Jump to content

Venom (band)

From Alfawiki
Venom
Company typeGroup or band
IndustryMusic
Founded1978 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Headquarters
Newcastle upon Tyne
,
England
ProductsHeavy metal music, albums, EPs, live performances

Venom is a heavy metal group originating from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, established in 1978. Emerging toward the conclusion of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) movement, their initial two albums, Welcome to Hell (1981) and Black Metal (1982), played a pivotal role in shaping the development of black metal, thrash metal, and extreme metal. The title of their sophomore release became emblematic of the black metal genre, positioning Venom among the first wave alongside contemporaries such as Mercyful Fate and Bathory.

Formation and Early Phase (1978–1981)

Venom was established in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1978, with members drawn from three separate bands: Guillotine, Oberon, and Dwarfstar. Guillotine's lineup featured Jeff "Mantas" Dunn and Dave Rutherford on guitars, Dean Hewitt handling bass duties, Dave Blackman as vocalist, and Chris Mercater on drums—who had replaced original drummer Paul Burke. Subsequently, Blackman and Mercater were succeeded by vocalist Clive Archer and drummer Anthony Bray. Alan Winston took over bass from Hewitt. Later in 1978, Conrad Lant joined Guillotine, initially replacing Rutherford before shifting to bass after Winston's exit. The band members adopted stage personas: Archer as "Jesus Christ," Lant as "Cronos," Bray under the name "Abaddon," and Dunn as "Mantas." The group rebranded itself as Venom in 1979, following a suggestion from their roadie.

At first, Venom's repertoire consisted mainly of covers from bands like Motörhead and Judas Priest. After Cronos became part of the lineup, he introduced themes revolving around occultism and frequently incorporated "Satanic" imagery and lyrics primarily intended to provoke and shock audiences.

Toward the end of 1979, Lant created original artwork for the band's logo alongside Satanic visuals used on their record covers. He also contributed fresh song ideas to transition beyond cover performances. Lant had composed tracks including "Sons of Satan," "Bloodlust," and "Welcome to Hell," while Dunn developed compositions such as "Angel Dust," "Red Light Fever," and "Raise the Dead." Their collaboration involved Dunn focusing on guitar parts while Cronos crafted the lyrics. Despite low-quality sound recordings during a rehearsal tape session, Lant managed to obtain complimentary studio time in April 1980 to record a three-song demo. Shortly thereafter, they recorded an additional six tracks for £50, with Lant providing vocals on "Live Like an Angel." Following Archer's departure, Venom solidified into a trio.

Classic Era Lineup (1981–1986)

Venom's official debut occurred in 1981 with the single "In League with Satan / Live Like an Angel," released through Neat Records, which was soon followed by their influential debut album, Welcome to Hell. This record left a lasting impression on emerging thrash bands by featuring faster tempos, harsher soundscapes, and prominently exploring Satanic themes—elements that set Venom apart from other acts at the time. Cronos sought to outdo performers like Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath, who combined dark subject matter with religious undertones.

Their 1982 release, Black Metal, is widely regarded as a cornerstone for genres including black metal, thrash metal, death metal, and other forms of extreme metal. Cronos’ unique lyrical approach, vocal delivery, and stage persona established many conventions within these styles. Despite cultivating a dedicated fanbase, critics often dismissed Venom as merely “a trio of buffoons,” while contemporaries such as Iron Maiden and Def Leppard either achieved mainstream success or evolved their musical direction.

In 1984, Venom unveiled At War with Satan, featuring an ambitious 20-minute title track intended to challenge detractors questioning their musicianship. The album’s B-side returned to their trademark rapid-fire sound. That same year saw the release of the live video The 7th Date of Hell Venom Live at Hammersmith Odeon. Their 1985 album Possessed, recorded in a grand country house amid extravagant celebrations, reflected the band’s increasing prominence. By this stage, they had issued several singles ("Warhead", "Die Hard", "Manitou") along with live EPs such as The Assault Series. Venom also toured alongside Slayer and Exodus during the Ultimate Revenge Tour.

Cronos considers Possessed an underrated work whose limited acclaim stemmed more from production issues than songwriting flaws. In early 1986, internal conflicts halted progress on their fifth studio album titled Deadline. Instead, they released the live album Eine Kleine Nachtmusik accompanied by a live video called Alive in '85. Shortly thereafter, Dunn left the band to embark on a solo career.

