"This cd is included in the Samhain box set along with the entire discography of the band. After Misfits' demise during the 80's, frontman Glenn Danzig focused on dark music and mystic contents and named his new band after halloween's celtic legend.
This is the only official live release of Samhain and it's good as hell for every fiend out there. From die die my darling to all hell, you can listen to Misfits classics in a new, more venomous shape. Two concerts (85-86), two line-ups, one man: Danzig himself screams all the way til the end of the show and you can even listen to a fast version of initium anthem archangel. "If you don't believe there's no tomorrow, take a look at all the pain, the misery and sorrow".
If you like raw sounds and black dreams,don't miss it."
SAMHAIN: Danzig's transition period from MISFITS to DANZIG
hyena206 | Seattle,WA | 09/25/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I honestly think this is the only album worth owning from this group, for varying reasons. All instruments are played by musicians (no annoying drum machines here.) The songs don't sound so disjointed here than on the studio albums like most songs on INITIUM. You can truly justify how good a band is by hearing them in an unedited medium and they're by no means amazing. Check out the alternate versions of previosly released MISFITS songs ('Horror Buisness,' 'All Hell Breaks Loose.') Spans everything SAMHAIN except Final Descent. Plenty of MISFITS-esque punk anthemns ('All Murder...,' 'He Who Can Not Be Named,') as well as slow hard rock ('Mother of Mercy,' 'To Walk the Night.') My least favorite band associated with Glenn Danzig but this CD is palatable enough."
Fjpasodifjapsdio
Derek Killman | 08/03/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"man i love this record. all of samhain's best songs, live on one album. extra points for blood all over glenn's face and body on the front cover. sound quality sux of course but if you like the misfits then you should be used to it by now. if you like the misfits and are interested in samhain i would recommend this, november coming fire and final descent(my fav from the band). i would stay away from the unholy passion EP it didnt do much for me...basically just a bunch of howling (especially on misery tomb). initium is pretty good for the song archangel but the price is too fu c king high...maybe u can download it off limewire or something."
Danzig fan's wet dream
cantspeak | Altamonte Springs, FL | 02/26/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you're new to any of Glenn Danzig's music (The Misfits, Samhain, Danzig) I don't suggest this album for you, because you will not be able to fully appreciate it. However, if you're a fan of The Misfits and/or Danzig, this is a treat to own. While the recording quality is pretty bad, you won't care, because if you like the Misfits, you've learned to overlook that. So "Live: '85-'86" is basically every great Samhain song played live. It starts with a remake of the Misfits' "All Hell Breaks Loose" simply re-titled "All Hell" and ends the concert in the Samhain classic "Arch Angel". Personal favorites on this album are "The Howl", "All Murder, All Guts, All Fun", "Black Dream", "Death Comes Ripping", "Mother of Mercy", "To Walk The Night", "Halloween II", "London Dungeon", and "Arch Angel". Glenn Danzig fans from all around: buy this album, it's a rare treat."