Rising from the depths of the seething Abyss, an "evil"
is unleashed the likes which has never been seen before.Three forms
arise from the brackish pits with explosive rage and darksome
connotation - veritably, "three horsemen of doom" thundering across the
black earth in wrath, blasphemy, lust, and destruction.
The drums are the heartbeat of Hell, the guitars are the
heartstrings of the black heart of Hell, The vocals are the voices of
the demonic hordes, Venom's Legions...
1. Bring Out Your Dead [3:21] 2. Notorious [4:16] 3. I Dark Lord [4:41] 4. 100 Miles To Hell [4:48] 5. Dark Night (Of The Soul) [4:48] 6. Beaten To A Pulp [3:14] 7. Destroyer [4:18] 8.The Mighty Have Fallen [3:15] 9. Over My Dead Body [5:07] 10. Suffering Dictates [3:10] 11. We The Loud [3:55] 12. Immortal [4:32] 13. Storm The Gates [3:47]
Another impressive unleashing from The Mighty VENOM straight from the heart of Hell, culling back to the Infernal Trinity sound of Welcome To Hell, Black Metal, and Possessed.
My personal favorites in this musickal grimoire are Bring Out Your Dead {can either be the historical inference of delivering the plague-lades corpses from the Dark Ages, or take a mark on those whom dares defy, using them as an example through the favored method of decapitation & impalement, and allowing their nightmares to manifest; I Dark Lord {A Satanic statement in itself and supreme imperious embodiment}, 100 Miles To Hell {and enjoying the way there! Celebrations in The Abyss, infernal joy in the "Palace of Evil"!}, Dark Night of The Soul & Beaten To A Pulp {for those times when it may be the only option to teach a lesson by muscle, bone, and blood! And relish wickedly in that justified dispensation!}, Over My Dead Body {surpassing the stultifying influences of blindlight and/or political propaganda and following one's own black flame}, but by far, the beast tune herein is IMMORTAL, which begins with a single gritting guitar, breaking forth into an omnipresent sound filling the senses with Power, then onto Storm The Gate, carrying that demonic spirit to the hilt - there is no other option but Victory!
Always recommended while Pumping Iron, and of course, whatever you may be doing wherever on Satan's Black Earth you may be!
The album cover art is epic as always, featuring The Sabbatic Baphomet enthroned whereupon Demons of Death emerge from The Nether Gates of hellfire to unleash wrath upon the hapless masses 'neath The blazing Pentagram!
The Vocals & Bass by Cronos is certainly heavily discernible, preserving that certain Might for full possession. ∞
VENOM: MMV
{Contents: Four CD's, booklet, poster. case.}
When
most people think of Black Metal, corpse-paint and church burning
Norwegians come to mind these days, but Venom really originated
something unique for that genre, laying down the foundation for many
imitators and admirers alike.... yet Venom manages to remain in a class
all its own. Truly, the fore-fathers of Black Metal, a term
non-existent before their emergence, who at least entertainment-wise,
have given The Devil His due.
I recently had the opportunity to pick this up the other
day, as it virtually stood out at Me from the display - emblazoned with
a Baphomet and reptilian logo, this band remains an evocation, calling
to mind psychodramatic memories, splendid theatrics of a marvelous
Dantean spectacle, and some of the heaviest musick to date.
While not actual Satanists, Venom has served to
veritably "open the gate" for diabolical expression in the Metal arena,
and the degree of their sinister stage show remains unmatched, even
comparable to KISS presentations.
MMV contains two decades of infernal evilution. Rare
remixes, out-takes, interviews, rare singles, and live performance
recordings are herein. A collection of which a member of 'The Legions'
would have had to have incrementally possessed from obscure as well as
international sources. Much of which I have had in My own private
collection in one form or another {mostly cassette studio and radio
recordings, and vinyl}, now all pleasantly acquired on CD. I was also
quite pleased to discover the "7 Dates of Hell" poster included {now
framed}, along with a lavish 59-page booklet including an original
introduction by Cronos, many informational tidbits, print interviews,
numerous news clippings, flyers, album art work, and rare photographs.
Disc 1 contains outtakes, demos, bonus tracks, and
singles from 'Welcome To Hell, 'Black Metal', and 'Possessed'. The
entire 'At War With Satan' album comprises disc 2, some inclusions from
'From Hell to The Unknown', radio / TV spots, and a studio interview.
