Origin: England
Genres: NWOBHM, Black Metal
official site MySpace

Venom  


One of the most storied careers in metal has to be that of Venom. The obnoxious trio of Cronos, Mantas, and Abaddon burst onto the scene in 1981 with Welcome To Hell, a poorly recorded, sloppily played, openly satanic, yet ultimately cool album that paved the way for the wave of black metal that wouldn't take hold for many years later. Critics and fans alike were sharply divided at the prospect of this over-the-top band, but there is no question that that debut, and it's follow-up (the aptly titled Black Metal) are British metal landmarks. But the novelty and intensity began to fade, and by the time of their fourth album (Possessed) it was clear that Venom was in trouble. Personality conflicts arose, with guitarist Mantas leaving, and the resulting album (the poorly-received Calm Before The Storm) featured little of the trademarks that had made the early work so great. Cronos then departed himself, taking Mantas' replacements with him, and Mantas then returned, and along with new bassist/vocalist Tony Dolan (ex-Atomkraft), a new Venom was born. Though no longer black metal, and in fact not sounding much like in their old days, this period of Venom did produce some decent albums, though in retrospect many of them seem quite forgotten. Much of the 90's releases by Venom seemed to be endless compilations or re-recordings of past glories, and Venom's popularity slipped further. Eventually, in 1997, Cronos and Mantas put their differences aside, and reunited, first releasing the mediocre Cast In Stone but later (after another breakup) producing the much-improved Resurrection, (the first and thus far only album not to feature drummer Abaddon), arguably one of the best albums they've ever done. After yet another period of inactivity Cronos was back in action in February 2004, now working with new guitarist Mykus on the next Venom album. Former guitarist Mantas now has a new project, Mantas 666 (link below).

Current Members

Cronos (Conrad Lant)

bass/vocals (Cronos)

Rage

guitars

Danté Needham

drums

Former Members/Guests

Tony Dolan

vocals/bass (Atomkraft, M-Pire Of Evil)

Mantas (Jeff Dunn)

guitars (M-Pire Of Evil)

Mykus (Mike Hickey)

guitars (Cronos)

Jimmy Clare

guitars (Cronos)

War Maniac (Steve White)

guitars

Al Barnes

rhythm guitar

V.X.S.

keyboards

Abaddon (Tony Bray)

drums

Antton (Antony Lant)

drums (M-Pire Of Evil)


Discography


Welcome To Hell 
1981 Neat
  1. Sons Of Satan
  2. Welcome To Hell
  3. Schizo
  4. Poison
  5. Live Like An Angel (Die Like A Devil)
  6. Witching Hour
  7. One Thousand Days In Sodom
  8. Angel Dust
  9. In League With Satan
  10. Red Light Fever
  • Cronos
  • Mantas
  • Abaddon
1981 BNR and Internet Top Ten album

Reviews:   Metal Observer 


Black Metal 
1982 Neat
  1. Black Metal
  2. To Hell and Back
  3. Buried Alive
  4. Raise the Dead
  5. Teachers Pet
  6. Leave me in Hell
  7. Sacrifice
  8. Heavens on Fire
  9. Countess Bathory
  10. Don't Burn the Witch
  11. At War with Satan (preview)
  • Cronos
  • Mantas
  • Abaddon

Reviews:   Metal Observer 


At War With Satan 
1984
  1. At War With Satan
  2. Rip Ride
  3. Genocide
  4. Cry Wolf
  5. Stand Up And Be Counted
  6. Women, Leather And Hell
  • Cronos
  • Mantas
  • Abaddon
1984 BNR Top Ten album

Reviews:   Metal Observer 


Possessed 
1985 Neat
  1. Powerdrive
  2. Flytrap
  3. Satanachist
  4. Were Gonna Burn This Place To The Ground
  5. Harmony Dies
  6. Possessed
  7. Hellchild
  8. Moonshine
  9. Suffer Not The Children
  10. Voyeur
  11. Mistique
  12. Too Loud (For The Croud)
  • Cronos
  • Mantas
  • Abaddon

Reviews:   Metal Forces 


(EP) Nightmare 
1986 Neat
  • Cronos
  • Mantas
  • Abaddon



Eine Kleine Nachtmusik  LIVE
1986 Neat
  1. Too Loud For The Crowd
  2. Seven Gates Of Hell
  3. Leave Me In Hell
  4. Nightmare
  5. Countess bathory
  6. Black Metal
  7. The Chanting Of The Priest
  8. Satanachist
  9. Fly Trap
  10. Warhead
  11. Die Hard
  12. schitzo
  13. Solo mantas
  14. Witching Hour
  15. Buried Alive
  16. Love Amongst The Dead
  17. Solo cronos
  18. Welcome To Hell
  19. Bloodlust
  • Cronos
  • Mantas
  • Abaddon



