Final Descent
Encyclopedia
Final Descent is an album by Samhain
, first released in 1990, more than three years after lead singer Glenn Danzig
and bassist Eerie Von
had recruited guitarist John Christ
and drummer Chuck Biscuits
to form Danzig
.
. Tracks 6-11 had been released in 1987 on the first pressing of the Initium
CD. These songs were in fact overdubbed (partially re-recorded) and remixed versions of those on the 1985 Unholy Passion
E.P.
Eerie Von has confirmed that "Death...In Its Arms" was recorded during the sessions for Danzig's second album, Danzig II: Lucifuge
, and features the full original Danzig lineup: singer Glenn Danzig, guitarist John Christ, bassist Eerie Von, and drummer Chuck Biscuits.
Like all of Samhain's discography, and most of Danzig's prior work with The Misfits, Final Descent was originally released on Danzig's independent record label Plan 9
, distributed by Caroline Records.
Apart from the band's reissues in 2000-01, this is the only Samhain release that does not have a 12" vinyl counterpart. Glenn Danzig said that some vinyl sleeves were made, but further plans to release the album on vinyl in 1990 were scrapped because he was not pleased with them.
The 1990 CD came with a large sticker on its cellophane wrapping, which read, "Samhain: Final Descent" (in the same font used for the original 1976 horror/suspense motion picture The Omen
and its three sequels). The 2001 CD featured this phrase printed on the CD booklet itself.
The title of "Death...In Its Arms" is misspelled on all releases (with an incorrect apostrophe in "it's").
on Danzig's new label, Evilive, distributed by E-Magine Music. Its reissue as an individual CD followed in 2001.
On these reissues, the original tracks 6-11 formed a separate Unholy Passion CD. On the Final Descent CD they were replaced with four unreleased Samhain Grim demos. Two of these tracks are earlier versions of songs that had appeared on Danzig's debut album
: "Twist of Cain" and "Possession". "Trouble" is a cover of an Elvis Presley song recorded for the film King Creole
. A re-recording of the song is featured on the Danzig EP, Thrall: Demonsweatlive
. The fourth track is an earlier alternate version of the Final Descent track "Lords of the Left Hand". This alternate version was recorded in September 1986, while the "original version" was not recorded until September 1987, and was not mixed in its final form until 1990.
The Samhain Box Set and individual CD reissues of this album incorrectly reverse the listing of tracks 7 and 9. The correct order of the songs as they are played on the CD is listed below. The misprinted track listing actually conforms to the order of the songs on earlier bootlegged audio copies of this recording session.
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,...
, first released in 1990, more than three years after lead singer 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...
and bassist Eerie Von
Eerie Von
Eerie Von, born Eric Stellman on is a musician best known as the original bassist for the metal band Danzig. Eerie Von's preferred bass is the Fender Jazz.-Early life:...
had recruited guitarist John Christ
John Christ
John Christ, born John Wolfgang Knoll on , is a musician best known as the original guitarist for the metal band Danzig. He has been known for his bluesy metal sound and frequent use of the pinch harmonic...
and drummer Chuck Biscuits
Chuck Biscuits
Chuck Biscuits is a Canadian-born drummer, now a U.S. citizen, who is best known as an original member of the heavy metal/hard rock band Danzig. Most recently, he was a member of the punk rock band Social Distortion in the late 1990s...
to form 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...
.
Original release
Tracks 1-5 are previously unreleased songs, at least some of which had been intended for the Samhain Grim album before it was aborted when the band changed its personnel, and finally its name, to DanzigDanzig (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...
. Tracks 6-11 had been released in 1987 on the first pressing of the Initium
Initium
Initium is the 1984 debut album of Samhain, released on lead singer Glenn Danzig's independent record label, Plan 9. In various interviews Danzig states that the album's title, which translates from Latin to English as "beginning", represents his new start after disbanding his prior band, The...
CD. These songs were in fact overdubbed (partially re-recorded) and remixed versions of those on the 1985 Unholy Passion
Unholy Passion EP
-Personnel:* Glenn Danzig- Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards* Eerie Von - Bass* Steve Zing - Drums* "Damien" - Guitar...
E.P.
