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Welcome To Hell (Reissue) VENOM |
Listen, can you hear it? Can you feel it? The raw sound of Thrash/Death Metal in its primordial form. This is the sound of a band that held nothing back. This is metal as it was 20 years ago when a band from Newcastle called Venom knocked the world for six, confounding the unwary and taking all the styles of music, shaking it together the distorting the result until ears bled and people ran screaming for cover. This was to become the definitive sound of what we know today as Venom. Way back in 1980 when the N.W.O.B.H.M. was just beginning to make an impact with the likes of Budgie, marking out territories with focus and conviction, nobody was ready for the psycho storm that was Venom.... as they say 'Welcome To Hell' The un-holy trio of Cronos, Mantas and Abaddon started in Newcastle, England way back in 1978 and at this point were a 4 piece. They had a vocalist by the name of Clive Archer and with this vocalist they recorded the very first Venom demo - 'Angel Dust' Included on this reissue are 'Raise The Dead' and 'Red Light'. The bluster of energy and the savage amusement are apparent, perhaps lacking a little in skill, but who really gives a fuck - remember this was the early '80's. Welcome To Hell blew everything away when it was first released, it stood out from its imitators because it dared to be different. Sure the album is full of hyperventilating riffs, but check out 'Witching Hour' with its great bass chimes intro. 'One Thousand Days In Sodom' just oozes class, while the title track 'Welcome To Hell' has just become a classic anthem. Who else could boast tracks like the face ripping 'Live Like An Angel', the excellent 'In League With Satan', or the subsonic assault of 'Sons Of Satan'? Finishing this disc off are the bonus tracks, which include demos, 7" versions and a couple of out-takes. Look out for 'Bitch Witch' and 'Snots Shit'. Venom are not just another band. They wrote history and lived it to the full. Welcome To Hell...and this time everyone knows what to expect. Released by Neat Records Review by Chris Wheeler
Having established a fanbase and interest from certain media sources, Venom released their second album 'Black Metal' Wasting no time they open up with a double shotgun blast on the title track 'Black Metal', in many ways this anthem is typical of Venom. It's frantic, ferocious and there is actually a tune in there!! 'Buried Alive' is an atmospheric piece of Hammer Horror, a claustrophobic song that grimy, moody and very grim. Not for the squeamish, as the title suggests it tells the tale of someone being buried alive. 'Countess Bathory' was inspired by the lady herself Elizabeth Bathory who in her time perpetrated many atrocities including the slaughter of hapless virgins then bathing in their blood - how cool is that!? There's a whole lot of what we would call typical Venom tracks on offer here with the likes of 'To Hell And Back', Leave Me In Hell, 'Heavens On Fire' and the excellent 'Don't Burn The Witch'. Ending with a tiny preview of the might 'At War With Satan'. Also included on this disc are Radio 1 session versions of 'Black Metal, 'Nightmare', Too Loud For The Crowd' (a track Manowar would have been proud of!!) and 'Bloodlust', a few demos and the unreleased'Hounds Of Hell'. All in all 'Black Metal' was a major step towards cementing their status as true giants in the metal world. Don't argue else Cronos, Mantas, and Abaddon will slaughter your virgin jam donuts. Released by Neat Records Review by Chris Wheeler
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AT WAR WITH SATAN (Re-issue) VENOM |
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1. At War With Satan This disk is the absolute, no holds barred, complete and utter last word in total noise/heavy metal. Or as this dirty nasty lot from Newcastle would like it termed - BLACK METAL!! Yes, it's full of lots of twisted, sick and ugly satanic references but there's no need to start breaking sacramental water around your stereo system just yet. Instead, just stick this beast into your CD tray, press play, turn up the volume to max and watch as your cat turns inside out!! We open proceedings with the extra long 'At War With Satan', which pauses after about thirteen and a half minutes for a brief acoustic respite. But surrounding it is the nastiest, darkest most appalling racket you will ever hear. Appalling it may be, but it absolutely amazing. No one who claims to be a metal fan is telling the truth unless he/she can stick it out until Cronos growls - "ARE YOU DOWN IN HELL?" and the band launch themselves into the sort of riff that carries the power to bury anyone alive!! The other six cuts go for maximum impact, offering subtlety as hostage to ferocity. 'Rip Ride' does exactly as it says on the proverbial tin, being a roller coaster of wall destroying riffage, whilst 'Genocide' leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. Venom even provide moments of creativity on the shorter of the songs with 'Cry Wolf' showing just how much they had matured over the years without losing that all important edge. And let's not forget about 'Women, Leather And Hell' or 'Aaaaaaaaaarrghh', which is just complete inane silliness. Add to this lot a few TV Adverts for the album and 12" versions including the outstanding 'Warhead' make this/these re-issues well worth having. Released by Neat Records Review by Chris Wheeler
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