VeNom vEnoM VEnoM

Not sure how do I start either by addressing them legends or the legacy behind the entire Black Metal subgenre, A band behind the creation of In League with Satan, A pioneers of my favourite metal music sub genre. In a nutshell Venom is behind all of that.

Most of us know from where the name Black Metal from, yes its from the Venom's second album


Formed: 1979
Genre(S): Extreme /Early Black Metal


Venom started in 1979 from NewCastle. They are one of the finger counting British acts that I like with new stage names Archer became 'Jesus Christ', Lant 'Mr. Cronos', Bray 'Tony Abaddon', and Dunn 'Jeff Mantas'. Back in early 80’s and late 70’s when every band wanted to be more and more heavier to start a new cult. I would say Venom layed foundation of being fucking heavy with Inhuman vocals and raw guitars, which influenced thousands of bands.
Venoms sound  is influenced by  the bands like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Kiss, Queen, Deep Purple, Van Halen and Rolling Stones.
Band members are from Guillotine-Jeffrey Dunn and Dave Rutherford on guitars,Oberon - Clive Archer and Dwarf Star. Dean Hewitt on bass guitar, Dave Blackman on vocals and Chris Mercaters on drums. In the late autumn of 1979 Conrad Lant from the bands Dwarf Star and Album Graecum replaced Dave Rutherford. Conrad Lant is behind Venom’s unnerving racket and the 'Bulldozer Bass'.
Venom recorded a three song disc in 1980, featuring "Angel Dust", "Raise the Dead", and "Red Light Fever". Soon afterward, six more tracks were recorded, 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.

1981–1986

Venom's recording debut was the 1981 single "In League with Satan"/"Live Like an Angel" which was released by Neat Records. Later that year they released their full-length debut, Welcome to Hell.
Venom's music was faster, harsher than most heavy metal contemporaries and cudely recorded with Satanism and other dark topics had been featured in metal before, the subject had rarely been more prominent
The second album, Black Metal is 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, Venom were still regarded by critics as "a trio of buffoons" who the fuck cares?

Venom recorded At War with Satan with an epic 20-minute title track, with substantial progressive rock influences and three-minute "scorchers" which Venom were known for.  
They released their fourth album, Possessed, which was not as successful as previous albums. I guess Dunn couldn’t handle this commercially unsuccessful troop and quit the band to pursue a solo career.
Lyrical Inspirations: Their lyrics often featured Satanic references. When asked Lant 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.
Band had a few line up changes here and there but they reunited during the mid of 90’s headlining waldrock festival and recorded self titles EP Venom 96 with one new track and 4 recordings which rsulted in a record deal with SPV label and released Cast in Stone.
There after they released Ressurection having Lants Brother Antony Lant as replacement for Bray after his departure under the same SPV lable. Soon after Dunn left again and 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 after a year and he was replaced by a guitarist calling himself Rage
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.

Venoms new album Fallen Angels is almost set to release by the end of Nov 2011 or early Dec. Its hard  for me to stand when I know I’ve something huge is coming my way.

 

 

 

Current members  

·    Conrad "Cronos" Lant – bass guitar, vocals 
(1979–1987, 1995–present)

·    La Rage – guitar (2007–present)

·    Danny "Dante" Needham – drums (2009–present)

Former members

·  Jeffrey "Mantas" Dunn – guitar (1979–1986, 1989–2002)

· Anthony "Abaddon" 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 "Demolition Man" Dolan – vocals, bass guitar (1989–1992)

· Alastair "Big Al" Barnes – guitar (1989–1991)

· Steve "War Maniac" White – guitar (1992)

· Antony "Antton" Lant – drums (2000–2009)

Discography

Studio albums and EPs

·                    Welcome to Hell (1981)

·                    Black Metal (1982)

·                    At War with Satan (1983) (Chart Position #64 UK),(#48 SE)

·                    Possessed (1985) (Chart Position #99 UK)

·                    Calm Before the Storm (1987)

·                    Prime Evil (1989)

·                    Tear Your Soul Apart (EP) (1990)

·                    Temples of Ice (1991)

·                    The Waste Lands (1992)

·                    Venom '96 (EP) (1996)

·                    Cast in Stone (1997)

·                    Resurrection (2000)

·                    Metal Black (2006)

·                    Hell (2008)

·                    Fallen Angels (scheduled for release October 2011)

·                    Live Album - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (1986)

Compilation albums

·                    From Hell to the Unknown (1985)