Eerie Von has confirmed that "Death...In Its Arms" was recorded during the sessions for Danzig's second album, Danzig II: Lucifuge
Danzig II: Lucifuge
Danzig II: Lucifuge is the second album by Danzig. It was released in 1990 on Def American Recordings and was reissued in the USA and UK in 1998 by Def American's successor, American Recordings.-Music and recording:...
, and features the full original Danzig lineup: singer Glenn Danzig, guitarist John Christ, bassist Eerie Von, and drummer Chuck Biscuits.
Like all of Samhain's discography, and most of Danzig's prior work with The Misfits, Final Descent was originally released on Danzig's independent record label Plan 9
Plan 9 (record label)
Plan 9 Records, originally known as Blank Records, was an independent record label that was founded in 1977 by Glenn Danzig of the horror punk band The Misfits. The label was discontinued in 1995....
, distributed by Caroline Records.
Apart from the band's reissues in 2000-01, this is the only Samhain release that does not have a 12" vinyl counterpart. Glenn Danzig said that some vinyl sleeves were made, but further plans to release the album on vinyl in 1990 were scrapped because he was not pleased with them.
The 1990 CD came with a large sticker on its cellophane wrapping, which read, "Samhain: Final Descent" (in the same font used for the original 1976 horror/suspense motion picture The Omen
The Omen
An original score for the film, including the movie's theme song Ave Satani, was composed by Jerry Goldsmith, for which he received the only Oscar of his long career. The score features a strong choral segment, with a foreboding Latin chant...
and its three sequels). The 2001 CD featured this phrase printed on the CD booklet itself.
The title of "Death...In Its Arms" is misspelled on all releases (with an incorrect apostrophe in "it's").
Reissues
In 2000 most of Samhain's catalogue, including Final Descent, was re-released as part of the Samhain Box SetBox Set (Samhain)
The Samhain Box Set was released in 2000, more than 13 years after Samhain effectively ceased recording and performing. The set's five CDs and one VHS tape compile nearly all of the band's original catalogue, newly remastered for the original mastertapes, and a wealth of previously unreleased...
on Danzig's new label, Evilive, distributed by E-Magine Music. Its reissue as an individual CD followed in 2001.
On these reissues, the original tracks 6-11 formed a separate Unholy Passion CD. On the Final Descent CD they were replaced with four unreleased Samhain Grim demos. Two of these tracks are earlier versions of songs that had appeared on Danzig's debut album
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....
: "Twist of Cain" and "Possession". "Trouble" is a cover of an Elvis Presley song recorded for the film King Creole
King Creole
King Creole is a 1958 American film directed by Michael Curtiz and produced by Hal B. Wallis. The story was adapted from the Harold Robbins novel A Stone for Danny Fisher and featured Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, and Walter Matthau. The film tells the story of a nineteen-year-old who gets mixed...
. A re-recording of the song is featured on the Danzig EP, Thrall: Demonsweatlive
Thrall: Demonsweatlive
Thrall - Demonsweatlive is an EP by Danzig. It was released in 1993 on Def American Recordings.-Music and recording:The EP is split into two sections. The first section, Thrall, consists of three new studio recordings that were tracked live and completed by the band in a single day...
. The fourth track is an earlier alternate version of the Final Descent track "Lords of the Left Hand". This alternate version was recorded in September 1986, while the "original version" was not recorded until September 1987, and was not mixed in its final form until 1990.
The Samhain Box Set and individual CD reissues of this album incorrectly reverse the listing of tracks 7 and 9. The correct order of the songs as they are played on the CD is listed below. The misprinted track listing actually conforms to the order of the songs on earlier bootlegged audio copies of this recording session.
Track list (1990 release)
- "Night Chill"
- "Descent"
- "Death...In Its Arms"
- "Lords of the Left Hand"
- "The Birthing"
- "Unholy Passion"
- "All Hell"
- "Moribund"
- "The Hungry End"
- "Misery Tomb"
- "I Am Misery"
Track list (2000-01 release)
- "Night Chill"
- "Descent"
- "Death...In Its Arms"
- "Lords of the Left Hand"
- "The Birthing"
- "Twist of Cain"
- "Possession"
- "Trouble"
- "Lords of the Left Hand (2nd Version)"