by Doug Stone
As soon as the Misfits ended, gonzo-demon Glenn Danzig put drummer Eerie Von on bass and introduced the world to Samhain via Initium. Being a transitional phase between the cult phenom Misfits and the death-defining Danzig, remnants of both entities can be discerned within these dark grooves, as Glenn dyes his punk roots black. He's definitely running the show, welding metal to ever-maturing &Horror Biz& (updated &Misfits&) on the eponymous and signature tunes. The bloody trio buries &The Howl Arcangel& (originally written for Dave Vanian). &All Murder, All Guts, All Fun& swings as cool as its name. Minor Threat's Lyle Preslar lays some thin guitar lines. Ultimately, Initium is a gas: a monster mashing graveyard bash before the encroaching goth seriousness of the band's future.