- Mausoleum Skull Records Release
"Prince of Darkness" is the first album by the Germany Heavy Metal band TOX and was recorded during December 1984 and January 1985, in Spygel Studios Kirchheim, Germany.
|
Album Description:
TOX was a heavy metal band from Germany that formed in the early 1980s. Their debut album, "Prince of Darkness," was recorded in December 1984 and January 1985 at Spygel Studios Kirchheim, Germany, and released in 1986. The album is available on 12" vinyl LP and contains nine tracks. T "Prince of Darkness" is a classic heavy metal album that features traditional heavy metal instrumentation, including guitars, bass, drums, and vocals. The production is clean and polished, with a focus on melodic guitar riffs and catchy choruses. The guitar solos are intricate and well-executed, adding a level of technicality to the album. The vocals on the album are clean and powerful, with a focus on melody and harmonies. The drumming is steady and supportive, with occasional fills and accents to add interest to the songs. The lyrics on "Prince of Darkness" focus on classic heavy metal themes, including love, loss, and rebellion. The band explores these themes through vivid and poetic imagery, with a focus on storytelling. The lyrics on the album are well-crafted and thoughtful, with a focus on emotional depth and connection. They showcase TOX's ability to write compelling and engaging heavy metal songs. TOX's musical style on "Prince of Darkness" is heavily influenced by classic heavy metal bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. The band incorporates elements of these bands into their music, including melodic guitar riffs, catchy choruses, and powerful vocals. TOX also incorporates elements of speed metal and thrash metal into their music, creating a sound that is more aggressive and intense than traditional heavy metal. |
|
Barcode: There is NO barcode on this album |
|
Rights Society: +SUISA+ |
|
Labelcode: LC 8920 |
|
Music Genre: Heavy Metal |
|
Album Production Information: This album was produced by: Werner Dannemann (GAMA) , Peter Garattoni (GAMA) Sound Engineers: Walter "Batze" Kramer, Bernd Settgast
Walter "Batze" Kramer is a legendary German sound engineer who defined the sonic identity of 1980s heavy metal. Known for his sharp ear and innovative techniques, he worked with cult bands like Stormwitch, Gravestone, Tox, and Necronomicon, shaping a generation’s metal sound. Discover his legacy in this
detailed biography
.
Bernd Settgast a Swiss Sound engineer who has worked on the albums: "On the Altar of Rock" by "Sacrifice" and "Tales of Terror" by "Stormwitch", "Prince of Darkness" by "Tox". Mix Engineer: Manfred Lohse Manfred Lohse is a German Sound engineer, mixing the sounds for various sorts of music as well as heavy metal band like Bloody Six, Sacrifice, Stormwitch , etc Recorded at: Spygel Studios, Kirchheim Album artwork: Uli Allgaier |
|
Record Label & Catalognr: Mausoleum Records - SKULL 8395 |
|
Media Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone RecordTotal Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram |
|
Year & Country: 1985 Switzerland (Suisse) |
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: TOX - Prince Of Darkness Skull |
Notes: Today Werner is a guitarist with over 50 years of experience in the Germany music scene and founder of the TOX Band. Werner Dannemann was founding member of the TOX band. TOX was originally intended as the name for one of Werner's dogs, but he kept the dog's names Hektor and Falk , so the band FOX was born In 1980, Peter Garattoni set up the Gama Musikverlags GmbH (A Germany Record Company) jointly with Günter Marek. Peter was drummer and former member of Eulenspygel, Nexus, Tox and Zero. Today Werner Dannemann is a guitarist with over 50 years of experience in the Germany music scene and founder of the TOX Band. Werner Dannemann was founding member of the TOX band. TOX was originally intended as the name for one of Werner's dogs, but he kept the dog's names Hektor and Falk , so the band FOX was born |
Complete Track-listing of the album "TOX - Prince Of Darkness Skull" |
|
The detailed tracklist of this record "TOX - Prince Of Darkness Skull" is:
|
High Quality Photo of Album Front Cover "TOX - Prince Of Darkness Skull" |
|
