Venom (band)
Encyclopedia
Venom are an English heavy metal
band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne
. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell
(1981) and Black Metal
(1982)—are considered a major influence on thrash metal
and extreme metal
in general. Venom's second album proved influential enough that its title was used as the name of an extreme metal subgenre: black metal
.
In the late autumn of 1979 Conrad Lant
from the bands Dwarf Star and Album Graecum replaced Dave Rutherford.
Prime influences of the formative band were Black Sabbath
, Judas Priest
, Motörhead and Kiss
. Other bands cited by Venom as an inspiration are Queen
, The Who
, Deep Purple
, Sex Pistols
, Van Halen
, The Tubes
and Rolling Stones.
A few days before a show at a local church hall, Winston left the band. To fill in, Lant borrowed a bass guitar from Steve Thompson (later to become Venom's first producer). Playing the show with the borrowed bass plugged into his Marshall guitar amp and effects pedals, he created an unnerving racket and the 'Bulldozer Bass' was born.
Venom's lyrics often featured Satanic
references, and the band members took on new stage name
s. Archer became 'Jesus Christ', Lant 'Mr. Cronos
', Bray 'Tony Abaddon
', and Dunn 'Jeff Mantas'.
In April 1980, the band recorded a three song disc, featuring "Angel Dust", "Raise the Dead", and "Red Light Fever". Soon afterward, six more tracks were recorded for just £50, with Lant taking vocal duties on the song "Live Like an Angel". Archer soon left the band, and Venom's line-up became a trio.
. Later that year they released their full-length debut, Welcome to Hell
.
Though crudely recorded with sometimes dubious musicianship, Welcome to Hell was still a remarkable tour de force for the era. Venom's music was faster and harsher than most heavy metal contemporaries and while Satanism and other dark topics had been featured in metal before, the subject had rarely been more prominent. Lant was quoted as saying that this celebration of evil subjects was inspired by the perceived need to out-do musicians like Ozzy Osbourne
of Black Sabbath, who would 'sing about evil things and dark figures, and then spoil it all by going: "Oh, no, no, please, God, help me!
"
Their second album, 1982's Black Metal
is cited as perhaps the most important influence in the development of black metal
, thrash metal, death metal
, and other related styles that are often grouped under the extreme metal
umbrella. Many defining elements of these genres are first found in the lyrics and song titles created by Lant and his unique singing style as well as the guitar work and solos performed by Dunn. Though they would later be cited as important, neither of Venom’s first two albums sold well upon their original release. And while many of their British metal peers had found measures of popular success or critical acclaim (or, like Def Leppard
, were moving away from metal towards hard rock
), Venom were still regarded by critics as "a trio of buffoons".
In an attempt to prove their status as serious musicians, Venom recorded At War with Satan
in 1984. The epic 20-minute title track, with substantial progressive rock
influences, took up the first side of the LP. The B-side was focused on the rapid-fire, three-minute "scorchers" Venom were known for. In 1985, Venom released their fourth album, Possessed, which was not as successful as previous albums. Dunn then left the band to pursue a solo career.
” material. This was even less successful than Possessed, and Lant, Clare and Hickey all left Venom after subsequent touring to form Lant's eponymous solo band Cronos
.
Bray was left as the only group member, but he was able to convince Music for Nations
for a deal to release a new Venom album on the Under One Flag label, using Deadline demo tracks which were recorded with previous line-ups but never released. In 1988, Bray offered a vocals/bass role to Tony Dolan
from Atomkraft
. Bray and Dolan wrote new material prior to Dunn's rejoining the band along with rhythm guitarist Al Barnes. Together they recorded Prime Evil
(1989), Tear Your Soul Apart
(1990) and Temples of Ice
(1991). Barnes then left the band, and Steve White from Atomkraft was hired as his replacement. They released The Waste Lands
in 1992, also without success. Music for Nations refused to release any more Venom albums, so Dolan and Dunn quit, effectively disbanding Venom. Bray continued to release compilation and live albums up to 1995.
