''Initium'' is the 1984 debut album by American

deathrock Death rock (or deathrock) is a rock music subgenre incorporating horror elements and gothic theatrics. It emerged from punk rock on the West Coast of the United States in the early 1980s and overlaps with the gothic rock and horror punk ge ...

band

Samhain Samhain ( , , , ; gv, Sauin ) is a Gaelic festival on 1 NovemberÓ hÓgáin, Dáithí. ''Myth Legend and Romance: An Encyclopaedia of the Irish Folk Tradition''. Prentice Hall Press, 1991. p. 402. Quote: "The basic Irish division of the year ...

, released on lead singer

Glenn Danzig Glenn Allen Anzalone (born June 23, 1955), better known by his stage name Glenn Danzig, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, film director, and record producer. He is the founder of the rock bands Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig. He owns ...

's independent record label

Plan 9 Plan 9 or Plan Nine may refer to: Music * Plan 9 (band), a psychedelic rock band from Rhode Island * ''Plan 9'', an album by Big Guitars From Memphis with Rick Lindy * "Plan 9", a song on the 1993 album ''Gorgeous'' by electronica band 808 Stat ...

. In various interviews, Danzig stated that the album's title, which translates from Latin to English as "beginning", represents his new start after disbanding his prior band, 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 David Vanian (born David Lett, 12 October 1956) is an English rock musician, and lead singer of the punk rock band the Damned. Formed in 1976 in London, the Damned were the first British punk band to release a single, release an album, have ...

(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. Also appearing on this recording are

Lyle Preslar Lyle Preslar is an American musician best known for being the guitar player and songwriter for the hardcore punk band Minor Threat. Before that, he was the vocalist for The Extorts, who later became State of Alert after he quit. Despite not per ...

, guitarist for the influential D.C. band

Minor Threat Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Washington, D.C. by vocalist Ian MacKaye and drummer Jeff Nelson. MacKaye and Nelson had played in several other bands together, and recruited bassist Brian Baker and guitar ...

(CD tracks 2, 4, 6, and 7), and Al Pike, bassist for

Reagan Youth Reagan Youth is an American anarcho-punk band formed by singer Dave Rubinstein (Dave Insurgent) and guitarist Paul Bakija (Paul Cripple) in Queens, New York City in early 1980. History Initial career (1980–1990) Rubinstein and Bakija at ...

(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 ''Unholy Passion'' is the first EP and second overall release by American deathrock band Samhain, Glenn Danzig's band after the disbanding of the Misfits. According to bassist Eerie Von in his photographic book ''Misery Obscura,'' the album was ...

'', 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

All songs written and composed by Glenn Danzig. ;Orig. 1984 LP and most CD/cassette releases * Unlisted bonus track only on 1989 2nd press CD and on some copies of 2001 reissue ;1986 cassette, 1987 CD * 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.

Personnel

Tracks 1–9

- vocals, guitar *

Eerie Von Eerie Von (born Eric Stellmann; August 25, 1964) is an American musician best known as the original bassist for the heavy metal band Danzig. His preferred bass is the Fender Jazz Bass. Early life Eerie Von was raised in Lodi, New Jersey. A ...

- bass *

Steve Zing Steve Zing (born Steven Paul Grecco; June 29, 1964) is an American drummer. He has performed with Implosion, Mourning Noise, and The Undead before joining Samhain. He graduated in 1982 from Lodi High School in Lodi, New Jersey together with ...

- drums, ambience on "Initium"

Tracks 10–15

* See ''

Unholy Passion ''Unholy Passion'' is the first EP and second overall release by American deathrock band Samhain, Glenn Danzig's band after the disbanding of the Misfits. According to bassist Eerie Von in his photographic book ''Misery Obscura,'' the album was " ...

References

{{Authority control 1984 debut albums Albums produced by Glenn Danzig Gothic rock albums by American artists Hardcore punk albums by American artists Plan 9 Records albums Samhain (band) albums