Disc 3 contains a combination of bonus tracks, live material, and
outtakes from 'Calm Before The Storm', 'Prime Evil', and 'Cast In
Stone'. Along with this splendid compilation, Disc 4 contains
recordings from the legendary Hammersmith Odeon concerts, thusfar only
available on 'The 7 Dates of Hell' and 'Alive in '85' VHS tapes, and
portions from the various 'Assault' series, now all available on one
CD.
The CD's themselves feature impressive renderings of
each character of this infernal trinity poised within the customized
Baphomet, including a horned, demon-winged, fanged Cronos in hellish
rictus.
Distinct from the core releases, MMV is essentially a
complimentary musickal accumulation of all those singles, rare picture
discs, outtakes, and live recordings which complete the "Venomist's"
nefarious compendium.
Rating: 5/5.
This review featured on:
Welcome To Hell
Welcome
To Hell was the demonseed which launched the world into a new world of
darkness that was in turn to spawn not only the subsequent albums Black
Metal, Possessed, At War With Satan, as well as various picture disks
and EP's, but it was to ignite the hellfires in many other bands, which
can be seen as their "children of darkness". Venom coined the term
"Black Metal", that was to define a genre spawned in Hades.
Welcome To Hell is raw, fast-paced, containing some
excellent instrumentals and intros such as that with Witching Hour,
beginning with a ponderous pounding of Cronos upon the bass guitar to
herald the arrival of that unholy hour ideal for the practice of
Witchcraft and the movement of demonic forces in the night when victims
sleep away the nocturne.
Countess Bathory unearths the hitherto clandestine
history of Elizabeth Bathory who bathed in the blood of her victims
after torturing them extensively first, which earned her a place in
infamy as one of history's most nefarious characters, contributing to
Vampire legendry, particularly the preservation of youth and the
alleged inability of Vampires to view oneself in mirrors, as well as
the ingestion of blood for eternal life.Her counterpart in Vlad Tepes
would inspire the other half of the superstition. As usual, there are
granules of truth / fact in the mythology.
From this album, particular favorites are "In League
With Satan" and "In Nomine Satanas" - medium-paced cantibles and
hoof-tappers. The title track "Welcome To Hell" also contains memorable
rhythms greeting one to the nether-realms.
The appropriately named "Welcome To Hell" album bears
the image of The Baphomet - the first album and band to do so {with a
band "Pentagram" soon thereafter}, the back cover displaying the
Infernal Trinity - Cronos, "Rabid captor of Bestial Malevolence"
{Bulldozer Bass & Vocals}; Abaddon, "Barbaric Guardian of The Seven
Gates of Hell" {Chainsaw Guitar Dives}; Mantas, "Grand Master of Hades
& Mayhem" {Drums & Nuclear Warheads}.
Possessed
"Look at Me...
Satan's Child
Born of Evil, thus defiled...
Brought to life through Satanic Birth...
Raised in Hell to live on earth..."
The
third sonic demon unleashed to begin an infernal onslaught that was to
cause much upheaval in the world of mortals. Filled with fury and
blasphemous anthems of metal, blood, and fire, Possessed brings forth a
brutal cavalcade to darken the hearts of many a satanimal were-beast
adhering to its morbid call.
The Hellish Trinity of Cronos, Mantas, and Abaddon
return once more spewing catastrophe wherever their instruments of
destruction may resound.
Powerdrive certainly manifests its namesake, traveling
on demon wings with a mighty roar, incinerating all in its path.
Flytrap scorches incessantly, and on to Satanachist, using echoing
vocals to accentuate the force thereof. Burn This Place To The Ground
blasts forth at black light speed igniting hellfire with burning
sulphuric rage; Harmony Dies is as a purifying plume of destruction to
bring forth renewal; and Possessed, probably the prime offering of this
opus, remains one of the foremost and memorable blasphemous pieces in
Black Metal history, whose blood-dripping lines introduce and conclude
this review, which offers a fitting interlude itself to Hellchild,
followed by Moonshine {which uses howling werewolves and a fade-out
chorus for a heightened psychodramatic effect}; Wing and A Prayer,
Suffer Not The Children {with a whispering chorus amidst the Metal
mayhem - the dichotomy works very well}; Voyeur {an inclusion which
typifies the myriad subject matter in Venom's works, which includes
that of mysticism, Occult Lore, sacrilege, battle tales, and fleshly
delights}; Mystique, and Too Loud For The Crowd {a potent constant at
Venom concerts incorporating audience participation by The Legions to
ratify the fact of exclusivity, such is what The Lighthouse Effect
would incur}.
The cover features two Infernal Progeny children there
standing in Venom "Welcome To Hell" shirts smiling diabolically,
displayed in negative form, while on the back cover, the band stands in
the wilderness with battle horse on hand.
