Circle of Snakes
Encyclopedia
Circle of Snakes is the eighth studio album
by Danzig
. It was released on August 31, 2004. It is the first studio album by the band since their debut recording
not to have a number incorporated into its title (though the debut has often since been retroactively called "Danzig 1").
As with the band's eponymous debut, Circle of Snakes features a somewhat stripped-down sound.
For the recording of his vocals on Circle of Snakes, Glenn Danzig sought out microphones that would give his vocals more bottom end. Danzig's vocals are less prominent on most songs; instead the guitars, bass and drums are at the top of the album's mix. The album also features a notably heavy guitar tone.
Circle of Snakes marked the first Danzig recording to feature guitar work by Tommy Victor
of Prong. Victor had been an occasional touring member of the band since 1996. Bevan Davies
, previously a touring drummer for Jerry Cantrell
, also appears on the album.
The album begins with "Wotan's Procession", a dirge
-like instrumental track.
The lyrics for the song "SkinCarver" suggest a serial killer with a fascination for human pelts.
The song "Skull Forrest" originated from a dream experienced by Glenn Danzig, in which he walked “through a corridor full of bones and rotting corpses, and people’s faces I knew.”
The track "1000 Devils Reign" is notably melodic amongst most other songs on Circle of Snakes. It served as promotion for the album, finding airplay on the Sirius Satellite Radio
station Hard Attack.
All songs written by Glenn Danzig
.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by 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...
. It was released on August 31, 2004. It is the first studio album by the band since their debut recording
Danzig (album)
Danzig is the 1988 debut album of the American heavy metal band Danzig, led by Glenn Danzig who was formerly the songwriter and vocalist of the Misfits and Samhain....
not to have a number incorporated into its title (though the debut has often since been retroactively called "Danzig 1").
Music and recording
Circle of Snakes was recorded at Ocean Studios and Paramount Recording Studios, both based in California.As with the band's eponymous debut, Circle of Snakes features a somewhat stripped-down sound.
For the recording of his vocals on Circle of Snakes, Glenn Danzig sought out microphones that would give his vocals more bottom end. Danzig's vocals are less prominent on most songs; instead the guitars, bass and drums are at the top of the album's mix. The album also features a notably heavy guitar tone.
Circle of Snakes marked the first Danzig recording to feature guitar work by Tommy Victor
Tommy Victor
Tommy Victor is the lead singer and guitarist for the crossover thrash/industrial metal band Prong that he founded in New York in 1986. In the late 1980s Victor worked as a soundman at CBGB's. After the release of Rude Awakening in 1996, Prong disbanded and Victor moved to Los Angeles. Since then...
of Prong. Victor had been an occasional touring member of the band since 1996. Bevan Davies
Bevan Davies
Bevan Davies is an American musician best known as the drummer for the groups Still Rain, Madfly, Comes with the Fall and Danzig while he is currently a member of MonstrO, a group he formed with former members of Bloodsimple and Torche...
, previously a touring drummer for Jerry Cantrell
Jerry Cantrell
Jerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band Alice in Chains, as lead guitarist, backing and co-lead vocalist, and co-lyricist. He performs lead vocals on his solo projects, and is part of Alice in Chains' harmonizing...
, also appears on the album.
The album begins with "Wotan's Procession", a dirge
Dirge
A dirge is a somber song expressing mourning or grief, such as would be appropriate for performance at a funeral. A lament. The English word "dirge" is derived from the Latin Dirige, Domine, Deus meus, in conspectu tuo viam meam , the first words of the first antiphon in the Matins of the Office...
-like instrumental track.
The lyrics for the song "SkinCarver" suggest a serial killer with a fascination for human pelts.
The song "Skull Forrest" originated from a dream experienced by Glenn Danzig, in which he walked “through a corridor full of bones and rotting corpses, and people’s faces I knew.”
The track "1000 Devils Reign" is notably melodic amongst most other songs on Circle of Snakes. It served as promotion for the album, finding airplay on the Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
station Hard Attack.
Reception
- Allmusic - "Glenn Danzig returns to his immediate post-Misfits roots with the stripped-down Circle of Snakes, an 11-track chunk of brutality that forgoes the murky alt-metal and industrial meanderings that marred many of his mid-to-late-'90s offerings."
- KNACKNACKNAC is an internet based heavy metal music radio station. It was previously a Los Angeles, California area FM radio station.-KNAC at 105.5 FM:...
- "Circle of Snakes is a damn fine metallic rock record; and an excellent Danzig record. Label-changes, line-up changes, and time have not stopped this man from making great music."
- antiMusic - "Circle of Snakes is a heavy record. Everything you would want out of this band is here...From start to finish Circle of Snakes is full of ups and downs, darks and lights, but proves to be a completely satisfying album."
Track listing
- "Wotan's Procession" – 2:23
- "SkinCarver" – 3:57
- "Circle of Snakes" – 3:07
- "1000 Devils Reign" – 3:47
- "Skull Forrest" – 5:06
- "HellMask" – 3:14
- "When We Were Dead" – 4:46
- "Night, BeSodom" – 3:28
- "My Darkness" – 4:21
- "NetherBound" – 3:41
- "Black Angel, White Angel" – 4:23
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...
.
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...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Bevan DaviesBevan DaviesBevan Davies is an American musician best known as the drummer for the groups Still Rain, Madfly, Comes with the Fall and Danzig while he is currently a member of MonstrO, a group he formed with former members of Bloodsimple and Torche...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Jerry Montano – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Tommy VictorTommy VictorTommy Victor is the lead singer and guitarist for the crossover thrash/industrial metal band Prong that he founded in New York in 1986. In the late 1980s Victor worked as a soundman at CBGB's. After the release of Rude Awakening in 1996, Prong disbanded and Victor moved to Los Angeles. Since then...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
Charts
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Swedish Albums Chart | 18 |