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