danzig's voice is even better than the Man in Black's, in my view. Glenn sings every word very clearly on this one, unusual for him, but very effective. Superb.

Of course, we need some songs with monster hooks in the bulk of the album to fill the role of singles. No problem. "When Death Had No Name", which might just be the very best Danzig song, and with his doomiest-ever riff, makes its debut on an album at last (I remember being amazed that he left this off III after it appeared as the B-side of the "Dirty Black Summer" single.) "Satan's Crucifiction" is another sinister tune worthy of the Danzig name (the riff is the most evil on any song ever that is not named "Snakes of Christ"), as are the double whammy of "Malefical" and "Soul Eater". These are the ones that caught me right away, at least, but there are a number of other strong songs, enough to form a heart of the lineup the `27 Yankees would envy. (By the way, it seems like these discs have a disproportionate amount of relatively upbeat rockers, at least by Danzig standards. "Lick the Blood off My Hands", for example, lives up to the nickname "Evil Elvis", with a 50's-ish verse melody. "Pain is Like An Animal" is just awesome straight-up hard rock and should have been the opener of Danzig I. And the "Buick McKane" cover had my jaw on the floor. As much as I liked the original Danzig band, I never thought they could just go out and absolutely smoke performance-wise like this).

I was quite pleasantly surprised to hear that there's very little of the electronic goofing around that marred the second (bad) half of the Danzig run of albums, even on the tracks from that era; and that his pipes evidently were in better shape than I had thought at the time. All these songs have his voice right up front of the mix, exactly where it belongs. The vocal tracks all sound like prime Glenn Danzig, on both cds. Enough said.

Summary: Whatever sins Danzig has committed against the holy religion of heavy metal since 4p are hereby expunged. There's some filler here, but Danzig's B sides turn out to be better than just about anyone else's A sides, and the good stuff here is good enough to form an album that is worthy of standing alongside anything he has done. The rest we can account bonus material. (This record proves what I suspected all along, due to Danzig's poor choices of singles releases: his taste, like Rubin's, in his own music is mystifyingly bad).

This is simply the best pure metal album released in years. There will be naysayers with the usual biases and agendas; ignore them and treat your black soul to "Lost Tracks" as soon as possible. You have tread in the light too long, and it is time to feel once more that cold wind out of the blue hells, the one that your heart has so long ached for...thank you, Glenn, from an original "Angel of the Seventh Dawn".

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Treat For Long Time Danzig Fans, July 16, 2007

By 

Wyluli "Wyluli Wolf" (Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lost Tracks Of Danzig (2CD) (Audio CD)

First, let's get one thing straight. To the other poster that said that Danzig is merely trying to "cash in" with this album.. Well OF COURSE he is, but that's the business that Glenn is in. You make music, and you sell it if people are buying. If you were in Danzig's place and had these songs to release knowing that his fans would pay money for them - tell me you wouldn't do exactly the same thing. And be honest with yourself. If you say you would give them away for free or wouldn't release them, then I'm calling BS.

Now, on to this release itself. This 2 cd set is basically a collection of unreleased stuff including a couple of covers, and a ton of original Danzig songs that didn't make the final cut for the final studio album for one reason or another. Also a couple remixes/alternates of songs we have heard before. The songs range from stuff that was originally Samhain tunes, all the way up through Circle Of Snakes, and the cd's have the songs on them in chronological order. Also included is a booklet with some cool pictures, and most interestingly (in my opinion) are Glenn's comments about most of these songs saying how he feels about them, why they weren't on the studio releases, etc.

I'm still getting familiar with some of these songs, but some songs that jump out to me right away are:
Pain Is Like An Animal
When Death Had No Name (either version)
Cold, Cold Rain
Satan's Crucifiction
Warlok
Crawl Across Your Killing Floor

There is some really good stuff on this album that in my opinion definitely was good enough to be on the official releases of Danzig's albums, and Disc 1 of this set really took me back in time to the good old days of Danzig 1-4, when the band was at its peak. Disc 2, while not as strong as the first, still has some good songs on it and I'll listen to it more than once. This is not just a collection of unreleased junk just designed to rake in a few bucks.. Glenn's comments in the booklet state that several of these songs he either regretted leaving off the albums, or he really liked but they weren't finished in time, etc. I wholeheartedly agree after listening to some of these tracks. Sure, some aren't real good, but there's some gems on here.

My only complaint about this set is that the boxed set itself is made out of softer cardboard and is easily dinged, scuffed, dented, etc. If you plan to carry this music around with you alot, I would recommend putting the 2 cd's in individual jewel cases and leaving the book itself at home, or I guarantee you that before long, it will turn into a beat up piece of junk. I've had mine for only 2 days and it already has a couple of dings on it. Otherwise, the set is visually attractive, with some cool artwork, and great photos on the inside and generally pretty well thought out and put together. Just try your best to keep it from getting damaged!

Bottom line, this is a great set of unreleased music, and at $28, which is $14 per cd (not all that bad really) it's a must-have. If you're like the one poster and you can't find anything in this set that you really like, then I question if you're really all that big of a Danzig fan, because there are alot of songs on here that I've already listened to several times because they grabbed me right away, and just felt like classic Danzig. As you can see by the reviews this set is getting, most people are loving it, so don't let the few naysayers throw you off. Buy this set now!