I Luciferi
Encyclopedia
Danzig 777: I Luciferi (ˌiː luːsɨˈfɛraɪ) is the seventh album from Danzig
. It was released in 2002 on Glenn Danzig
's Evilive label and distributed by Spitfire Records. Danzig stated that this album was the last in a series of seven numbered albums, each with its own general concept.
Over the months following the tour for this album, each of the other band members left to pursue other projects. Most notably, Joey Castillo
joined Queens of the Stone Age
.
.
The track "Wicked Pussycat" served as the album's first single.
The original track listing, as reported by KNAC
on December 22, 2001, featured several tracks that did not appear on the final album. These included the songs "Dying Seraph", "Soul Eater", and "Malefical Bride of Hell", all of which were released in 2007 on The Lost Tracks of Danzig
, with "Malefical Bride of Hell" having its title shortened to "Malefical". An additional track titled "Dark Secret Side" has never been released.
on Fuse TV
's Uranium
show, Glenn Danzig said that the pronunciation of the album title is ˌiː luːsɨˈfɛraɪ . This corresponds to Danzig's pronunciation of the word in the chorus of the title track. Early press releases for the album reveal that its working title was Danzig 7: Kiss the Skull.
, a second-century AD opponent of Christianity: "They worship neither a god nor even a demon, but a dead man!"
Porn star Devon
appears in the CD booklet and on the back of the CD jacket.
The lyric sheet for the song "Black Mass" contains a misprint: "Asan un Nefer". The correct lyric is "Asar-un-Nefer" ("Myself Made Perfect"), an epithet of the Egyptian god Osiris
used especially in the Thelemic
"Bornless Ritual". Earlier in the song, Danzig's lyrics refer to "the Bornless One".
The lyrics for "Wicked Pussycat" contain an omission. The correct missing lyric is "five-pointed star-chain": as the lyric is repeated at one point in the video for the song, the camera focuses on the tail/chain of a girl's cat costume; at the end of the chain is a pentagram
.
The video for "Kiss the Skull" was directed by Thomas Mignone
, who has also directed live action videos for Verotik
. The "devil fetus" that appears in the video was designed by Glenn Danzig.
All songs written by Glenn 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 in 2002 on 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...
's Evilive label and distributed by Spitfire Records. Danzig stated that this album was the last in a series of seven numbered albums, each with its own general concept.
Over the months following the tour for this album, each of the other band members left to pursue other projects. Most notably, Joey Castillo
Joey Castillo
Joseph Willam "Joey" Castillo is an American drummer currently playing with Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal...
joined Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
.
Music and recording
The song "Angel Blake" is named after the witch in the film Blood on Satan's ClawBlood on Satan's Claw
Blood on Satan's Claw is a 1970 British horror film made by Tigon British Film Productions and directed by Piers Haggard. The film was written by Robert Wynne-Simmons, with additions by Piers Haggard, and stars Patrick Wymark, Linda Hayden and Barry Andrews...
.
The track "Wicked Pussycat" served as the album's first single.
The original track listing, as reported by KNAC
KNAC
KNAC 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:...
on December 22, 2001, featured several tracks that did not appear on the final album. These included the songs "Dying Seraph", "Soul Eater", and "Malefical Bride of Hell", all of which were released in 2007 on The Lost Tracks of Danzig
The Lost Tracks of Danzig
The Lost Tracks of Danzig is a compilation album by American heavy metal band Danzig. The set showcases a number of previously-unreleased Danzig songs, ranging from the band's first recording sessions in 1987-88 until the sessions for Danzig's 2004 studio album, Circle of Snakes.-Background:Glenn...
, with "Malefical Bride of Hell" having its title shortened to "Malefical". An additional track titled "Dark Secret Side" has never been released.
Album title
In a 2002 interview with Juliya ChernetskyJuliya Chernetsky
Juliya Chernetsky , is a television personality best known for her popularity on the music-themed network Fuse, formerly known as MuchMusicUSA. She is best known by her stage name Mistress Juliya. She hosted the heavy metal-themed program Uranium and a call-in and e-mail advice program called Slave...
on Fuse TV
Fuse TV
Fuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....
's Uranium
Uranium (TV series)
Uranium is an American television program about heavy metal which aired on Fuse TV in the early 2000s. After establishing herself as the host of MMUSA's Tastemakers program, Juliya Chernetsky, along with network producers, created Uranium as an outlet for the broad range of heavy metal subgenres...
show, Glenn Danzig said that the pronunciation of the album title is ˌiː luːsɨˈfɛraɪ . This corresponds to Danzig's pronunciation of the word in the chorus of the title track. Early press releases for the album reveal that its working title was Danzig 7: Kiss the Skull.
Artwork and packaging
The CD booklet contains a quotation from CelsusCelsus
Celsus was a 2nd century Greek philosopher and opponent of Early Christianity. He is known for his literary work, The True Word , written about by Origen. This work, c. 177 is the earliest known comprehensive attack on Christianity.According to Origen, Celsus was the author of an...
