Land of the Dead (song)
Encyclopedia
"Land of the Dead" is a single
by the horror punk
band the Misfits, released October 27, 2009 through Misfits Records
. It is the first release of new studio material from the band since the 2003 cover
s album Project 1950
, and their first release of new, original material since 1999's Famous Monsters
. It is also the only release by the band's 2005–2010 lineup of Jerry Only
, Dez Cadena
, and Robo.
The single's cover artwork, by Marvel Zombies
artist Arthur Suydam
, is based on the band's "Crimson Ghost" skull logo. Both the cover art and the single's two songs, "Land of the Dead" and "Twilight of the Dead", are an homage
to director George A. Romero
's Living Dead
series of zombie
films. "Land of the Dead" is named after Romero's 2005 film of the same name
, for which Twilight of the Dead was a working title
. "Land of the Dead" and "Twilight of the Dead" are the third and fourth Misfits songs to be titled after Romero's Living Dead films: Previous Misfits lineups had recorded "Night of the Living Dead" (1979), titled after the 1969 film
, and "Day of the Dead" (on the 1997 album American Psycho
), titled after the 1985 film.
The first pressing of the single, consisting of 1,000 copies on 12-inch
translucent red vinyl, was made available exclusively through the band's website and online store. A second pressing of 1,000 on translucent orange vinyl was available exclusively at the band's performances beginning October 30, 2009. The single was released for download
through iTunes
and other digital music retailers beginning October 27, 2009. It had its radio airplay premiere the same day on Sirius XM Radio's "Faction" channel.
The band re-recorded both songs for their 2011 album The Devil's Rain
, with the new versions also being released on the "Twilight of the Dead
" single.
Artwork
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by the horror punk
Horror punk
Horror punk is a music genre that mixes Gothic and punk rock sounds with morbid imagery and lyrics, which are often influenced by horror films...
band the Misfits, released October 27, 2009 through Misfits Records
Misfits Records
Misfits Records is an independent record label founded in 2002 by Jerry Only of the Misfits as a division of his publishing company Cyclopian Music, Inc...
. It is the first release of new studio material from the band since the 2003 cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s album Project 1950
Project 1950
-Chart positions:-Bonus DVD:# "This Magic Moment"# "Dream Lover"# "Diana"# "Donna"# "Runaway"*Tracks 1-4, recorded at the Phillips US Open Snowboarding Championships*Track 5, recorded live, at The World in NYCBonus Material...
, and their first release of new, original material since 1999's Famous Monsters
Famous Monsters
-Chart positions:- Credits :* Michale Graves - vocals* Jerry Only - bass* Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein - guitar* Dr. Chud - drums...
. It is also the only release by the band's 2005–2010 lineup of Jerry Only
Jerry Only
Jerry Only is an American bassist. He is the current bassist and vocalist for the Misfits. He is credited with creating the infamous hair style known as the devilock.-Life and career:...
, Dez Cadena
Dez Cadena
Dez Paul Cadena is an American punk rock singer and guitarist. He was the third vocalist and later rhythm guitarist for hardcore punk band Black Flag. Since 2001 Cadena has played guitar with the Misfits...
, and Robo.
The single's cover artwork, by Marvel Zombies
Marvel Zombies (series)
Marvel Zombies is a comic book metaseries published by Marvel Comics. The series features zombie versions of Marvel Universe superheroes who have been portrayed as both protagonists and antagonists through the different limited series within the metaseries....
artist Arthur Suydam
Arthur Suydam
Arthur Suydam is an American comic book artist and musician. He has done artwork for magazines including Heavy Metal, Epic Illustrated and National Lampoon, while his comic book work includes Batman, Conan, Tarzan, Predator, Aliens, Death Dealer, and Marvel Zombies.-Illustration:Suydam has...
, is based on the band's "Crimson Ghost" skull logo. Both the cover art and the single's two songs, "Land of the Dead" and "Twilight of the Dead", are an homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to director George A. Romero
George A. Romero
George Andrew Romero is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter and editor, best known for his gruesome and satirical horror films about a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. He is nicknamed "Godfather of all Zombies." -Life and career:...
's Living Dead
Living Dead
Living Dead is a blanket term for various films, series, and other forms of media that all originated from, and includes, the seminal 1968 horror film Night of the Living Dead conceived by George A. Romero and John A. Russo...
series of zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
films. "Land of the Dead" is named after Romero's 2005 film of the same name
Land of the Dead
For the disambiguation page on anything else on this topic, come here to Land of the Dead .Land of the Dead is a 2005 horror film written and directed by George A...
, for which Twilight of the Dead was a working title
Working title
A working title, sometimes called a production title, is the temporary name of a product or project used during its development, usually used in filmmaking, television production, novel, video game, or music album.-Purpose:...
. "Land of the Dead" and "Twilight of the Dead" are the third and fourth Misfits songs to be titled after Romero's Living Dead films: Previous Misfits lineups had recorded "Night of the Living Dead" (1979), titled after the 1969 film
Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
, and "Day of the Dead" (on the 1997 album American Psycho
American Psycho (album)
American Psycho is an album by the Misfits. Released May 13, 1997, it was the first to be recorded and released without founder and leader Glenn Danzig...
), titled after the 1985 film.
The first pressing of the single, consisting of 1,000 copies on 12-inch
12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
translucent red vinyl, was made available exclusively through the band's website and online store. A second pressing of 1,000 on translucent orange vinyl was available exclusively at the band's performances beginning October 30, 2009. The single was released for download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
through iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and other digital music retailers beginning October 27, 2009. It had its radio airplay premiere the same day on Sirius XM Radio's "Faction" channel.
The band re-recorded both songs for their 2011 album The Devil's Rain
The Devil's Rain (album)
The Devil's Rain is the seventh studio album by the horror punk band the Misfits, released October 4, 2011 through their own label Misfits Records. It is the band's first album in eight years, following 2003's covers record Project 1950, and the first of original material since 1999's Famous...
, with the new versions also being released on the "Twilight of the Dead
Twilight of the Dead
"Twilight of the Dead" is a single by the horror punk band the Misfits. It was released October 4, 2011 through Misfits Records. It features new versions of the songs featured on the band's last single, "Land of the Dead"...
" single.
Track listing
Personnel
Band- Jerry OnlyJerry OnlyJerry Only is an American bassist. He is the current bassist and vocalist for the Misfits. He is credited with creating the infamous hair style known as the devilock.-Life and career:...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Dez CadenaDez CadenaDez Paul Cadena is an American punk rock singer and guitarist. He was the third vocalist and later rhythm guitarist for hardcore punk band Black Flag. Since 2001 Cadena has played guitar with the Misfits...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Robo – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Artwork
- Arthur SuydamArthur SuydamArthur Suydam is an American comic book artist and musician. He has done artwork for magazines including Heavy Metal, Epic Illustrated and National Lampoon, while his comic book work includes Batman, Conan, Tarzan, Predator, Aliens, Death Dealer, and Marvel Zombies.-Illustration:Suydam has...
– cover artwork