The Classic Metal Album Review:
Title: November-Coming-Fire
Artist: Samhain
Label:E-Magine Records
Release Date: 1986

Rating: 5 Skulls
  • Discuss on the Metal Judgment Web Board
  • Submit/Read Reader Reviews of this Album

    • Slither's Review:
    For anyone wondering, I am a pretty big Glen Danzig fan. His quirky music and evolution from campy horror movie subject matter to genuine pagan ideals has always interested me. And in my opinion his career can be summed up in three seminal releases: The Misfits' Walk Among Us, Samhain's November-Coming-Fire and his Danzig III: How the Gods Kill album. As a listener you can draw a fairly straight line starting in punk, passing through a kind of atmospheric new-wave influence and ending in the Bluesy Doom of his solo career. All the stages of Danzig evolution have traits that make them endearing, but they all share the common element of his unique voice. The vocals seem to be the deal breaker for most people, but whether you love or hate Evil Elvis, he is a figure larger than life with a profound musical presence.

    Samhain is the focus here, and more specifically, Samhain's best album. November-Coming-Fire was a big step away from the group's first album, which was basically just the Misfits again with the drummer playing bass. But on their second official release (I believe there was an EP called Unholy Passion in between) new members came on board and took the writing in a decidedly more metallic and atmospheric direction. Where atmosphere is concerned, this album puts most Black Metal to shame with its thin guitar tone and haunting vocals. But interspersed with those colder, more desolate tracks are a few that hint at the band's past and future. Shouted choruses and chunky riffs on tracks like "Let the Day Begin" and "Mother of Mercy" seamlessly fuse the punk of the Misfits and the new slow and heavy direction of Danzig's later career.

    The thin and sloppy nature of this album's recording only adds to its charm, and the blending of styles is groundbreaking for the time of its release. November-Coming-Fire stands as the peak for Samhain before the arrival of future Danzig guitarist John Christ. Following his joining the band, there is a bit of unsuccessful experimentation before they really got it right during the Danzig solo career. So in conclusion, if you are at all a fan of his more prominent bands, you owe it to yourself to get a copy of this album - you will not be disappointed.
    5 out of 5

    [- Metal Judgment Home -]    [- Email Metal Judgment -]
    ©1999 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.