EP with four re-recorded and one new song, resulting in a record deal with the SPV
label. An album, Cast in Stone
, was next released in 1997, split between new material and re-recordings of popular early-'80s songs.
in 2000 on SPV. However, in 2002 Dunn again left the group and was replaced by a returning Hickey. In late 2005, Venom released a career-spanning 4-disc box set MMV, which includes an exclusive mini-poster of the band's seven-date tour of Europe with Metallica
and a 60 page picture book, with interviews and pictures. The set includes all their best-known songs, along with rarities like live tracks, demos and outtakes. This lineup of the band released the Metal Black
album.
Hickey left the group 2007, with a guitarist calling himself Rage serving as his replacement. This lineup released the record Hell
in 2008. Antony Lant has since left the group to concentrate on his band DEF-CON-ONE. Lant has been replaced by drummer Danny "Dante" Needham.
In January 2011, Venom announced that they would begin writing new material for their upcoming 13th album, with plans to enter the recording studio in the months that followed.
, influencing many thrash metal
, black metal
, death metal
and other extreme metal bands,
their exact genre has been a topic of debate. Venom has been labeled various genres by members of the press. Most prominent genres are black metal
, thrash metal
, and speed metal
.
bands, specifically the Big Four of Thrash (who in turn were highly influential): Metallica
, Slayer
, Anthrax
and Megadeth
(Metallica opened for Venom on an early 1980s tour and Slayer played with them on the Combat Tour in 1985). Venom would also be of extreme importance to the black metal
and even the early death metal
scene, with numerous bands copying styles, themes and imagery from the band, such as the Swiss band Hellhammer which also helped pioneer the genres.
Venom often used Satanic and other 'evil' themes in their lyrics, but critic Bradley Torreano declared that the band had "their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks", with a sense of humor and irony that was sometimes lost on their fans and other musicians. Torreano adds that Venom "[caught] the attention of both metalheads and punks, the band was emulated by the former and turned into camp icons by the latter."
When asked about the criminal actions or violent behaviour of some later black metal bands (notably, there were a string of arson
s and a few murder
s in the Norwegian black metal
community in the 1990s), Venom's members reportedly expressed disapproval, stating the point of Venom is to make controversial music, and "How can you make albums and tour if you are in jail?".
Although they didn't make it to MTV
's top 10 heavy metal bands list, they were given an "honorable mention."
Keith Kahn-Harris argues that Venom's limited technical skill, particularly early in their career, was a profound, though inadvertent factor in Venom's influence: being unable to mimic more technically proficient metal of their predecessors or peers, Venom instead opted to focus on sheer speed, creating music that was inspired by earlier metal, yet simultaneously blazed new trails.
In his Black Flag
tour diary
, singer Henry Rollins
wrote about a 1986 performance when Black Flag opened for Venom. He opines that Venom was hilarious, with mediocre playing and a stage performance focused on appearances rather than music; Rollins asserted that the musicians used portable fans to keep their hair flowing while on stage. Rollins wrote, "It was like seeing Spinal Tap
... I expected them to go into 'Sex Farm' at any second." Rollins writes that he and some tourmates drew magic marker pentagram
s on their hands to flash at Venom and offer “Hail Satan
” salutes. For their final number, Venom asked the audience to chant what Rollins thought was “Black Funky Metal”, which briefly made Rollins suspect that he had overlooked Venom's sense of humor, until he realized Venom was actually saying “Black Fucking Metal.” Venom reportedly laughed off Rollins’ comments saying "Henry didn't have the balls to speak to us back then, he hid backstage, but now he mouths off behind our backs. His band was useless and that's why he writes books now. But at least he got the date of the show right. Go write some more books and we'll keep making music."
Venom's members were apparently well aware that their musical skills were questioned, especially by other bands. During a concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1984, guitarist Mantas was doing a between-song rant when he remarked rather loudly: "A lot of bands are out there tonight, waiting for Venom to make a mistake. Well, we are the fucking mistake!"
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell
Welcome to Hell
Welcome to Hell is the debut album by the English heavy metal band Venom, released in December 1981. Welcome to Hell is often described as speed metal, but it had a great influence on the then-emerging thrash metal style, and crystallized the elements of what later became known as death metal and...
