Music Review: Danzig, Skeletons

By Tim Murr

Glenn Danzig could have ended his career at any time in the last 30 years and still left an indelible mark across pop culture. Most artists don’t get one iconic band to front, much less three! From Misfits to Samhain to Danzig, Glenn has given the world some of the best albums in punk, goth, and metal, while always staying true to his rugged individualistic vision and not giving a fuck about trends.

One of the most important gifts Danzig has is his Elvis-from-Hell voice, which has helped propel all his songs out and away from the packs of other bands. Presley’s influence has been evident since the Misfits, especially on the song “American Nightmare.” Later Danzig covered Presley’s “Trouble” on the Thrall: Demonsweatlive EP (which spawned the live hit version of “Mother” that everyone knows). There had been talk of an all Elvis covers album, but instead we got Skeletons.

On Skeletons, Danzig puts his influences on display and some are more surprising than others. Besides Elvis and Black Sabbath, which are givens, you get The Troggs, Aeromsith, ZZ Top, and The Everly Brothers. It’s a surprising mix and one that works really well, with one glaring exception.

The album kicks off like a classic Misfits album with the track “Devils Angels” and builds steam through “Satan’s Sadists,” “Let Yourself Go,” and “NIB,” before being derailed by Aerosmith’s “Lord of Your Thighs.” While Danzig’s version is certainly better than the original, it’s still a bad song and not worthy of inclusion.

Don’t despair, the album rockets back with The Litters’ “Action Woman.” Even “Rough Boy” by ZZ Top (a band who I can’t stand) becomes a bluesy punk metal classic in Danzig’s capable hands. The album’s closer, “Crying In The Rain,” reminds me a bit of the better moments on Nick Cave’s covers album, Kicking Against The Pricks.

Skeletons is raw and loose and actually a lot more fun than these kinds of things usually are. It may not be as essential as Initium or How The Gods Kill, but it’s a worthy addition to the Danzig catalogue.

Skeletons will be released on November 27 from Nuclear Blast.