Review Summary: We all want our time in hell
Samhain is forever destined to be the middle child in Glenn Danzig’s discography, the most musically nebulous of his projects and a nigh pain in the ass to track down in the streaming age. It’s tempting to view the sound of 1986’s November-Coming Fire as a mere halfway point between Misfits punk and Danzig metal, especially as plenty of tracks are all too happy to muddy the genre waters. “Halloween II” may be the most literal instance of this mindset in action, remaking the old Misfits tune with the sort of crunchy pinch harmonic strut that John Christ would run with.
The pronounced gothic rock touches also give the project a distinctly infernal tone compared to Danzig’s other ventures. The stuttering rhythms on songs like “Mother Of Mercy” and “November’s Fire” can feel more dragged out than their three minute-ish lengths suggest while the distorted guitars and subtle keyboards blend into screams from the underworld. Even the faster punk songs like “In My Grip” and the celebratory “Let The Day Begin” maintain a sinister atmosphere.
Fitting for the horror vibes at play, the dynamics get pushed to some creepy extents throughout. “To Walk The Night” is a short gothic vignette with a solemn baritone casting a lonely shadow over the gradually rolling rhythms and drifting creaks that hit right for late night listening. The closing “Human Pony Girl” can feel downright excruciating with its slow motion blasts stretched out to five minutes, yet the cacophony of guitar and bass egged on by hollers and droning keyboard provides some hypnotic intrigue.
November-Coming-Fire is a brilliant Samhain showing that is as essential as it is overlooked. For how rough and raw the band’s presentation can often be, the dark theatrics are executed well enough to reflect the sense of purpose behind them. Its unconventional atmosphere and off-kilter timing may take a bit more time to feel out compared to the more straightforward nature of Glenn Danzig’s other projects but it might not be quite as cheesy in comparison. Misfits may be one of the leading bands on your Halloween playlists but Samhain exemplifies this time of year in its own diabolical way.