(1981) and Black Metal
Black Metal (album)
Black Metal is the second album by the English band Venom. It was released in November 1982 and is considered a major influence on the thrash metal, death metal and black metal scenes that emerged in the 1980s and early 1990s. Although lending its name to the latter genre, today the album is often...
(1982)—are considered a major influence on thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
and extreme metal
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
in general. Venom's second album proved influential enough that its title was used as the name of an extreme metal subgenre: black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
.
Early years (1978–1981)
Venom's original personnel came from three different bands: Guillotine, Oberon and Dwarf Star. The original Guillotine featured Jeffrey Dunn and Dave Rutherford on guitars, Dean Hewitt on bass guitar, Dave Blackman on vocals and Chris Mercaters on drums. Blackman and Mercater were replaced by drummer Anthony Bray (b. 17 September 1957 in Newcastle) and vocalist Clive Archer of Oberon and soon after, Dean Hewitt was replaced by Alan Winston on bass. Around this time the name Venom was created.In the late autumn of 1979 Conrad Lant
Conrad Lant
Conrad Thomas Lant is a British musician who is the vocalist and bass player of the influential black/thrash metal band Venom, from 1979 to 1987 and from 1995 to present.- Early life :...
from the bands Dwarf Star and Album Graecum replaced Dave Rutherford.
Prime influences of the formative band were Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
, Motörhead and Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
. Other bands cited by Venom as an inspiration are Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
, Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
, The Tubes
The Tubes
The Tubes are a San Francisco-based rock band, whose 1975 debut album included the hit single, "White Punks on Dope". During its first fifteen years or so, the band's live performances combined quasi-pornography with wild satires of media, consumerism, and politics...
and Rolling Stones.
A few days before a show at a local church hall, Winston left the band. To fill in, Lant borrowed a bass guitar from Steve Thompson (later to become Venom's first producer). Playing the show with the borrowed bass plugged into his Marshall guitar amp and effects pedals, he created an unnerving racket and the 'Bulldozer Bass' was born.
Venom's lyrics often featured Satanic
Satanism
Satanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
references, and the band members took on new stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
s. Archer became 'Jesus Christ', Lant 'Mr. Cronos
Cronus
In Greek mythology, Cronus or Kronos was the leader and the youngest of the first generation of Titans, divine descendants of Gaia, the earth, and Uranus, the sky...
', Bray 'Tony Abaddon
Abaddon
Abaddon in the Revelation of St. John, is the king of tormenting locusts and the angel of the bottomless pit. The exact nature of Abaddon is debated, but the Hebrew word is related to the triliteral root אבד , which in verb form means "to perish."...
', and Dunn 'Jeff Mantas'.
In April 1980, the band recorded a three song disc, featuring "Angel Dust", "Raise the Dead", and "Red Light Fever". Soon afterward, six more tracks were recorded for just £50, with Lant taking vocal duties on the song "Live Like an Angel". Archer soon left the band, and Venom's line-up became a trio.
Classic lineup (1981–1986)
Venom's recording debut was the 1981 single "In League with Satan"/"Live Like an Angel" which was released by Neat RecordsNeat Records
Neat Records was a record label based near Newcastle, England. The label was established in 1979 by David Wood, who was the owner of Impulse Studios in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England. The establishment of Neat coincided with the arrival at Impulse of Songwriter/Producer Steve Thompson who guided...
. Later that year they released their full-length debut, Welcome to Hell
Welcome to Hell
Welcome to Hell is the debut album by the English heavy metal band Venom, released in December 1981. Welcome to Hell is often described as speed metal, but it had a great influence on the then-emerging thrash metal style, and crystallized the elements of what later became known as death metal and...
.
Though crudely recorded with sometimes dubious musicianship, Welcome to Hell was still a remarkable tour de force for the era. Venom's music was faster and harsher than most heavy metal contemporaries and while Satanism and other dark topics had been featured in metal before, the subject had rarely been more prominent. Lant was quoted as saying that this celebration of evil subjects was inspired by the perceived need to out-do musicians like Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
of Black Sabbath, who would 'sing about evil things and dark figures, and then spoil it all by going: "Oh, no, no, please, God, help me!
