Danzig 5: Blackacidevil

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Danzig 5: Blackacidevil is the fifth full-length album from Danzig. It was released in 1996 on Hollywood Record, and was reissued on E-Magine Records in 2000 with three extra tracks and a new album cover by Martin Emond. The album is a landmark as the first Danzig album recorded after the demise of the "classic" lineup featuring John Christ, Eerie Von, and Chuck Biscuits; only the band's leader, songwriter/vocalist Glenn Danzig remained, joined by drummer Joey Castillo, who had joined the band late in 1994 after Biscuits' departure. This was the only Danzig album to feature Joseph Bishara, who has also provided keyboards and programming for 16 Volt. Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains) plays guitar on tracks 3, 7, and 8 (tracks 3, 8, and 9 of the reissue). Aside from these contribution, Danzig himself plays nearly all the instruments on the remainder of the album. Blackacidevil was widely criticized for its apparent shift from heavy metal to industrial rock, though Danzig himself has repeatedly downplayed such assessment, noting that the album draws on much more than just industrial influence. Some fans consider the change a blatant attempt at making a commercially accessible release, while others consider it a natural progression from the style of Danzig's earlier project, Samhain. The album was not well received by fans and as of 2007 had sold 124,000 copie. It is also the first album recorded after Danzig's departure from producer Rick Rubin's record label, American Recording. In interviews Danzig has said that Rubin discouraged the more elaborate and experimental Samhain-style elements in the music, especially on the first two Danzig album, which Rubin produced, in favor of a more traditional "stripped-down" heavy metal/rock style in the mold of AC/DC. Because of Danzig's 1996 departure from American Recording, the song "Deep" (which had been released earlier that year on the X-Files TV soundtrack) could not be included in the release of Blackacidevil. A track listing published in Metal Edge Magazine reveals that the song was to be featured as the seventh on the album. This is one track removed from the position in which "Deeper" (another version of the same song) was included in the 2000 Evilive Records/E-Magine Music Reissue. Besides the changes in lineup and musical direction, Blackacidevil's original release caused more controversy: Danzig's violent music and so-called Satanic imagery conflicted with the corporate image projected by Disney, the parent company of Danzig's new record label, Hollywood Record. Tower Records' Pulse Magazine created a mock radio advertisement and a cartoon drawing spoofing this odd relationship. The cartoon featured Glenn Danzig shaking hands with Disney CEO Michael Eisner at the entrance to "Danzigland" (instead of Disneyland). The two are surrounded by skull, children wearing "666" T-shirt, a horned and fanged Mickey Mouse, etc. Perhaps not surprisingly, this was the only full-length Danzig release on the Hollywood Records label. Danzig has not publicly explained the meaning of the album's title. Various theories have been advanced by fan, including the following: it is a play on the phrase "black as a devil"; it is the words "black acid devil" (or black acid evil) run together in a portmanteau. Many pre-release advertisements and press copy for the album gave it the title "Black Acid Devil", although this might have been a simple error. Tickets for Danzig's Halloween 1996 special $6.66 show at Detroit's State Theater had the phrase "Black Acid Devil" printed on them. .

via Last.fm

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