Say what you will of Glenn Danzig, but one thing's for sure: the famed howler knows how to make some unbelievably good music. Case in point: from the horror-driven/cartoonish punk masters Misfits, to his second (and best?!) project the more metal-oriented Samhain, to the dark and heavy Danzig, he's helmed some of the best ghoulish and macabre, overly-dramatic hard-edged bands ever.

Happily, Danzig's latest album 'Circle of Snakes' proves he and the band, which now consists of guitarist Tommy Victor, drummer Bevan Davies, and bassist Jerry Montano are still capable of composing excellent material. Truly, this album recalls the greatness of the band's initial three records, the mighty triumvirate, if you will, consisting of 1988's 'Danzig', '90's 'II: Lucifuge', and '92's 'III: How the Gods Kill' ﾖ that all featured that legendary line-up of John Christ, Eerie Von, and Chuck Biscuits (D.O.A./Black Flag).

'Snakes' is devoid of those bluesy inflections that peppered some of Danzig's other albums, in turn making way for a straight-up heavy and menacing style, commencing with the foreboding (mostly) instrumental "Wotans Procession" that brings us headfirst straight to hell with the tough and unrelenting "SkinCarver" and "Circle of Snakes," which totally seems to be yet another reworking of that old standby "Twist of Cain", musically. Oddly enough, the slow, deliberate, and mysterious "My Darkness" seems to be based on a riff from Sonic Youth's "Protect Me You"... Anyway...the greatest contrast in tones on the album comes midway through with the thrashy "HellMask" which is then followed by "When We Were Dead", a nice oppressive piece of sludge.

We do get some respites from the harrowing storm, however, songs that lighten the tone a bit, songs that ﾖ dare I say ﾖ are quite beautiful, really. "1000 Devils Reign" and the sad and depressing "Skull Forrest" with its meandering, labyrinthine feel, hark back to the inherently beautiful "Anything" and "How the Gods Kill" (both off 'III'). In fact, the two final tracks, the longing and aching "Nether Bound" and "Black Angel, White Angel", also have this quality to them. Don't get me wrong; they still have a heaviness to them, but its tempered and more melodic, sounding exquisite with Glenn's enticing croon.

Lyrically, it's what you'd expect, as our man sings of devils, hell, demons, skulls, and the world dying. Just your average Danzig subjects that don't get old. No. No, they don't!