·                    The Singles 1980-1986 (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)

Official page: http://www.venomslegions.com/

Venoms official Myspace : www.myspace.com/venomlegions

BluT AuS NoRd

My first ever like from French Dark scene, Blut aus Nord is a black metal band from Mondeville. This was introduced to me by my buddy, their musical style is described as the “sonic equivalent to Thorns injecting Streetcleaner-era Godflesh with an evil unpredictability"

Formed: 1994

Genere: Black Metal

Well! after listening to one of their tracks I Couldn’t hold my self without knowing more about this band. Blut Aus Nord was a solo project started by Vindsval in 1994 under the Name of “Vlad”,Vindsval is head of the underground French record label Appease Me, which is home to several extreme metal acts, in addition to Blut aus Nord.

Coming to their name, The name "Blut aus Nord" translates from German as "Blood from the North", though the non-standard grammar suggests nautical jargon (a more standard phrasing would be "Blut aus (dem) Norden" or "Blut von Nord(en)," though cardinal directions are seldom used in spoken German to begin with).

Musical History:

Vlad released 2 demos under this name. After the rename of Vlad to Blut Aus Nord, they recorded 3 albums with guest memebers


They released a concept album The Work Which Transforms God which was most critically acclaimed release.In spite of being mostly instrumental with none of the lyrics made public, is meant to challenge the listener's prejudices and preconceptions about reality and various metaphysical subjects.The album was named by Terrorizer Magazine as one of its top 10 albums of 2003. So far, Vindsval has only allowed the lyrics from one of Blut aus Nord's full-length releases, Memoria Vetusta I, to be made public. According to journalist Avi Pitchon, "Blut Aus Nord are responsible, perhaps more so than any band, for the most recent evolution within black metal. 2003's 'The Work Which Transforms God' introduced us to the warped, collapsing mutation of 'black hole metal'; nowadays also called shoegazing BM."

On their followup release, 2006's MoRT, Blut aus Nord moved even further away from traditional black metal. The sound on MoRT is closer to avant-garde metal, comprising a mixture of dark and surreal noises and sounds that create a disturbing and bleak atmosphere.


Blut aus Nord's 2007 album Odinist: The Destruction of Reason by Illumination (the subtitle being a quote from Aleister Crowley), was leaked to the Internet on September 10, 2007. While the album's superficial sound is similar to that of MoRT, the album demonstrates a return to more traditional black metal songwriting and structure.


The sequel to Memoria Vetusta I, subtitled Dialogue with the Stars, was released in February 2009. In June 2010 they released a LP entitled "What Once Was...Liber I" on Debemur Morti Productions. They are currently scheduled to re-release The Mystical Beast of Rebellion in early 2011 thru Debemur Morti with an additional CD of newly recorded material meant to act as a complimentry work to the original.

Musical style

Vindsval, the vocalist and guitarist, Described their muic when asked “Blut Aus Nord is an artistic concept. We don’t need to belong to a specific category of people to exist. If black metal is just this subversive feeling and not a basic musical style, then Blut Aus Nord is a black metal act. But if we have to be compared to all these childish satanic clowns, please let us work outwards [from] this pathetic circus. This form of art deserves something else than these mediocre bands and their old music composed 10 years before by someone else”


Current line-up

• Vindsval - vocals, guitar (Also in: Children of Maani, The Eye)

• W.D. Feld - drums, electronics, keyboards

• GhÖst - bass guitar

Session musicians

• Ogat - session bass on Ultima Thulee

• Ira Aeterna - session bass on Fathers of the Icy Age

• Taysiah - session vocals on The Work Which Transforms God

• Nahaim - session guitar on The Work Which Transforms God

Discography

Studio albums

• Ultima Thulée (1995)

• Memoria Vetusta I - Fathers of the Icy Age (1996)

• The Mystical Beast of Rebellion (2001)

• The Work Which Transforms God (2003)

• MoRT (2006)

• Odinist: The Destruction of Reason by Illumination (2007)

• Memoria Vetusta II - Dialogue with the Stars (2009)

• What Once Was... Liber I (2010)
• 777 - Sect(s) (28 April 2011)
• 777 - The Desanctification (September 2011) (expected)
• 777 - Cosmosophy (November 2011) (expected)

Ep’s:

• Thematic Emanation of Archetypal Multiplicity (2005)

Split releases

• Decorporation 10 (2004) – split with Reverence
• Dissociated Human Junction (2007) – split with Bloodoline, Reverence, and Karras

Oficial page: http://www.blutausnord.com/
Myspace: www.myspace.com/thehowlingofgod

Membaris

Formed: 1999
Genre : Black metal
Albums:  Into Nevermore and Conspiracy (Membaris/ Weird Fate Split)

Here's another underground act from Germany, Hesse. 4 piece band fromed in 1999.