, a second-century AD opponent of Christianity: "They worship neither a god nor even a demon, but a dead man!"
Porn star Devon
Devon (porn star)
Devon is an American pornographic actress.-Porn and acting career:Devon was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania.She began her career at age 19 as a stripper at Al's Diamond Cabaret in Reading, Pennsylvania. As a young girl, her dream was to become a gymnast...
appears in the CD booklet and on the back of the CD jacket.
The lyric sheet for the song "Black Mass" contains a misprint: "Asan un Nefer". The correct lyric is "Asar-un-Nefer" ("Myself Made Perfect"), an epithet of the Egyptian god Osiris
Osiris
Osiris is an Egyptian god, usually identified as the god of the afterlife, the underworld and the dead. He is classically depicted as a green-skinned man with a pharaoh's beard, partially mummy-wrapped at the legs, wearing a distinctive crown with two large ostrich feathers at either side, and...
used especially in the Thelemic
Thelema
Thelema is a religious philosophy that was established, defined and developed by the early 20th century British writer and ceremonial magician, Aleister Crowley. He believed himself to be the prophet of a new age, the Æon of Horus, based upon a religious experience that he had in Egypt in 1904...
"Bornless Ritual". Earlier in the song, Danzig's lyrics refer to "the Bornless One".
The lyrics for "Wicked Pussycat" contain an omission. The correct missing lyric is "five-pointed star-chain": as the lyric is repeated at one point in the video for the song, the camera focuses on the tail/chain of a girl's cat costume; at the end of the chain is a pentagram
Pentagram
A pentagram is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes...
.
Reception
- Allmusic – "Uneven as I Luciferi is, it's a quite listenable and welcome return to truly metallic form for Glenn Danzig...Sure, his best years are most likely behind him at this point, but I Luciferi proves that this old snake still has some venom left in his fangs."
- Punknews.orgPunknews.orgPunknews.org is a website founded by Aubin Paul which launched in 1999. The website publishes music news and album reviews relating to punk rock, hardcore punk, ska, indie rock and heavy metal...
– "This album is extremely dark and heavy, as you might expect...The best thing about this album is that it is devoid of filler, the hard smacks just keep coming and don't stop 'till the end."
- LA WeeklyLA WeeklyLA Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized "alternative weekly" in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Editor/Publisher Jay Levin and a board of directors that included actor-producer Michael Douglas...
– "Controlled, relentless darkness and passion. Great song after great song. Forget the muscles and skulls, this is hard-rock music."
- BlisteringBlisteringBlistering, founded in 1998, is an international online magazine dedicated to heavy metal and hard rock music. Its editor-in-chief is David E. Gehlke, an American music journalist who has written for About.com, Metal Maniacs, and Throat Culture...
– "The effect-laden focus of the previous two albums is long gone, with only hints of the old industrial sound remaining...There isn’t a weak moment on the album. This one has got it all. If you have left the Danzig circle, it’s time to return."
Music videos
Music videos were released for the songs "Kiss the Skull" and "Wicked Pussycat".The video for "Kiss the Skull" was directed by Thomas Mignone
Thomas Mignone
Thomas Mignone is an American feature film and music video director. Mignone is best known for directing music videos for hard rock and heavy metal artists such as Slipknot, Mudvayne, System Of A Down, Suicide Silence, Avenged Sevenfold, Sepultura, Danzig, Cradle of Filth, Type O Negative,...
, who has also directed live action videos for Verotik
Verotik
Verotik is a mature-themed comic book company founded in the early 90's by heavy metal/punk musician Glenn Danzig . The comics are aimed toward adult readers as they often contain imagery of a sexual and/or violent nature...
. The "devil fetus" that appears in the video was designed by Glenn Danzig.
Track listing
- "Unendlich" – 1:51
- "Black Mass" – 4:58
- "Wicked Pussycat" – 4:03
- "God of Light" – 3:39
- "Liberskull" – 5:45
- "Dead Inside" – 5:16
- "Kiss the Skull" – 4:11
- "I Luciferi" – 3:15
- "Naked Witch" – 3:55
- "Angel Blake" – 3:35
- "The Coldest Sun" – 3:59
- "Halo Goddess Bone" – 4:29
- "Without Light, I Am" – 5:32
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...
– 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... - Joey CastilloJoey CastilloJoseph Willam "Joey" Castillo is an American drummer currently playing with Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal...
– 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 .... - Howie PyroHowie PyroHowie Pyro on 28 June 1960 is a Queens, New York City based rock musician and bass player. He is a founding member of D Generation.-With D Generation:*No Way Out - Single - **Re-released in 1994 and 1996....
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Todd YouthTodd Youth-Biography:Youth grew up in New York and started playing as young as 12 years old in several New York City hardcore bands. He made his playing debut with Agnostic Front in 1983 but did not play on any recordings. Youth also appeared for New York City act Warzone until around 1986...
– guitar
Charts
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Swedish Albums Chart | 33 |