title: The Black Light Bacchanalia
text: # The Black Light Bacchanalia
  
  The Black Light Bacchanalia is the twelfth album by New York heavy/power metal group Virgin Steele, released via SPV/Steamhammer on October 22, 2010 in Germany, Austria & Switzerland, and the rest of Europe on October 25, 2010 & on November 9, 2010, in the USA.
  
  The album is issued in CD format, Limited Edition digi-pack (with a bonus CD) and 3.000 copies worldwide boxset (with Triple Lp Vinyl with a book, CD, and extensive packaging).
  
  With a duration of over 11 minutes, "To Crown Them with Halos (Parts 1 & 2)" was the longest track Virgin Steele have ever recorded until it was surpassed by the 13-minute "The Ritual of Descent" from their 2023 album The Passion of Dionysus.
  
  ## Track listing
  
  All music and lyrics by David DeFeis
  
  ## Reception
  
  Professional ratings :
  
  | Review scores ||
  | - | - |
  | Source | Rating |
  | AllMusic | |
  | Imperiumi | 7+ |
  | Metal Hammer (GER) | 6/7 |
  | Metal Storm | 7.8/10 |
  
     It is a long album...close to 80 minutes. The album (to be really brief) concerns the reversal of all things. Once conquered by invading cultures, older Pagan deities become the demons from the new religion. The Black Light Bacchanalia is a reversal of the sacred sexual customs, and the final desecration of the 'Goddess Principle,' switching from matrilineal descent to patrilineal descent, with the rise of the idea of the Mountain-Fire God...And it also has to do with ancient fears such as the fear of the sun not rising...Lyrically it is a kind of continuation of the story I told on the last album...Musically it is quite something else...
  
  ## Personnel
  
  ### Band members
  
  * David DeFeis - all vocals, keyboards, orchestration, bass, producer, engineer
  * Edward Pursino - 6 string guitars
  * Josh Block - 7 string guitars, engineer
  * Frank Gilchriest - drums
  
  ### Production
  
  * Ed Warrin - engineer
  