Black Sabbath (song)
"Black Sabbath" is a song by British heavy metal band of the same name, written in 1969 and released on the band's debut album, Black Sabbath...
"
Their second album, 1982's Black Metal
Black Metal (album)
Black Metal is the second album by the English band Venom. It was released in November 1982 and is considered a major influence on the thrash metal, death metal and black metal scenes that emerged in the 1980s and early 1990s. Although lending its name to the latter genre, today the album is often...
is cited as perhaps the most important influence in the development of black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
, thrash metal, death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
, and other related styles that are often grouped under the extreme metal
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
umbrella. Many defining elements of these genres are first found in the lyrics and song titles created by Lant and his unique singing style as well as the guitar work and solos performed by Dunn. Though they would later be cited as important, neither of Venom’s first two albums sold well upon their original release. And while many of their British metal peers had found measures of popular success or critical acclaim (or, like Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
, were moving away from metal towards hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
), Venom were still regarded by critics as "a trio of buffoons".
In an attempt to prove their status as serious musicians, Venom recorded At War with Satan
At War with Satan
-Personnel:*Cronos – bass guitar, vocals*Mantas – guitar*Abaddon – drums-Production:*All Songs Published By Power Metal Publishing/Neat Music Publishing.*Arranged & Produced By Venom*Engineered & Mixed By Martin Smith & Keith Nichol- External links :*...
in 1984. The epic 20-minute title track, with substantial progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
influences, took up the first side of the LP. The B-side was focused on the rapid-fire, three-minute "scorchers" Venom were known for. In 1985, Venom released their fourth album, Possessed, which was not as successful as previous albums. Dunn then left the band to pursue a solo career.
Lineup changes and departure of Lant (1987–1996)
Two guitarists, Mike Hickey and Jim Clare, were hired to replace Dunn. Their fifth album, 1987's Calm Before the Storm, moved away from Satanic themes in favor of Tolkien-esque “Sword and SorcerySword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery is a sub-genre of fantasy and historical fantasy, generally characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts. An element of romance is often present, as is an element of magic and the supernatural...
” material. This was even less successful than Possessed, and Lant, Clare and Hickey all left Venom after subsequent touring to form Lant's eponymous solo band Cronos
Cronos (band)
Cronos were a United Kingdom-based heavy metal band formed in 1988 by Venom front man Conrad "Cronos" Lant.-History:Conrad "Cronos" Lant's eponymous band formed after disappointing sales of Venom's Calm Before the Storm album led him to quit Venom...
.
Bray was left as the only group member, but he was able to convince Music for Nations
Music For Nations
Music For Nations was a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG....
for a deal to release a new Venom album on the Under One Flag label, using Deadline demo tracks which were recorded with previous line-ups but never released. In 1988, Bray offered a vocals/bass role to Tony Dolan
Tony Dolan
Tony "Demolition" Dolan is an English musician and actor, most known as bassist and vocalist of heavy metal bands Atomkraft and Venom born in 1961....
from Atomkraft
Atomkraft
Atomkraft are an English heavy/speed metal band who were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. They formed in 1979 and disbanded 1988. Their "Total Metal" approach is somewhere between fellow NWOBHM bands such as Motörhead and Venom, punk rock bands such as The Dickies, and early...
. Bray and Dolan wrote new material prior to Dunn's rejoining the band along with rhythm guitarist Al Barnes. Together they recorded Prime Evil
Prime Evil (Venom album)
Prime Evil is the sixth studio album by heavy metal band Venom. It is also the first in a series of three albums with former Atomkraft bassist and vocalist Tony Dolan as a band member and composer...
(1989), Tear Your Soul Apart
Tear Your Soul Apart
Tear Your Soul Apart is a compilation album by Venom. "'The Ark" and "Civilised" are studio outtakes that didn't appear on the Prime Evil album...