The Singles 80-86  COMPILATION
1986 Castle
  1. In League With Satan
  2. Live Like An Angel
  3. Blood Lust
  4. In Nomine Satanas
  5. Die Hard
  6. Acid Queen
  7. Bursting Out
  8. Warhead
  9. Seven Gates Of Hell
  10. Lady Lust
  11. Manitou
  12. Dead Of The Night
  13. Woman
  14. FOAD
  15. Satanachist
  16. Nightmare



Calm Before The Storm 
1987
  1. black x-mas
  2. the chanting of the priests
  3. metal punk
  4. under a spell
  5. calm before the storm
  6. fire
  7. krackin up
  8. beauty and the beast
  9. deadline
  10. gypsy
  11. muscle
  • Cronos
  • Mykus
  • Jimmy Clare
  • Abaddon



Prime Evil 
1989 Under One Flag
  1. Prime Evil
  2. Parasite
  3. Blackened Are The Priests
  4. Carnivorous
  5. Skeletal Dance
  6. Megalomania
  7. Insain
  8. Harder Than Ever
  9. Into The Fire
  10. Skool Daze
  11. Live Like An Angel
  • Tony Dolan
  • Mantas
  • Al Barnes
  • Abaddon

Reviews:   Metal Observer 


(EP) Tear Your Soul Apart 
1990 Under One Flag
  1. Skool
  2. Bursting Out
  3. The Ark
  4. Civilised
  5. Angel Dust
  6. Hell Bent
  • Tony Dolan
  • Mantas
  • Al Barnes
  • Abaddon



Temples Of Ice 
1991 Under One Flag
  1. Tribes
  2. Even In Heaven
  3. Trinity MCMXLV 0530
  4. In Memory Of (Paul Miller 1964-90)
  5. Faerie Tale
  6. Playtime
  7. Acid
  8. Arachnid
  9. Speed King
  10. Temples Of Ice
  • Tony Dolan
  • Mantas
  • War Maniac
  • Al Barnes
  • V.X.S.
  • Abaddon



In Memorium  COMPILATION
1991 Music Club
  1. Angel Dust
  2. Raise The Dead
  3. Red Light Fever
  4. Buried Alive
  5. Witchin Hour
  6. At War With Satan
  7. Warhead
  8. Manitou
  9. Under A Spell
  10. Nothing Sacred
  11. Dead Love
  12. Welcome To Hell
  13. Black Metal
  14. Countess Bathory
  15. 1000 Days In Sodom
  16. Prime Evil
  17. If You Wanna War
  18. Surgery



The Waste Lands 
1992 Under One Flag
  1. cursed
  2. I´m paralysed
  3. black legions
  4. riddle of steel
  5. need to kill
  6. kissing the beast
  7. crucified
  8. shadow king
  9. wolverine
  10. Clarisse
  • Tony Dolan
  • Mantas
  • War Maniac
  • V.X.S.
  • Abaddon



The Book Of Armageddon  COMPILATION
1992 Relativity
  1. Witchin'Hour
  2. Countess Bathory
  3. Rip Ride
  4. Live Like an Angel/Die Like A Devil
  5. Teacher's Pet
  6. Black Metal
  7. Manitou
  8. 1000 Days In Sodom
  9. Bloodlust
  10. Buried Alive



Skeletons In The Closet  COMPILATION
1993 Castle
  1. Tour intro Tape (83/84)/Welcome to Hell (REMIX)
  2. Dead on Arrival
  3. Snots Shit
  4. Black Metal (remix)
  5. Hounds of Hell
  6. At War with Satan (TV Adverts)
  7. At War with Satan (Full Re-Edited Version)
  8. Bitch Witch
  9. Intro Tapes (Tours 85/86)
  10. Possessed (remix)
  11. Sadist (Mistress of the Whip)
  12. Manitou (Abbey Road Un-Cut Mix)
  13. Angel Dust
  14. Raise The Dead
  15. Red Light Fever
  16. Venom Station



