The original Misfit returns with album of new material for the first time in 7 years. Does the flame still burn brightly or has the fire gone out?
It may have been a seven year itch between albums for Glenn Danzig but he has not been lazy man. Most recently he has hit the spotlight again with much anticipation of his historic reformation with the Misfits for a series of shows over the past six months or so. That is on the back burner for now though as the focus shifts to the next stage in his storied career.
His last recorded output was 2013’s lukewarm covers album Skeletons which had the touch of the stocking filler about it if truth be known. That said Danzig is nothing if not a whole hearted and earnest character and he been busy at work over the past three years in the East West Studios in Hollywood laying down tracks for the eleventh Danzig studio release.
The title track “Black Laden Crown” is the introduction to the album and it’s a slow burner that doesn’t really catch light until the last minute or so when the tempo increases with a familiar hard-rockin’ outro. “Eyes Ripping Fire” shows some guts and grit with a rolling verse and riff that is Black Label Society in all but name. No bad thing.
However, it is the third track “Devil on Hwy 9” that is classic Danzig and reminds the listener of the reason why Glenn Danzig is revered as much as he is. The track stomps and spits and is a glorious throwback to those great Danzig albums of the late 1980’s- early 1990’s.
Likewise “Last Ride” is another tune pulled from the top drawer. Slower in pace than “Devil…” but no less in attitude or conviction as a distorted and ethereal solo from guitarist Tommy Victor provides the interlude either side of heavy riffage and bombastic intent.
Tracks like “But A Nightmare”, “Skulls & Daisies” and “Blackness Falls” keep the quality control setting on maximum but it cannot be sustained across the album as a whole as the album is not without it’s issues, chiefly in the production department as there are occasions whereby Danzig’s voice sounds very distant and the drum sound has a St.Anger-esque quality to it, but creatively there can be no dispute, Danzig is in fine form.
Now a sturdy 61 years old, his voice still retains it’s mixture of gothic charm and soulful rebel menace, although the power has waned slightly in the ravages of time. Nothing can be done about that and it certainly ain’t holding him back and for a man with nothing left to prove, he is certainly not resting on past glories to see him through. For that he should be roundly saluted. Nobody does blues-laden doom like Danzig.
Donnie’s Rating: 7.5/10 – Although it may not stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the great work of Danzig past it does however contain enough memorable and exciting music to make it a worthy purchase and a decent addition to the Danzig canon.
Black Laden Crown is out on 26th May.
