Black Aria
Encyclopedia
Black Aria is an instrumental album composed by Glenn Danzig
, the vocalist/songwriter for Danzig
and previously of Samhain
and the Misfits. Released in 1992, the album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard
classical chart. This original release was on Danzig's old Misfits-era label, Plan 9 Records, and like his Misfits and Samhain releases, was distributed by Caroline Records. The album was reissued in 2000 on E-Magine Records
, and a sequel
followed on Evilive Records in 2006.
tendencies.
Although it was not released until 1992, some of the material on the album was recorded as early as 1987. Select tracks from the album had served as intro music to early Danzig shows, and excerpts of some songs were included on Danzig's first two compilation home videos released by Def American Recordings in 1989 and 1991.
The first six song titles reference a soundtrack to John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost
, which describes Lucifer
's rebellion from the Christian God, and his subsequent expulsion from Heaven
with the angels who joined him. The final three tracks, written by Danzig while he was still in Samhain, reference Celtic mythology
. "The Morrigu" relates to The Morrígan, a mythical phantom queen. "Cwn Annwn" refers to the spectral hounds
of the same name.
All tracks were written by Glenn Danzig, who also performed all instruments. Engineering was provided by Nick Didia
, Martin Schmelze, and Bob Alecca. Female voices were provided by Janna Brown and Reneé Rubach.
. The album's front cover is by renowned comic book and graphic artist Michael William Kaluta
, who also drew the interior illustrations for Danzig's fourth album.
As the musical content of Black Aria is a diversion from the music of the band Danzig, the album has a written disclaimer to warn potential buyers that it is not a rock record.
All songs written by Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig
Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig (born Glenn Allen Anzalone; June 23, 1955 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, entrepreneur, and a progenitor of the horror punk subgenre of music. He is a founder of bands the Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig...
, the vocalist/songwriter for Danzig
Danzig (band)
Danzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for the singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
and previously of Samhain
Samhain (band)
Samhain was an American rock band formed by singer Glenn Danzig in 1983, immediately following his departure from the Misfits. Samhain played in more of a deathrock and heavy metal-infused style of horror punk than Danzig's previous band. By 1987 Samhain's membership evolved into a new band,...
and the Misfits. Released in 1992, the album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
classical chart. This original release was on Danzig's old Misfits-era label, Plan 9 Records, and like his Misfits and Samhain releases, was distributed by Caroline Records. The album was reissued in 2000 on E-Magine Records
E-Magine Records
E-Magine Records is an independent record label specializing in electronica, pop music, and dance music. It has been in existence since early 2000. It is owned by Christoph Rücker....
, and a sequel
Black Aria II
Black Aria II is a 2006 album by Glenn Danzig, the follow-up to his 1992 Black Aria classical solo album. Despite being discussed in various interviews throughout the 1990s, Black Aria II was not released until October 17, 2006...
followed on Evilive Records in 2006.
Music and recording
The album is largely modern instrumental classical music, and is very dark, with gothic metalGothic metal
Gothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
tendencies.
Although it was not released until 1992, some of the material on the album was recorded as early as 1987. Select tracks from the album had served as intro music to early Danzig shows, and excerpts of some songs were included on Danzig's first two compilation home videos released by Def American Recordings in 1989 and 1991.
The first six song titles reference a soundtrack to John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. It was originally published in 1667 in ten books, with a total of over ten thousand individual lines of verse...
, which describes Lucifer
Lucifer
Traditionally, Lucifer is a name that in English generally refers to the devil or Satan before being cast from Heaven, although this is not the original meaning of the term. In Latin, from which the English word is derived, Lucifer means "light-bearer"...
's rebellion from the Christian God, and his subsequent expulsion from Heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
with the angels who joined him. The final three tracks, written by Danzig while he was still in Samhain, reference Celtic mythology
Celtic mythology
Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. Like other Iron Age Europeans, the early Celts maintained a polytheistic mythology and religious structure...
. "The Morrigu" relates to The Morrígan, a mythical phantom queen. "Cwn Annwn" refers to the spectral hounds
Cwn Annwn
In Welsh mythology and folklore, Cŵn Annwn were the spectral hounds of Annwn, the otherworld of Welsh myth. They were associated with a form of the Wild Hunt, presided over by Gwynn ap Nudd...
of the same name.
All tracks were written by Glenn Danzig, who also performed all instruments. Engineering was provided by Nick Didia
Nick DiDia
Nick DiDia is an American record producer mostly known for his work with Australian rock group Powderfinger and American pop-rock group Nine Days...
, Martin Schmelze, and Bob Alecca. Female voices were provided by Janna Brown and Reneé Rubach.
Artwork and packaging
The photograph of Glenn Danzig in the liner notes was taken by Anton CorbijnAnton Corbijn
Anton Corbijn is a Dutch photographer, music video and film director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and U2, having handled the principal promotion and sleeve photography for both for more than a decade...
. The album's front cover is by renowned comic book and graphic artist Michael William Kaluta
Michael William Kaluta
Michael William Kaluta, sometimes credited as Mike Kaluta or Michael Wm. Kaluta , is an American comic book artist and writer.-Early life:Born in Guatemala to U.S...
, who also drew the interior illustrations for Danzig's fourth album.
As the musical content of Black Aria is a diversion from the music of the band Danzig, the album has a written disclaimer to warn potential buyers that it is not a rock record.
Track listing
- "Overture of the Rebel Angels" – 2:42
- "Conspiracy Dirge" – 1:59
- "Battle for Heaven" – 3:54
- "Retreat and Descent" – 3:53
- "Dirge of Defeat" – 1:48
- "And the Angels Weep" – 1:18
- "Shifter" – 1:33
- "The Morrigu" – 4:25
- "Cwn Anwnn" – 2:13
All songs written by Glenn Danzig
Credits
- Glenn DanzigGlenn DanzigGlenn Danzig Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig (born Glenn Allen Anzalone; June 23, 1955 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, entrepreneur, and a progenitor of the horror punk subgenre of music. He is a founder of bands the Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig...
- All instruments - Janna Brown - Female vocals
- Reneé Rubach - Female vocals
Production
- Nick Didia - Engineering (Tracks 1-7)
- Martin Schmelze - Engineering (Tracks 1-7)
- Bob Alecca - Engineering (Tracks 8-9)