(1990) and Temples of Ice
Temples of Ice
-Credits:* Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan – vocals, bass* Jeff "Mantas" Dunn – guitar* Al Barnes – guitar* Anthony "Abaddon" Bray – drums* Engineered by Kevin Ridley* Mixed by Kevin Ridley and Pete Peck at Great Linford Manor, England...
(1991). Barnes then left the band, and Steve White from Atomkraft was hired as his replacement. They released The Waste Lands
The Waste Lands (album)
The Wastelands is the eighth studio album by British heavy metal band Venom. It is the last with bassist/singer Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan and also the last before the reunion of the classic Venom line-up from their first four albums Welcome to Hell, Black Metal, At War with Satan and Possessed...
in 1992, also without success. Music for Nations refused to release any more Venom albums, so Dolan and Dunn quit, effectively disbanding Venom. Bray continued to release compilation and live albums up to 1995.
Reunion of classic lineup (1995–1999)
In 1995, Lant, Dunn and Bray reunited the "classic" line-up, beginning by headlining the Waldrock Festival on 24 June 1995. They recorded and self-released the Venom '96Venom '96
Venom '96 is an EP by British heavy metal band Venom to celebrate the classic Venom line-up's reunion . It contains four re-recorded songs and one new that would appear on their next album Cast in Stone....
EP with four re-recorded and one new song, resulting in a record deal with the SPV
SPV GmbH
SPV GmbH is an independent German record label.Founded on January 1, 1984, it has slowly grown to be one of the largest independent distributors and record labels worldwide....
label. An album, Cast in Stone
Cast In Stone
-Credits:*Cronos – bass guitar, vocals*Mantas – guitar*Abaddon – drums, Samples-External links:*...
, was next released in 1997, split between new material and re-recordings of popular early-'80s songs.
Recent work (1999–present)
Bray left Venom in 1999 and was replaced by Lant's brother Antony "Antton" Lant. This lineup released ResurrectionResurrection (Venom album)
-Credits:*Cronos – bass guitar, vocals*Mantas – guitar*Antton – drums-External links:*...
in 2000 on SPV. However, in 2002 Dunn again left the group and was replaced by a returning Hickey. In late 2005, Venom released a career-spanning 4-disc box set MMV, which includes an exclusive mini-poster of the band's seven-date tour of Europe with Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
and a 60 page picture book, with interviews and pictures. The set includes all their best-known songs, along with rarities like live tracks, demos and outtakes. This lineup of the band released the Metal Black
Metal Black
-Credits:*Cronos – bass guitar, vocals* Mykvs – guitar*Antton – drums...
album.
Hickey left the group 2007, with a guitarist calling himself Rage serving as his replacement. This lineup released the record Hell
Hell (Venom album)
A limited edition digipack version also includes live versions of "Burn in Hell" and "In League with Satan" from the 2007 Scandinavian tour.-Credits:*Cronos – Vocals, Bass guitar*La Rage – Guitar*Antton – Drums...
in 2008. Antony Lant has since left the group to concentrate on his band DEF-CON-ONE. Lant has been replaced by drummer Danny "Dante" Needham.
In January 2011, Venom announced that they would begin writing new material for their upcoming 13th album, with plans to enter the recording studio in the months that followed.
Genre
As Venom were one of the first incarnations of extreme metalExtreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
, influencing many thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
, black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
, death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
and other extreme metal bands,
their exact genre has been a topic of debate. Venom has been labeled various genres by members of the press. Most prominent genres are black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
, thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
, and speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
.
Legacy and Influence
Welcome To Hell influenced "literally thousands" of bands. Venom's music helped shape the development of many thrash metalThrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
bands, specifically the Big Four of Thrash (who in turn were highly influential): Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
and Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
(Metallica opened for Venom on an early 1980s tour and Slayer played with them on the Combat Tour in 1985). Venom would also be of extreme importance to the black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
and even the early death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
scene, with numerous bands copying styles, themes and imagery from the band, such as the Swiss band Hellhammer which also helped pioneer the genres.