Interim hiatus and Tony Dolan period (1987–1995)

After bassist and vocalist Cronos departed, guitarists Mike Hickey and Jim Clare joined the band for the 1987 release Calm Before the Storm. This album marked a thematic shift from their usual Satanic imagery to narratives centered on sword and sorcery. However, this new artistic direction was brief, as the group only conducted short tours in Japan and Brazil during 1986 before disbanding. Subsequently, Lant, Clare, and Hickey left to pursue Lant's solo project, Cronos.

Drummer Abaddon stayed on and secured a contract with Music for Nations’ Under One Flag imprint to issue material from previous line-ups. In 1988, he brought in Tony Dolan, known as "The Demolition Man," formerly of Atomkraft, to handle bass and vocal duties. Alongside guitarist Al Barnes and later the return of Mantas, this lineup released Prime Evil (1989), Tear Your Soul Apart (1990), and Temples of Ice (1991). After Barnes’ departure, Steve White—also from Atomkraft—joined on guitar, contributing to the 1992 album The Waste Lands. Due to disappointing sales figures, Music for Nations declined to continue releasing their work; consequently, Dolan and Dunn exited, leading to Venom’s effective dissolution. Abaddon continued issuing compilation albums through 1995 while Dolan, Dunn, and Abaddon performed together as a trio.

Reunion and subsequent productions (1995–present)

In 1995, the classic formation of Lant, Dunn, and Bray reunited to headline the Waldrock Festival. They independently released the Venom '96 EP featuring re-recorded classics alongside new compositions, which helped them secure a contract with SPV. This was followed by a live CD/video collection titled The Second Coming, highlighting signature tracks such as "Welcome to Hell" and "Black Metal". Their 1997 studio effort Cast in Stone blended fresh material with re-recordings of earlier hits.

By 1999, internal disagreements caused delays for their second SPV album. Manager Eric Cook and Abaddon opposed Cronos’ return; although Abaddon attempted to remove him from the band, SPV insisted on Cronos remaining. Efforts to reinstate Abaddon were unsuccessful as Bray declined involvement; Anton Lant stepped in as drummer instead. This ensemble produced Resurrection in 2000. In 2002, Dunn left once more; Cronos then reinstated American guitarist Mike Hickey who had contributed to previous albums.

Venom released an extensive four-disc box set titled MMV in 2005, containing rare recordings and memorabilia from their European tour dates supporting Metallica. The group followed up with the 2006 album Metal Black. After Hickey’s exit in 2007, Stuart "Rage" Dixon joined for the 2008 release Hell. Drummer Danny "Dante" Needham came aboard in 2009; this so-called "Epic Line-Up" embarked on an extensive South American tour. Following appearances at various international festivals, they unveiled Fallen Angels in November 2011.

Their fourteenth studio record, From the Very Depths, was launched on 27 January 2015. During studio sessions that year, they previewed the track "Rise" live at Rockfest 2014.

On 22 December 2017, Venom issued a three-track EP entitled 100 Miles to Hell. Their fifteenth studio album, Storm the Gates, was released on 14 December 2018.

Venom Inc.

In April 2015, former members Mantas and Demolition Man reunited with Abaddon for a performance at Germany’s Keep It True Festival. Despite having no rehearsals or communication since 1998 between Mantas and Abaddon, they performed Venom songs together live. This reunion led to the creation of Venom Inc., which revived the late-1980s lineup primarily for fans rather than adopting the initially intended name "Iron & Steel". In 2018, Abaddon was replaced. Since then, Venom Inc. has released two studio albums.

Musical style and influences

Venom played a foundational role in the emergence of extreme metal, leaving a lasting impact on subgenres such as thrash metal, black metal, death metal, and other forms of intense metal music. They are frequently acknowledged as a seminal force behind black metal, with their 1982 release Black Metal lending its name to the genre. Although their musical classification has fluctuated—sometimes described as thrash or speed metal—lead vocalist Cronos personally defines their style as black metal.

Cronos remarked on the distinctive cultural elements of the Norwegian black metal movement during the early 1990s, emphasizing its unique nationalistic themes and mythological content. While this scene diverged from Venom’s direct influence, it represented an equally groundbreaking evolution.

Venom drew heavily on bands such as Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Motörhead, the Sex Pistols, and Kiss. Their sound and identity were further shaped by influences from groups like Deep Purple, the Who, and Van Halen, which collectively contributed to their standout position within the extreme metal landscape.