The spawn called Membaris was born on October the 18th 1999. Till this day the sedulous ambition of this band was to compose music of the deepest human emotions that emerge from the existance in the post modern, capitalistic and, so to speak, virtual world. Membaris, in the true essence, is Black Metal, nothing more-nothing less. After the early days, when occultism and certain anti-christian and oppositional concepts dominated the genesis of this collective, Membaris today write the soundtrack for their personal, yet meditative, experiences on this earth. Above all was and ever will be the will to create tunes of hatred, pride and beauty.






Members:

Kraal - vocals, bass
Boreas - guitar
Obscurus - drums, back vocals, keyboard
Nails (Session) - second live guitarist





Discography

Releases: “When Darkness Reigns”(Demo) - 2002

” Poetry Of Chaos” - 2004

” Into Nevermore - 2005 - 2007

” Conspiracy ” (Split) - 2008

” Grenzgänge” - 2010  

 

  Myspace official - http://www.myspace.com/seelenmacht

DarkSpace

Formed : 1999
Genre   : Ambient Black Metal
Representing Albums : DarkSpace I, DarkSpace II

Darkspace name refers to nothingness of the space.

Darkspace is an underground ambient black metal band from Bern, Switzerland, started in 1999 with 3 members with a pseudonym Wroth, Zhaaral and Zorgh describing the emptyness of the space.

They have a ambient surrounding, raw production and monotonous sounds. Mute guitar passages with blast beat take turns with milder passages and sometimes completely electronic passages, fitting a tribute to the cold and filling with the void like atmospheric effect.

Dark space has a great deal of influence from electronic music, eerie, ambient synthlines flowing from the guitars.
Passage with clear eclectronic clubkicks or total void like ambience are incorporated into vocal alongside the unnatural and alien sounding screams

Members:

Wroth - Guitar / Vocals (Paysage D'Hiver)

Zhaaral - Guitar / Vocals (Sun of the Blind)

Zorgh - Bass / Vocals
 
Discography:
 
2002 - Darkspace I demo
2003 - Darkspace I
2005 - Darkspace II
2008 - DarkSpace III
 
Official Myspace - www.myspace.com/darkcyberspace
 
 

Funeral Mist

Formed: 1993
Genre(S): Black Metal

Funeral Mist is a black metal band formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1993.

Biography

The band in its original form comprised vocalist and guitarist Typhos (a.k.a. Henrik Ekeroth), guitarist Vintras and drummer Velion. Bass player Arioch was added somewhat later.

Their debut gig took place in 1995 and that same year saw the issuing of their first demo entitled Darkness. The band's line-up also started to change during this year, as drummer Velion was fired and Necromorbus (Tore Stjerna) took his role. The second demo Havoc followed in 1996, the same year that the band also lost guitarist Typhos to the Swedish band Dark Funeral. Songs that were written for Arioch’s side project, Winds, were used on this demo.

In 1997, Vintras also left the band due to personal differences, and Funeral Mist was now down to only a duo consisting of Arioch and Necromorbus. The debut EP Devilry was released in 1998 and was issued in both CD and vinyl format. The vinyl edition was limited to only 300 copies and featured an exclusive track, Hellspell 2. This track was later included on the 2005 Devilry/Havoc compilation album. After this release that same year, guitarist Nachash was added to the band. Their first full-length album, Salvation, was released on the Norma Evangelium Diaboli label in 2003, while the second album, entitled Maranatha, was released in February 2009 on the same label, after 6 years of silence.

