Blackacidevil

Blackacidevil
Studio album by Danzig
Released	October 29, 1996
Recorded	1995 - 1996
Genre	Heavy metal, industrial metal
Length	45:10
Label	Hollywood Records (original) E-Magine Music (reissue)
Producer	Glenn Danzig
Danzig chronology
Danzig 4p (1994) Blackacidevil (1996) 6:66 Satan's Child (1999)
Evilive Records/E-Magine Music Reissue, February 2000

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
College Music Journal	(favorable) [2]
Rock Hard	[3]

Danzig 5: Blackacidevil is the fifth full-length album from Danzig. It was released in 1996 on Hollywood Records, and was reissued on E-Magine Records in 2000 with three extra tracks.

Background

The album is the first recorded by Danzig after its departure from producer Rick Rubin's record label, American Recordings. It is also the first album recorded after the demise of the "classic" lineup featuring John Christ, Eerie Von, and Chuck Biscuits. Only the band's leader Glenn Danzig remained, joined by drummer Joey Castillo, who had joined the band late in 1994 after Biscuits' departure, and bassist Josh Lazie. Guitarist Tommy Victor joined the band shortly after Blackacidevil's completion.^[4]

Music and recording

On Blackacidevil, the band's sound shifted from doomy and gothic heavy metal to experimental industrial rock.^[5] Glenn Danzig explained: “I wanted to do something that nobody else was really doing. So I took an element of industrial that I liked here, and an element of techno there, then mixed it with what I normally do. I took the best elements of stuff. They're powerful when used properly. Then, I'd still experiment with different directions, which I wanted to do anyway, and then watch what happened when I mixed it together.”^[4] On several tracks Danzig applied distortion effects to his vocals.^[6]

Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains plays guitar on the tracks "See All You Were", "Hand of Doom" and "Come to Silver".^[4] This was the first Danzig album to feature Joey Castillo and Josh Lazie, and the only album to feature contributions by Mark Chaussee and Joseph Bishara. Glenn Danzig plays all the instruments on the remainder of the album.

"Hand of Doom" is a cover of the Black Sabbath song, with new lyrics and musical arrangements by Danzig.

Glenn Danzig had originally written "Come to Silver" for Johnny Cash, although it was never recorded by him due to Danzig's split from American Recordings.^[6][7] The song addresses the evils of the almighty dollar.^[4]

"Sacrifice" was the album's first single.^[4] According to Glenn Danzig, the song is about “sacrificing yourself throughout your life. It's about giving a little more than you should be giving. It's not about ritual sacrifice...it's more about killing yourself, little by little.”^[4] Several different versions of the song, remixed by J. G. Thirlwell, appear on the 1996 Sacrifice EP, along with remixes of "Serpentia" and "Deep".

The song "Deep", which had been released earlier that year on The X-Files television soundtrack, was set to be featured on the album.^[6] However, because of Danzig's 1996 departure from American Recordings, the song could not be included. Another version of the same song titled "Deeper", with additional guitar by Tommy Victor, was recorded for the unreleased Bleedangel EP, and included as one of three bonus tracks on the 2000 Blackacidevil reissue. "Bleedangel" was recorded as the title track for the unreleased EP, whereas "Don't Be Afraid" was recorded during the original Blackacidevil sessions.

Album title

Danzig has not publicly explained the meaning of the album's title. Various theories have been advanced, including it being a play on the phrase "black as a devil", with the words "black acid devil" (or black acid evil) run together in a portmanteau. Tickets for Danzig's Halloween 1996 special $6.66 show at Detroit's State Theater had the phrase "Black Acid Devil" printed on them.

Artwork and packaging

The liner notes feature artwork by Joseph Cultice. The re-released version of the album features a new cover by Martin Emond.

Music videos

Music videos were released for the songs "Sacrifice" and "Serpentia". All music videos from the album are featured on Danzig's Il Demonio Nera DVD.

Reception and controversy

Blackacidevil was widely criticized for its apparent shift in musical direction. The album was not well received by most critics and as of 2007 had sold 124,000 copies.