Legacy and influence

Welcome to Hell served as a major inspiration for many subsequent artists. Venom’s music was instrumental in shaping the sound of prominent thrash metal bands including Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth. During an early 1980s tour, Metallica opened for Venom, while later Venom supported both Metallica and Slayer on the Ride the Lightning tour. The 1985 Combat Tour featured Slayer alongside Venom and Exodus. Slayer members Kerry King and Tom Araya have acknowledged Venom’s significant influence on their band’s aesthetic and musical direction. Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine expressed admiration for Venom alongside fellow Metallica frontman James Hetfield. Metallica’s drummer, Lars Ulrich, described Welcome To Hell as "a classic" that laid foundations for black, speed, and death metal. Kreator’s frontman, Mille Petrozza, listed Venom among his formative favorites alongside the "Big Four." The Canadian group Voivod recorded covers of seven Venom tracks on their early demos.

Venom also played a crucial role in the genesis of early black metal and death metal movements. Bands like Swiss outfit Hellhammer (later known as Celtic Frost) and Norway’s Mayhem were notably influenced by them. Swedish musician Quorthon of Bathory praised Black Metal as "one of the best albums ever made," though he minimized Venom’s overall impact. Key figures in death metal and grindcore such as those in Possessed and Repulsion credited Venom with major inspiration; Jeff Becerra from Possessed cited both Venom and Exodus as primary influences. Critic Bradley Torreano observed that Venom attracted fans from both metal and punk communities, while Henry Rollins likened their live performances to Spinal Tap-style theatrics.

Despite not appearing on MTV’s top 10 heavy metal bands list, Venom earned an "honorable mention."

Marking their 40th anniversary, Cronos reflected that without Venom, bands like Metallica or Slayer might not exist or would sound markedly different. He underscored how Venom transformed their influences from groups such as Motörhead and the Sex Pistols into a novel form of music that unintentionally inspired American bands to develop their own styles. He also regarded the lineup featuring guitarist Stuart "Rage" Dixon and drummer Danny "Danté" Needham as their finest formation.

AllMusic critic Eduardo Rivadavia noted that although Welcome to Hell inspired countless bands, Venom often faced critical disdain. However, James Christopher Monger pointed out that the band members’ musicianship improved over time. Ethnographer Keith Kahn-Harris suggested that Venom’s limited technical proficiency led them to emphasize speed over complexity, resulting in innovative music that was influenced by but distinct from earlier metal traditions.

Controversy

During the 1980s, a track by Venom was included on the "Filthy Fifteen" list created by the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) amid hearings focused on music content. The song from the Possessed record drew criticism due to its "occult" themed lyrics. This scrutiny played a role in the broad implementation of Parental Advisory warnings on physical music formats.

The main source of criticism directed at Venom involves their incorporation of Satanism themes, which heavily influence both their sound and visual artwork. In 2008, lead vocalist Cronos explained that these elements were intended purely for entertainment purposes:


Band members

Current lineup

  • Conrad "Cronos" Lant – bass guitar (1979–1987, 1995–present), rhythm guitar and backing vocals (1979), lead vocals (1980–1987, 1995–present)
  • Stuart "Rage" Dixon – guitar and backing vocals (2007–present)
  • Danny "Dante" Needham – drums and backing vocals (2009–present)

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

  • Canadian Assault (Canada 1984)
  • American Assault (USA 1985)
  • French Assault (France 1985)
  • Scandinavian Assault (Sweden 1985)
  • German Assault (Germany 1985)
  • Japanese Assault (Japan 1985)
  • Hell at Hammersmith (UK 1985)
  • Tear Your Soul Apart (1990)
  • Venom '96 (UK 1996)
  • 100 Miles to Hell (UK 2017)

Live albums

  • Official Bootleg (1985)
  • Eine kleine Nachtmusik (1986)
  • The Second Coming (1997)
  • Witching Hour (2003)
  • Live From The Hammersmith Odeon Theater (2017)

UK singles

Compilation albums

  • From Hell to the Unknown... (1985)
  • The Singles 80-86 (1986)
  • Acid Queen (1991)
  • In Memorium (1991)
  • The Book of Armageddon (1992)
  • Kissing the Beast (1993)
  • Leave Me in Hell (1993)
  • Skeletons in the Closet (1993)
  • New, Live and Rare (1998)
  • Old, New, Borrowed and Blue (1999)
  • Buried Alive (1999)
  • From Heaven to the Unknown (1999)
  • The Venom Archive (2001)
  • Lay Down your Soul! (2002)
  • In League with Satan (2003)
  • The Seven Gates of Hell - The Singles 1980-1985 (2003)
  • Sons of Satan - Rare and Unreleased (2020)

Box sets

  • Here Lies Venom (1985)
  • Triple Dose of Venom (2001)
  • MMV (2005)
  • Assault! (2017)
  • In Nomine Satanas (2019)

See also

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Venom_(band)&oldid=81549"