Venom often used Satanic and other 'evil' themes in their lyrics, but critic Bradley Torreano declared that the band had "their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks", with a sense of humor and irony that was sometimes lost on their fans and other musicians. Torreano adds that Venom "[caught] the attention of both metalheads and punks, the band was emulated by the former and turned into camp icons by the latter."
When asked about the criminal actions or violent behaviour of some later black metal bands (notably, there were a string of arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
s and a few murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
s in the Norwegian black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
community in the 1990s), Venom's members reportedly expressed disapproval, stating the point of Venom is to make controversial music, and "How can you make albums and tour if you are in jail?".
Although they didn't make it to MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's top 10 heavy metal bands list, they were given an "honorable mention."
Criticism
While many fans and musicians see Venom as an important band, their music has nonetheless been the subject of debate and criticism. Critic Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic writes that though Welcome to Hell influenced "literally thousands" of bands, Venom was "critically reviled." However, critic James Christopher Monger declares that the members of Venom 'grew as musicians' as their careers progressed. EthnographerEthnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
Keith Kahn-Harris argues that Venom's limited technical skill, particularly early in their career, was a profound, though inadvertent factor in Venom's influence: being unable to mimic more technically proficient metal of their predecessors or peers, Venom instead opted to focus on sheer speed, creating music that was inspired by earlier metal, yet simultaneously blazed new trails.
In his Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
tour diary
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
, singer Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
wrote about a 1986 performance when Black Flag opened for Venom. He opines that Venom was hilarious, with mediocre playing and a stage performance focused on appearances rather than music; Rollins asserted that the musicians used portable fans to keep their hair flowing while on stage. Rollins wrote, "It was like seeing Spinal Tap
Spinal Tap (band)
Spinal Tap is a parody heavy metal band that first appeared on a failed 1979 ABC TV sketch comedy pilot called "The T.V. Show", starring Rob Reiner...
... I expected them to go into 'Sex Farm' at any second." Rollins writes that he and some tourmates drew magic marker pentagram
Pentagram
A pentagram is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes...
s on their hands to flash at Venom and offer “Hail Satan
Hail Satan
"Hail Satan", sometimes expressed in a Latinized version as Ave Satanas is an expression used by some Satanists to show their dedication to Satan, but has also been used for the purpose of comedy or satire. Believers in backmasking think they can hear "Hail Satan" and other messages to Satan in...
” salutes. For their final number, Venom asked the audience to chant what Rollins thought was “Black Funky Metal”, which briefly made Rollins suspect that he had overlooked Venom's sense of humor, until he realized Venom was actually saying “Black Fucking Metal.” Venom reportedly laughed off Rollins’ comments saying "Henry didn't have the balls to speak to us back then, he hid backstage, but now he mouths off behind our backs. His band was useless and that's why he writes books now. But at least he got the date of the show right. Go write some more books and we'll keep making music."
Venom's members were apparently well aware that their musical skills were questioned, especially by other bands. During a concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1984, guitarist Mantas was doing a between-song rant when he remarked rather loudly: "A lot of bands are out there tonight, waiting for Venom to make a mistake. Well, we are the fucking mistake!"
Current members
- Conrad LantConrad LantConrad Thomas Lant is a British musician who is the vocalist and bass player of the influential black/thrash metal band Venom, from 1979 to 1987 and from 1995 to present.- Early life :...
– bass guitar, vocals (1979–1987, 1995–present) - La Rage – guitar (2007–present)
- Danny "Dante" Needham – drums (2009–present)
Former members
- Jeffrey Dunn – guitar (1979–1986, 1989–2002)
- Anthony Bray – drums (1979–1999)
- Clive "Jesus Christ" Archer – vocals (1979–1980)
- Mike "Mykvs" Hickey – guitar (1986–1987, 2005–2007)
- Jim Clare – guitar (1986–1987)
- Tony DolanTony DolanTony "Demolition" Dolan is an English musician and actor, most known as bassist and vocalist of heavy metal bands Atomkraft and Venom born in 1961....
