Venom
Metal Black
If there’s a metal band that doesn’t need further presentation, it got to be Venom. They have been an important part of the international metal scene since the early 80’ties. Many claim that Venom was the band that defined black metal with their many odes to the horned almighty.
Their newest release which will be out on March 20th is a 14-track album with a total playing time a little over 57 minutes. I have been into this particular band for several years. I bought their “Hell at Hammersmith concert video way back and it has been played a lot since then. Venom has never been about playing technically complicated music. This is more like a straight forward in-your-face metal mayhem, shredding your bleeding ears to pieces with such classic hits like “Countess Bathory, Black Metal, Manitou and last but not least Buried Alive. There is way more hits like these. Venom has been a very productive band over the years and their new record “Metal Black” is just as black and powerfull as any other release by them. Their overall sound has not changed a lot since the “Hell at….”, but still Venom of today is - if not more then just as heavy as back in the early days. Cronos is still vocalist and four stringer in the band. He does a good job shouting the lyrics on the 14 songs, with good help from Antton on drums and Mykvs on guitars.Best song on the album is Regé Satanas and with the title track “Metal Black” as runner-up. Mainly because a low-tempo guitar solo with some acidous elements put into it. Thumps up for the album and a big “buy the shit” goes out to all since-the-dawn-of-times Venom fans. You will not get disappointed.
Tracklist for this album is as follows:
- Antechrist
- Burn in Hell
- House of Pain
- Death & Dying
- Regé Satanas
- Darkest Realm
- A Good Day to Die
- Assassin
- Lucifer Rising
- Blessed Dead
- Hours of Darkness
- Sleep When I’m Dead
- Maleficarvm
- Metal Black
Additional info can be found at www.venomslegions.com
Reviewed by www.metal-coven.dk 1999-2006