Danzig Album: “Live on the Black Hand Side”

Many of us thought it couldn't get worse than 5: Blackacidevil. 6:66 - Satan's Child was somewhat reassuring; nowhere the glory of American Records-era Danzig, but far better than the previous misstep. Then comes this atrocity. By far the worst release ever by Danzig in any incarnation, and possibly the worst live release I've EVER heard.

First, it looked promising - two discs with three shows from all major incarnations of the band - the original Danzig lineup from '92, the addition of Joey Castillo in '94, and the current band from 2000. The set list is varied and well-selected. The performances and recording quality, however, couldn't be worse. Surprisingly, the worst of the bunch is the 2000 show, which takes up all of the second disc. It sounds like an audience bootleg taken from a tape recorder hidden under someone's clothes. The clarity goes in and out (imagine listening to a record while putting your hands over your ears, taking them off and so on) and the playing is just plain rotten - all across the board.....

Definitely the worst live album I've ever heard. The production value is horrible. You can also hear the people in the audience better than you can hear Danzig. Don't waste your money on this crap.

The Songs are all excellent. The First disc includes songs from shows at Irvine Meadows,CA in 1992 on their 'How the gods Kill' Tour, and at the Seattle Center Arena in 1994 on their 'Danzig 4p' Tour. The Sound Quality on the first disc is exceptional. I enjoy this first disc very much. It includes songs from the first four albums. This two part, first disc, manifests Glenn's dynamic musical styles and vocal ranges throughout his first few years with the band which bears his name.

I also enjoy the second disc: with some VERY minor disappointments though. The songs are all presented very well, although, (and I say this with the fact that, instrumentally, the songs are recorded very well), the mic, at times, seems to have been fading on a couple of songs for reasons unknown. As I said, it's minor.

This Second Disk includes songs from the Sixth album on their Satan's Child Tour. The songs are very unique, to say the very least. The tempo is a little faster and the sound is different if compared to the studio versions. That is what I really love about all of these songs, they are the same songs yet with a twist of cain, if you will.

Another of my MINOR disappointments is that there are only one and a half songs that represented BlackAciDevil: 7th House and Deep, which is not really on BlackAciDevil but later was re-mixed and included with the title, Deeper. This is why I say "one and a half". It is regrettable that none of the other really good songs were included from that album, like, 'See all You Were', 'Serpentia', 'Hint of Her Blood', 'Come to Silver', and 'Power of Darkness'. I would have appreciated hearing at least two or three of those songs on this live compilation.

I greatly appreciate that these Live double CDs are available to own. It is always good to hear the live versions. They bring a certain quality of reality and uniqueness to them. I like this live compilation, but I wish that they would have taken a little more care in preparing the sound for a live recording on the second CD. The first CD is quite clear and I enjoy it very much.

Smage, the Godless Agnostic.

Put your Boom Box next to speakers and record - this is the sound quality of these recordings. Disk 1 is better than Disk 2 - but is still HORRIBLE.

I AM A DANZIG FAN - BUT EXPECT A BETTER PRODUCT FOR MY MONEY.

Garage bands make better sounding disk's.

If Glen release's crap I say its crap - if its EXCELLANT I'll say its EXCELLANT. I have ear's.

I've read all the negative reviews on this and must admit it steered me away from this CD until now. I finally broke down and purchased it. I must say it isn't as bad as the majority puts it off to be. The first disc is absolutely fantastic, and well worth the cost of both Cd's. The second disc is a bit disappointing, but not entirely too bad. I just consider it a bonus disc for the first one. Anyway if you are a Danzig fan give it a try. Ive heard much worse live albums (i.e. Black Label Society- Alcohol Fueled Brewtality).