Besides the changes in musical direction, Blackacidevil's original release caused more controversy: Danzig's violent music and use of Satanic imagery conflicted with the corporate image projected by Disney, the parent company of Danzig's new record label, Hollywood Records. Tower Records' Pulse Magazine created a mock radio advertisement and a cartoon drawing spoofing this odd relationship. The cartoon featured Glenn Danzig shaking hands with Disney CEO Michael Eisner at the entrance to "Danzigland" (instead of Disneyland). The two are surrounded by skulls, children wearing "666" T-shirts and a horned and fanged Mickey Mouse. As a result of the controversy, the label pulled support for the album and the record deal was severed.^[8] Blackacidevil was the only Danzig release on the Hollywood Records label.

Track listing

1996 original version

1. "7th House" - 3:48
2. "Blackacidevil" - 4:25
3. "See All You Were" - 5:03
4. "Sacrifice" - 4:29
5. "Hint of Her Blood" - 5:03
6. "Serpentia" - 6:41
7. "Come to Silver" - 4:01
8. "Hand of Doom" - 2:53
9. "Power of Darkness" - 3:20
10. "Ashes" - 5:28

2000 reissue version

1. "7th House" - 3:48
2. "Blackacidevil" - 4:24
3. "See All You Were" - 5:02
4. "Sacrifice" - 4:28
5. "Hint of Her Blood" - 5:02
6. "Deeper" - 4:15
   • Previously unreleased version of "Deep" from Songs in the Key of X.
7. "Serpentia" - 6:40
8. "Come to Silver" - 4:00
9. "Hand of Doom" - 2:52
10. "Bleedangel" - 4:13
    • Previously unreleased.
11. "Power of Darkness" - 3:20
12. "Ashes" - 5:31
13. "Don't Be Afraid" - 4:25
    • Originally released as B-side of "Sacrifice".

• Tracks 6, 10, and 13 are bonus tracks.

All songs written by Glenn Danzig, except "Hand of Doom" by Black Sabbath.

Personnel

• Glenn Danzig - Vocals, Bass, Guitars, Keyboards
• Joey Castillo - Drums
• Joseph Bishara - Keyboards, Programming
• Jerry Cantrell - Guitars (on "See All You Were", "Come To Silver", & "Hand Of Doom")
• Mark Chaussee - Guitars (on "Sacrifice", "Serpentia")
• Josh Lazie - Bass (on "Sacrifice")

Production

• Producer: Glenn Danzig
• Engineers: Bill Kennedy, Mike Baumgartner

Charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Swedish Albums Chart[9]	49

References

1. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r241273
2. ^ http://prod1.cmj.com/articles/display_article.php?id=2434
3. ^ http://www.rockhard.de/index.php?smod=p209MJ56rKOyMTyuWz1iMUIfo2qAo2D9pz9wn2uupzDhpzI2nJI3pl5xMKEunJkJnJI3Wzqlo3IjFHD9pzuspzI2nJI3WzAioaEyoaEWEQ03AQN0Wt%3D%3D
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "Danzig Returns on Halloween with New Album 'Blackacidevil' on Hollywood Records". Hollywood Records. September 20, 1996. http://www.misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=hollyw.96. Retrieved 2011-11-15. 
5. ^ Glenn, Jenni (December 1996). Metal. CMJ New Music. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PC0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA50&lpg=PA50&dq=%22blackacidevil%22+%22hollywood%22&source=bl&ots=xuYhu7ogb2&sig=aNfeiJSHpmWQe9ySCYT-HdsH3FQ&hl=en&ei=BwLiS-GyLYbw0gTEgLWdAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CBIQ6AEwBDgU#v=onepage&q=%22blackacidevil%22%20%22hollywood%22&f=false. Retrieved 2010-05-06. 
6. ^ ^{a b c} "Danzig: Speak of the Blackacidevil". Metal Edge. Fall 1996. http://www.misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=metale.96. Retrieved 2010-05-06. 
7. ^ Wilson, David (1999). "Glenn Danzig interview". KAOS2000. http://www.kaos2000.net/interviews/danzig/. Retrieved 2010-05-06. 
8. ^ Stratton, Jeff (April 20, 2000). "The Devil Inside: Behold the Awesome Power of Danzig". Miami New Times. http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2000-04-20/music/the-devil-inside/1. Retrieved 2010-05-06. 
9. ^ http://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?search=Danzig&cat=a

External links

• Official Website