Current line up

"Arioch" (aka Mortuus) - Vocals, guitars, bass

Past members

• Nachash - Guitars
• Necromorbus (Tore Stjerna) - Drums
• Typhos - Guitar (1993-1996) (ex-Dark Funeral, ex-Infernal (Swe))
• Vintras - Guitar (1993-1997) (ex-Thyrfing)
• Velion - Drums (1993-1995)

Discography

• 1995 - Darkness (demo)
• 1996 - Havoc (demo)
• 1998 - Devilry (EP)
• 2003 - Salvation
• 2005 - Devilry/Havoc (compilation album)
• 2009 - Maranatha

Official page: http://tore.stjerna.org/funeralmist/index.html
http://www.myspace.com/thefuneralmist

Watain

Formed : 1998

Genre(s): Black Metal
Representative Albums : Sworn to the Dark, Rabid Death's Curse

 

Black metal outfit Watain emerged from Uppsala, Sweden, in 1998, quickly gaining underground credibility with an uncompromising 7" release entitled "The Essence of Black Purity," then solidifying their commitment to the dark metal arts via 2000s thematically shocking (i.e. frequent odes to Satan and his pals), but instrumentally accomplished, Rabid Death's Curse album. This has since been followed by incrementally lauded but always reliably extreme releases such as 2000s Ritual Macabre live album, 2001's "The Misanthropic Ceremonies" split single with Diabolicum, 2003's Casus Luciferi LP, and 2007's Sworn to the Dark album. And, bucking underground metal tradition somewhat, Watain's lineup has remained consistently stable throughout these many years and releases, featuring vocalist/bassist Erik Danielsson (also known as the editor of Hellish Massacre 'zine and the artist behind Cold Seed Creations), guitarists P. Forsberg and Set Teitan, bassist Tore Stjerna

History


The band's name is taken from from a recording by the American black metal group Von. After recording a few demos which the band does not intend to re-release, their first official release was the 7" EP The Essence of Black Purity on the Swedish label Grim Rune Productions, recorded in Necromorbus Studios 1999. The French black metal label Drakkar Productions offered Watain a deal for two full length albums, and the debut album Rabid Death's Curse was released in 2000. After the release, Watain toured and performed alongside bands such as Rotting Christ, Antaeus, Dark Funeral and Malign.


In 2003, Watain again entered the studio to record their second full-length album, Casus Luciferi, which features lyrics by members of other bands like Funeral Mist and Antaeus. The 'Stellar Dimension Infernal Tour' through Europe followed, alongside Secrets of the Moon and Averse Sefira. They also toured throughout 18 countries with Dissection on their two months-long 'Rebirth of Dissection' tour in 2004. Watain member Set Teitan was officially also a member of Dissection at this point, and Erik Danielsson played bass in live shows.


In 2006, members of the band did the Hitler salute and wore t-shirts of the National Socialist black metal (NSBM) band Absurd after their gig on German Party.San Open Air, leading to accusations of being a Nazi band. Asked about this incident in an interview to the German online metal magazine Metal.de, Erik Danielsson (vocals and bass) gave an evasive answer, but when asked about his views on NSBM, he explained the band sees it as a joke: "NSBM is a joke, a despaired approach of people who're incapable to comprehend the perversion and the insanity of Black Metal. They're trying to appear extreme and limit their selves in their conception to that kind of society, which describes something that we wouldn't care less about. Fuck the world! Black Metal doesn't have anything to do with the world like you know it."


Their third full-length album Sworn to the Dark was released in Europe on February 21, 2007, then they toured Europe along with Celtic Frost, Kreator and Legion of the Damned. In 2008 they played their first headlining tour in North America with Withered and Book of Black Earth. Eclipse Eternal and Kronosfear joined them for some shows as well. Watain's next album, Lawless Darkness, was released on June 7th 2010. They released a single for the song "Reaping Death" in two formats, picture disc vinyl with a cover of the song "Chains of Death" by Death SS, and digisleeve CD with a cover of the song "The Return of Darkness and Evil" by Bathory.


Members:

• E (Erik Danielsson) - vocals, bass
• H (Håkan Jonsson) - drums
• P (Pelle Forsberg) - guitar
• Set Teitan (Davide Totaro) - guitar (live only)
• A (Alvaro Lillo) - bass (live only)

Ex - members

• C. Blom - guitar (1998-2000)
• Jonas "Y." Lindskog - bass (a.k.a. "Mörkkh" and "Whorth")
• Tore Stjerna - session bass (2000-2002)

Discography

Studio albums

• Rabid Death's Curse (2000)
• Casus Luciferi (2003)
• Sworn to the Dark (2007)
• Lawless Darkness (2010)

Live & other albums

• Go Fuck Your Jewish "God" (demo) (1998)
• The Essence of Black Purity (EP) (1999)
• Black Metal Sacrifice (live) (1999)
• The Ritual Macabre (live) (2001)
• The Misanthropic Ceremonies (split EP) (2001)
• Puzzles ov Flesh (demo) (2002)