Green Hell: The Misfits’ Earth A.D. at 40

Looking back on the second studio album from the North Jersey punk legends

December 12, 2023December 12, 2023 Todd Manning 1 Comment 1983, 40th Anniversary, Doyle, Earth A.D., Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only, Lodi, New Jersey, The Misfits

Misfits Earth A.D. T-shirt (Image: Reddit)

When discussing punk in the ’70s a few places come to mind.

New York, of course. London and Washington D.C. also spring quickly to mind, each giving birth to any number of vital bands.

But if one brings up Lodi, New Jersey, they can only really be talking about one band: The Misfits.

Named after Marylin Monroe’s final movie, the moniker seemed appropriate, not only regarding their place well outside mainstream pop culture but also their status among the punks of the day. Like many, they looked to older rock music for inspiration, but not long after their formation, they began to forge a much darker sound, a sound fueled by a steady diet of horror comic books and B movies.

After failing to find a label to put out Static Age, a recording intended to be their debut full-length, they issued Walk Among Us in March of 1982. The record was an instant success and they followed it quickly with their second album Earth A.D., released on December 12th, 1983.

The Misfits Earth A.D., Caroline Records 1983

Despite the short stretch between records, there exists a marked difference in the band’s sound from one to the next. Most notably, the tempos on Earth A.D. shift into high gear, the record feeling much more like a hardcore record than its predecessor.

The approach is evident on the leadoff title track. Other than the distinctive vocal style of Glenn Danzig, the music wouldn’t be out of place on a Black Flag album, and notably, the former Flag drummer Robo plays on this recording. The same feeling exists on “Queen Wasp” right down to the shouted gang-vocals.

Even with the shifting sound, the Misfits never lose their identity. “Devilock,” a tune named after the iconic hairstyle by the group is a fan favorite. And the raging “Green Hell” was immortalized along with “Last Caress” (from the Misfits’s 1980 EP Beware) by Metallica when they included a medley of the songs on the 1987 covers release The $5.98 EP-The Garage Days Re-Revisited.

One thing that remains consistent across the early Misfits records is their ability to write memorable hooks. Even though Earth A.D. was much more intense, with metal and hardcore providing a much more pronounced influence, the songs are still infectious. Much of the credit goes to Glenn Danzig, whose vocals combine Elvis Presley and Jim Morrison, along with his East Coast accent and punk influences giving him a captivating style. With the addition of all the “whoa’s” and “ah’s,” one can’t help but sing along, even when the lyrics are far from obvious.

Most versions of Earth A.D. also include the three-song single Wolfs Blood as part of the collection. These songs include “Die, Die My Darling,” “Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?” and “We Bite.” While “We Bite” might be a deeper cut to many, the other two are some of the group’s best-known songs.

Earth A.D. 3D model (Image: Cyclopian Music)

The Misfits were loved by punks during their initial run but the personalities involved, particularly Danzig’s, made it a volatile situation. He was already planning his post-Misfits moves when Earth A.D. was being recorded but then contributed a couple of new songs intended for his next project to the album. Yet, the constant lineup changes ultimately led to the group’s demise before the record was even released. Danzig moved on to form the cult legends Samhain and then his own band, Danzig, achieving quite a bit of success with the latter. After a legal battle with the former singer, bassist Jerry Only acquired the right to the Misfits moniker and has led several incarnations and released several albums, starting with 1997’s American Psycho. While many enjoy the later records, many others don’t feel they hold a candle to the classics.

While their initial run was brief, the Misfits have had a huge impact on punk and metal, along with rock music in general. Their “Crimson Ghost” logo is ubiquitous and probably recognized by many who are not even familiar with the band. Initially, not everyone enjoyed the more hardcore approach of Earth A.D., but few make the distinction nowadays.

Earth A.D. might be faster and heavier, but these songs are every bit the classics as the rest of the original Misfits catalog.

AUDIO: Earth A.D. on mp3

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Todd Manning

Todd Manning is a recovering musician who mostly writes about Metal and Jazz various places around the internet, including Burning Ambulance, Cvlt Nation and No Clean singing. He lives in Indianapolis, IN.