"I Am Possessed by all that is Evil...
The Death of your god, I demand!
I spit at the virgin you worship...
And sit at Lord Satan's Left Hand!"
Seven Dates of Hell
"Ladies and Gentlemen... From the very depths of Hell...
Venom......!"
A diabolical voice echoes across Hammersmith Odeon
Theater concert hall on this fateful night of horror and hellish
amusement. One of the absolute best concerts ever. Pyrotechnics,
incredible all-encompassing stage presence, immense backdrops and
lasers, explosions, fire plumes, showering sparks, sound-effects
generated by the incredible guitar work of Mantas and Cronos.
The instruments themselves sound possessed, as of played
by the hands of demons themselves. Fog covers the stage, the band
appears as if materializing therefrom amidst lights of green red,
amber, blue, and strobe pulses.
Frenzied demoniacs with veins coursing with devils'
blood, The Gates have been opened! And now, for some blissful Hell on
Earth...
Venom in-store at The Private Eye
It was a breezy Autumn day in the month of October. I
had read that Venom would be in-store at a small darkened Death Metal /
Occult Supplies Shop called "The Private Eye", with its windows painted
black, its logo comprised of Old English letters in white thereupon. On
the door, an eyeball with a skull for a pupil. On the window, was an
arcane dancing devil of the woodcarving variety. Immediately, I was
compelled to enter - what I found within was a total environment with
black brick walls. Several Death Metal posters adorned the walls,
including Venom's "Seven Dates of Hell" Tour. On the wall behind the
register, a taxedermied goat head, upon which was placed a long black
wig & hood. In the display case, were copies of The Satanic Bible,
The Satanic Rituals, & Necronomicon, beside Baphomet & inverted
cross medallions, & an assortment of gauntlets, bracelets, &
spiked neck bands.
Records mainly comprised the black shelves, along with
some dark-themed magazines, including "In The Pit", which featured an
interview with Quorthon of Bathory. There were videos too - "The
Ultimate Revenge", featuring Venom, Slayer, & Exodus; "Venom Live
At The Hammersmith Odeon", & "Venom Alive in '85" {reviews
pending}. Needless to say, I eventually possessed them all.
Venom: Live In '85
The owner of this establishment & I would sometimes
speak for hours on many varying & engaging subject matters, from
Satanism, Black Magic, Crowley, the weakans, to blindlighter hypocrisy,
to torture devices. Anyhow, I would frequently return to purchase
either a T-Shirt, record, pendant, or a magazine.
So, when I heard Venom was to be in-store here at one of My favorite places, I naturally jumped at the chance.
I arrived on that familiar street, & saw that there
was already a line formed. I had brought along My "Doombox", as I call
it, a monsterous 90-watt portable tape player, upon which I played a
combination of Venom, Celtic Frost, Possessed, & Bathory, among
others.In about 15 - 20 minutes, a white limousine slowly pulled up to
the curb. About a minute later {anticipation... good showmanship!},
Cronos came out first, to which all present let out a resounding yell,
a veritable war cry, with cornu thrust forward. The limo driver, a
female blonde, was flabbergasted - as if the forceful noise hit her
hard in the chest. Then Abaddon came forward, & the expression was
repeated. Unfortunately, Mantas was not present for some reason.
Only two people were allowed in at a time, so Myself,
& an acquaintance entered after about ten minutes. The red light
was on, illuminating the blackened chamber most eerily, reminding Me of
My own Noctuary Chambre.
Cronos & Abaddon signed My copy of "From Hell to The
Unknown" with a silver magic marker. They were both most amiable
fellows, seemingly very appreciative of their die-hard fans, or
"Legions". Abaddon spoke to Me about a new live album in the making,
& inquired if I was to be attending tonight's concert. I did, &
will write a Black Earth review for that soon.
While I was in there, I noticed Cronos motion to The Satanic Bible & The Satanic Rituals...
It was also at this store where I purchased My first Baphomet Medallion. The Private Eye was certainly a Satan-send.
I also eventually met with Megadeth, Possessed, & Slayer in that sorely-missed diabolical store.
When
most people think of Black Metal, corpse-paint and church burning
Norwegians come to mind these days, but Venom really originated
something unique for that genre, laying down the foundation for many
imitators and admirers alike.... yet Venom manages to remain in a class
all its own. Truly, the fore-fathers of Black Metal, a term
non-existent before their emergence, who at least entertainment-wise,
have given The Devil His due. 