Initium | ||||
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Studio album by Samhain | ||||
Released | 1984 | |||
Recorded | 1981, 1983-1984 | |||
Genre | Horror punk | |||
Length | 29:01 | |||
Label | Plan 9 | |||
Producer | Glenn Danzig | |||
Samhain chronology | ||||
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Allmusic | [1] |
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 Misfits, in 1983. Most of the final track, "Archangel", was actually recorded in March 1981, and was originally meant to either be a Misfits song featuring Dave Vanian (who never did vocals for the song) or a track for the band The Damned. The track Horror Biz likewise dates to Danzig's Misfits era, as it is a new version of "Horror Business" with different musical arrangements. The album was recorded at Reel Platinum studio in Lodi, New Jersey, excluding the introduction which was recorded at Eerie Von's home on a four track cassette.[2]
Also appearing on this recording are Lyle Preslar, guitarist for the influential D.C. band Minor Threat (CD tracks 2, 4, 6, and 7), and Al Pike, bassist for Reagan Youth, (CD track 9).
Contents |
The 1986 cassette release features 'Initium' plus the entire original version of the band's follow-up record, the 'Unholy Passion EP', and is highly prized by collectors. Also much sought is the initial 1987 CD release of 'Initium', which featured the album plus the re-recorded/remixed version of the EP. (In 1989, these extra tracks were removed from all future CD pressings, and were instead included on the original 1990 Final Descent album). A very rare pressing exists, however, which contains the full 'Initium' album and only the remixed title track from the EP. Likewise, some copies of the 2001 'Initium' reissue also feature the song "Unholy Passion" as an unlisted bonus track.
The Samhain live DVD mentions a single for "All Murder, All Guts, All Fun", but no information on said single has surfaced.