Kissing The Beast 
1993



Old, New, Borrowed And Blue 
1994
  1. Countess bathory
  2. Skelatal Dance
  3. Speed King
  4. Welcome To Hell
  5. Play Time
  6. Die Hard
  7. clarisse
  8. Hell Bent For Leather
  9. Prime Evil
  10. Teatcher´s Pet
  11. School Daze
  12. Faerie Tale
  13. Mealomania
  14. Temple Of Ice
  15. Witching Hour



Black Reign  COMPILATION
1996 Receiver
  1. Insane
  2. Civilised
  3. Die hard
  4. In Nominae Satanas
  5. If You Wanna War
  6. Countess Bathory
  7. Harder Than Ever
  8. Welcome to hell
  9. Carnivorous
  10. Angel Dust
  11. Fragile Life
  12. Teacher's Pet
  13. Skool Daze
  14. Buried Alive
  15. Bloodlust
  16. Surgery
  17. Black Metal
  18. Flat Line
  19. Blackened Are The Priests
  20. Prime Evil
  21. Burstin' Out
  22. Witching Hour



Cast In Stone 
1997
  1. The Evil One
  2. Raised In Hell
  3. All Devils Eve
  4. Bleeding
  5. Destroyed & Damned
  6. Domus Mundi
  7. Flight Of The Hydra
  8. God's Forsaken
  9. Mortals
  10. Infectious
  11. Kings Of Evil
  12. You're All Gonna Die
  13. Judgement Day
  14. Swarm
  • Cronos
  • Mantas
  • Abaddon



From Heaven To The Unknown  COMPILATION
1997
  1. Welcome To Hell
  2. Witchin' Hour
  3. Angel Dust
  4. Red Light Fever
  5. Black Metal
  6. Buried Alive
  7. Teacher's Pet
  8. Countess Bathory
  9. Don't Burn The Witch
  10. At War With Satan
  11. Rip Ride
  12. Cry Wolf
  13. Women Leather And Hell
  14. Satanachist
  15. Possessed
  16. Mystique
  17. Too Loud For The Crowd
  18. In League With Satan
  19. Live Like An Angel (Die Like a Devil)
  20. Bloodlust
  21. In Nominae Satanas
  22. Die Hard
  23. Acid Queen
  24. Bursting Out
  25. Warhead
  26. Lady Lust
  27. 7 Gates Of Hell
  28. Manitou
  29. Dead Of The Nite
  30. Dead On Arrival
  31. Hounds Of Hell
  32. Bitch Witch
  33. Sadist (Mistress Of the Whip)
  34. Black Metal
  35. Snots shit



Resurrection 
2000 Steamhammer/SPV
  1. Resurrection
  2. Vengeance
  3. War Against Christ
  4. All There Is Fear
  5. Pain
  6. Pandemonium
  7. Loaded
  8. Firelight
  9. Black Flame [Of Satan]
  10. Control Freak
  11. Disbeliever
  12. Man Myth & Magic
  13. Thirteen
  14. Leviathan
  • Cronos
  • Mantas
  • Antton

Reviews:   Chronicles Of Chaos  Metal Observer 


Live In London 85 
2004



Metal Black 
2006 Sanctuary
  1. Antechrist
  2. Burn in Hell
  3. House of Pain
  4. Death & Dying
  5. Rege Satanas
  6. Darkest Realm
  7. A Good Day to Die
  8. Assassin
  9. Lucifer Rising
  10. Blessed Dead
  11. Hours of Darkness
  12. Sleep When I'm Dead
  13. Maleficarvm
  14. Metal Black
  • Cronos
  • Mykus
  • Antton

Reviews:   Blabbermouth  Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 


Hell 
2008 Sanctuary
  1. Straight To Hell
  2. The Power And The Glory
  3. Hand Of God
  4. Fall From Grace
  5. Hell
  6. Evil Perfection
  7. Stab U In The Back
  8. Armageddon
  9. Kill The Music
  10. Evilution Devilution
  11. Blood Sky
  12. USA For Satan
  13. Dirge / The Awakening
  • Cronos
  • Rage
  • Antton

Reviews:   Metal Underground  Metal Observer 


Fallen Angels 
2011 Universal
  1. Hail Satanas
  2. Pedal to the Metal
  3. Nemesis
  4. Lap of the Gods
  5. Hammerhead
  6. Damnation of Souls
  7. Fallen Angels
  8. Beggarman
  9. Sin
  10. Punk's Not Dead
  11. Death Be Thy Name
  12. Valley of the Kings
  13. Lest We Forget
  • Cronos
  • Rage
  • Danté Needham

Reviews:   Metal Underground  Metal Critic 

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