Initium

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.[3]

For the media website, see Initium Media.
Initium
Studio album by
Samhain
Released1984
Recorded1981, August 1983-May 1984
GenreDeathrock, horror punk, heavy metal, punk rock, gothic rock
Length29:01
LabelPlan 9
ProducerGlenn Danzig
Samhain chronology
Initium
(1984)		 Unholy Passion (EP)
(1985)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Punknews.org[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).

Different versions

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, 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.

Track listing (orig. 1984 LP and most CD/cassette releases)

SIDE A:

  1. "Initium" / "Samhain" * -- 3:39
  2. "Black Dream"—2:00
  3. "All Murder All Guts All Fun"—2:44
  4. "Macabre"—2:12
  5. "He-Who-Can-Not-Be-Named"—1:38

SIDE B:

  1. "Horror Biz"—2:41
  2. "The Shift"—3:08
  3. "The Howl"—2:50
  4. "Archangel"—5:12
  5. "Unholy Passion"—3:10 ** unlisted bonus track only on 1989 2nd press CD and on some copies of 2001 reissue

Track listing (1986 cassette, 1987 CD)
  1. "Initium" / "Samhain" *
  2. "Black Dream"
  3. "All Murder All Guts All Fun"
  4. "Macabre"
  5. "He-Who-Can-Not-Be-Named"
  6. "Horror Biz"
  7. "The Shift"
  8. "The Howl"
  9. "Archangel"
  10. "Unholy Passion"
  11. "All Hell"
  12. "Moribund"
  13. "The Hungry End"
  14. "Misery Tomb"***
  15. "I Am Misery"
  • - *The first two songs are a single track on all CD releases of the album.
  • - ***This song appears on the Initium CD of the 1987 remix.

All songs written and composed by Glenn Danzig.

Personnel

Tracks 1–9

Tracks 10–15

References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. "Samhain - Initium". www.punknews.org.
  3. Byron Coley and Jimmy Johnson (October 27, 1984). "Samhain Interview". Forced Exposure. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
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