by Bradley Torreano
Still undecided on whether to play punk or heavy metal, Glenn Danzig tried to mix them both with a little goth in Samhain. This was recorded towards the very end of their career, and the music works more as a preview to his next band (just called Danzig). The original version of &Twist of Cain,& one of Danzig's biggest hits, is found here in a far more raw form. And &Trouble,& which they would include on their Thrall Demonsweat Live album, is covered here with a humorous goth tinge. In fact, both songs are almost better here if only because Glenn wasn't taking himself as seriously in Samhain as he would in Danzig. &The Birthing& chugs along with speed metal guitars, yet Glenn's voice still has the angry croon that made the Misfits such a treat in their original incarnation. And both versions of &Lords of the Left Hand& work as well as they do because of the strong vocals. This is a transition album, with Glenn experimenting with several different musical styles without any definite direction. But thanks to his strong songwriting skills and passionate voice, even this experimental album is a treat to his legion of fans. This isn't the place to start your Samhain collection, but it is still a very good album.