Samhain: The Dark Enigma of Rock N' Roll

The turning point for Samhain came when acclaimed producer Rick Rubin, in his obsessive quest for the "perfect rock 'n' roll band," discovered them. Rubin longed for a band that combined elements of The Doors, AC/DC, and Led Zeppelin, but with a unique essence that captured the raw intensity of the most blistering rock. Although Samhain's sound didn't fully align with his vision, the magnetic presence of Glenn Danzig captivated him immediately. After years in the punk scene and discovering gems like Run-D.M.C., Rubin sensed that Glenn was the vocalist he had been searching for.

In the 80s, Samhain was the antithesis of conventional rock. I recall spending endless hours exploring record store shelves. As a child, I was left in the music sections of department stores while my parents shopped for clothes. As a teenager, those shelves became my portal to an unknown sonic universe, guided by instinct, picking up records without knowing what I would find. Those explorations were fascinating, though everything changed over time. My wife didn't share my patience, and with the gradual disappearance of physical formats, those journeys also came to an end.

Samhain's album covers were mesmerizing, like doors to dark worlds. What were they, really? Punk? Gothic? Thrash? Death Rock? In the 80s, Glenn Danzig sought something beyond the "campy" tone of the Misfits. Influenced by bands like Celtic Frost, Bauhaus, and Venom, he forged a style that immersed the listener in the unsettling depths of the unknown. But this vision was not shared by everyone, especially Jerry Only of the Misfits.

Metallica's bassist, Cliff Burton, suggested Rubin listen to Samhain. The band, with a darker sound than the Misfits, instantly caught his attention. Glenn, already a prominent figure in the American punk underground, seemed destined for massive success with Samhain. At that time, he joined Eerie Von, a Misfits roadie who played bass and took photos, and soon Steve Zing (drums), Lyle Preslar (guitar), later London May and Damien joined.

Samhain's records, difficult to classify, had a terrifying aesthetic, perfect for the "Satanic Panic" era of the 80s. Their music, heavier and less punk, reflected the radical change Danzig wanted to implement. With macabre lyrics and a dark atmosphere, Samhain fused gothic rock and extreme metal. Glenn had learned from bands like Celtic Frost and Bauhaus, and his mission was clear: Samhain should drag listeners into the depths of their influences.

With three albums—Initium, November Coming Fire, and Final Descent—and the EP Unholy Passion, Samhain left an indelible mark. These works documented the band's energy and ambition, but also their internal tensions. Although Rubin took on the role of producer, relationships within the group became complicated. Glenn's contentious nature nearly broke up the band. Samhain went through several transformations, renaming themselves Samhain Grim, and finally, advised by Rubin, Glenn decided to dissolve the group.

From this dissolution emerged Danzig, the musical vehicle that allowed Glenn to explore his fascination with blues and the sound of Black Sabbath. The transition was not easy, but it solidified Glenn's career and made him an iconic rock figure. Samhain, though brief, left an unforgettable mark. It was Danzig's catharsis, a project born from darkness that led to a new musical chapter.

Samhain's impact doesn't lie in the fame they never achieved but in the seed they planted. That dark and defiant band was the spark that ignited the career of a man whose influence would transcend generations. More than a band, Samhain was a phase of transformation. A moment in which Glenn Danzig, determined to step out of the Misfits' shadow, embraced a deeper darkness, shaping his own musical universe.