– vocals, bass guitar (1989–1992) - Alastair "Big Al" Barnes – guitar (1989–1991)
- Steve "War Maniac" White – guitar (1992)
- Anthony LantAnthony LantAntony "Antton" Lant is an English drummer, best known for his time with British thrash metal band Venom. He was the bands drummer 2000-2009 and recorded three albums with them. He is also the brother of lead singer "Cronos"....
– drums (2000–2009)
Studio albums and EPs
- Welcome to HellWelcome to HellWelcome to Hell is the debut album by the English heavy metal band Venom, released in December 1981. Welcome to Hell is often described as speed metal, but it had a great influence on the then-emerging thrash metal style, and crystallized the elements of what later became known as death metal and...
(1981) - Black MetalBlack Metal (album)Black Metal is the second album by the English band Venom. It was released in November 1982 and is considered a major influence on the thrash metal, death metal and black metal scenes that emerged in the 1980s and early 1990s. Although lending its name to the latter genre, today the album is often...
(1982) - At War with SatanAt War with Satan-Personnel:*Cronos – bass guitar, vocals*Mantas – guitar*Abaddon – drums-Production:*All Songs Published By Power Metal Publishing/Neat Music Publishing.*Arranged & Produced By Venom*Engineered & Mixed By Martin Smith & Keith Nichol- External links :*...
(1983) (Chart Position #64 UK),(#48 SE) - Possessed (1985) (Chart Position #99 UK)
- Calm Before the Storm (1987)
- Prime Evil (1989)
- Tear Your Soul ApartTear Your Soul ApartTear Your Soul Apart is a compilation album by Venom. "'The Ark" and "Civilised" are studio outtakes that didn't appear on the Prime Evil album...
(EP) (1990) - Temples of IceTemples of Ice-Credits:* Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan – vocals, bass* Jeff "Mantas" Dunn – guitar* Al Barnes – guitar* Anthony "Abaddon" Bray – drums* Engineered by Kevin Ridley* Mixed by Kevin Ridley and Pete Peck at Great Linford Manor, England...
(1991) - The Waste LandsThe Waste Lands (album)The Wastelands is the eighth studio album by British heavy metal band Venom. It is the last with bassist/singer Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan and also the last before the reunion of the classic Venom line-up from their first four albums Welcome to Hell, Black Metal, At War with Satan and Possessed...
(1992) - Venom '96Venom '96Venom '96 is an EP by British heavy metal band Venom to celebrate the classic Venom line-up's reunion . It contains four re-recorded songs and one new that would appear on their next album Cast in Stone....
(EP) (1996) - Cast in StoneCast In Stone-Credits:*Cronos – bass guitar, vocals*Mantas – guitar*Abaddon – drums, Samples-External links:*...
(1997) - ResurrectionResurrection (Venom album)-Credits:*Cronos – bass guitar, vocals*Mantas – guitar*Antton – drums-External links:*...
(2000) - Metal BlackMetal Black-Credits:*Cronos – bass guitar, vocals* Mykvs – guitar*Antton – drums...
(2006) - HellHell (Venom album)A limited edition digipack version also includes live versions of "Burn in Hell" and "In League with Satan" from the 2007 Scandinavian tour.-Credits:*Cronos – Vocals, Bass guitar*La Rage – Guitar*Antton – Drums...
(2008) - Fallen AngelsFallen Angels (album)Fallen Angels will be the thirteenth studio album by the heavy metal band Venom. It was released by Spinefarm Records/Universal on the 28th of November, 2011. -Track listing:-Credits:*Cronos – Vocals, Bass guitar*La Rage – Guitar*Dante – Drums...
(2011)
Compilation albums
- From Hell to the Unknown (1985)
- The Singles 1980-1986The Singles 1980-1986The Singles 1980-1986 is a compilation album by British heavy metal band Venom, it contained the singles between 1980 and 1986. It was released in 1986 through Castle Records.-Track listing:-Credits:*Mantas - Guitars...
(1986) - The Book of Armageddon (Best of) (1992)
- Skeletons In The Closet (1993)
- Kissing the Beast (1993)
- New, Live and Rare (1998)
- Old New Borrowed & Blue (1999)
- In League with Satan (2002)
- MMV (Box set) (2005)