The album cover for TOX - Prince of Darkness is a vivid, surreal fantasy scene dominated by fiery red, orange, and purple tones. At the center, a powerful female sorceress with long flowing black hair and a dark, tattered dress is dramatically posed with her arms raised, summoning a glowing yellow beam of light that shoots downward into a flaming cauldron. The cauldron sits atop dark blue smoke and roaring fire, marked with an engraved emblem and boiling with supernatural energy. Flames and magical force burst outward in a chaotic blaze. The background is a swirling mass of molten red textures and marbled patterns, suggesting a hellish or otherworldly atmosphere. From the cauldron, a flock of black bats emerges in a swirling flight, curving up and into the top right of the image. A large bat with piercing green eyes hovers menacingly near the yellow beam. At the bottom right corner, a small black cat with glowing green eyes watches from the shadows. The bold black band name TOX is printed at the top left, and the album title Prince of Darkness appears in gothic font at the bottom right. The composition exudes 1980s metal aesthetics, blending horror, mysticism, and fantasy in an intense, high-contrast visual style. |
Album Back Cover Photo of "TOX - Prince Of Darkness Skull" |
The back cover of TOX - Prince of Darkness is a bold, high-contrast design featuring hot pink text on a stark black background. The band's name TOX and the album title Prince of Darkness are prominently displayed at the top center in large gothic-style font. The track listing is split into two columns labeled Side 1 and Side 2. Each song title is followed by songwriter credits. Side 1 includes: "Rosa Lee", "Gambler on the Run", "Power of Love", and "Prince of Darkness". Side 2 features: "Leisure Time", "Hard Hearted", "Jump Over the Wall", "Tell Me What to Do", and "Broken People". Below the track list, detailed production credits are listed. The album was produced by Werner Dannemann and Peter Garattoni for GAMA, recorded by Walter "Batze" Kramer and Bernd Settgast, and mixed by Manfred Lohse at Spygel Studios in Kirchheim, Germany in December 1984 and January 1985. Band members are listed with their respective instruments: Werner Dannemann (vocals, all guitars, bass, synthesizer), Peter Garattoni (drums, cymbals, synthesizer), and Wolfgang Kallert (bass). Additional credits thank contributors and acknowledge the artwork by Uli Allgaier. At the bottom center, the pink Mausoleum Records logo is prominently displayed, confirming the label's identity and distribution. The overall aesthetic is consistent with 1980s heavy metal album art, favoring clarity, function, and intensity. |
Photo of "TOX - Prince Of Darkness Skull" 12" LP Record - Side One: |
This is the Side One label of the TOX - Prince Of Darkness 12-inch vinyl LP released by Mausoleum Records under catalog number SKULL 8395. The label features a dramatic design with a dark blue and purple sky background, cracked by a vivid yellow lightning bolt, evoking a stormy supernatural atmosphere. The Mausoleum Records logo appears at the top in dripping blood-red gothic font, accompanied by the word "Records" in old English script. The legal identifiers include LC 8920 in a circle, the SUISA logo to the left, and the text "Stereo 33 T" on the right to indicate playback speed.
The track list for Side One is clearly printed in white and includes:
The band name TOX and album title Prince Of Darkness are displayed just above the tracks. At the bottom, production credits are printed in small white text: GAMA Musikverlag, D-7312 Kirchheim/Teck © 1985. The outer edge of the label includes legal notices about unauthorized copying, lending, and broadcasting. |
Photo of "TOX - Prince Of Darkness Skull" 12" LP Record - Side Two: |
This is the Side Two label of the TOX - Prince Of Darkness 12-inch vinyl LP released by Mausoleum Records, catalog number SKULL 8395. The label uses a thunderstorm-themed design with a dark marbled background of purple and blue, highlighted by a jagged yellow lightning bolt stretching across the center. At the top, the Mausoleum logo appears in a striking blood-red dripping font, paired with the word "Records" in gothic white type. To the left of the spindle hole, the SUISA rights society logo and LC 8920 identifier are clearly printed.
The tracklist for Side Two is listed in white sans-serif text and includes:
Centered above the track titles are the artist name TOX and album title Prince Of Darkness. At the bottom of the label are the copyright credits: © GAMA Musikverlag, D-7312 Kirchheim/Teck, © 1985. The label rim includes standard copyright notices warning against unauthorized duplication and broadcasting. |
MAUSOLEUM Records: Belgian keepers of a vast vinyl legacy. Founded in 1980, their catalog spans heavy metal, hard rock, and punk. Discover rare gems, cult classics, and legendary artists. Dive into their discography and unearth the sonic treasures waiting to be spun.