Customer Reviews

At War With Satan

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was the first Venom album I ever heard-and I HATED IT! But, soon, I began to appreciate Venom's unique musical style. Now I can't get enough of 'em! Black metal would NOT exist if it weren't for Cronos, Mantas & Abaddon. It's that simple. Now on to the album. First, the cover to this CD alone is enough to give a priest a heart attack. It's a leather-bound book with an upside down cross on the front! Second, the songs. The songs are so raw, blasphemous & powerful that there really is no other band on earth that can be compared to Venom. The production on this one is actually a lot better than most of their stuff. The title track, "At War With Satan" is a 20 minute black metal masterpiece that's about Hell going to war with Heaven. In the end, Hell wins. But afterwards, the broken & beaten angels decide it's time for some payback, so the whole war starts up all over again. It never ends. It's too bad Venom never played this live, mainly cause of the length, but it would be awesome if they would. Any other band that tried to do an extra long song like this would probably fail miserably. Venom just did whatever the hell they wanted and if you didn't like it, SCREW YOU! The other songs are great too, although maybe not considered "classics" like some of their others, but who cares?! "Rip Ride" is a good rowdy, faster song; "Genocide" is another powerful song that deserves to be given a few listens; "Cry Wolf" is about somebody turning into a werewolf and being frightened by it, then eventually accepting the "curse"; "Stand Up and Be Counted" is also a great head-banger; "Women Leather & Hell" is kind of typical Venom sleaze. I guess it's about 3 of their favorite things; and finally, "AAAAAARRGHH" is just...bizarre. It's just noise & nonsense. But that's ok. We'll forgive 'em. The bonus tracks are fairly rare, like "The Seven Gates of Hell". This is one of Venom's best set of music & lyrics. The song chugs along at a good speed. It rules! Also worth checking out are "Manitou" & "Lady Lust", yet another piece of sleazy thrashin'. Basically, this is a classic piece of black metal history that deserves to be cranked up extra loud, because there really is no other album like it.

Venom's 3rd album into the darkest depths of hell opens up with the classic 20 minute opus, "At War With Satan." Personally, I think it is one of Venom's greatest songs. There is never a dull moment during this song considering how long it is. Cronos, Mantas and Abbadon let thier imaginations run rampant and there is so much going on throughout the song that you feel you are on a rollercoaster ride. Only in the past couple of years have I seen Venom start to get some recognition and that's sad. If people could look past the satanic imagery and really analyze the music, they would see that Venom is a very talented band doing a lot of stuff way ahead of it's time. If it wasn't for Venom, thier would be no bands like Slayer, Voivod, Mayhem, Emperor, Burzum or even Metallica. All these bands plus countless others cite Venom as an influence. Venom was the building blocks of real heavy metal and they should not be ignored. In my opinion, they are one of the greatest bands that ever came out. At War with Satan is just another classic NWOBHM album that is a must-have in the search for true metal. The remastered version contains a lot of bonus tracks that are very hard to find and are really great. Such as "Lady Lust" and "Warhead" just to name a few. By and large, Venom's At War With Satan is highly recommended in my book. Buy it!!!

This album shows Venom's more complex and ambitious side (as evident in the title track). That song is worth the price of this album alone, giving Venom fans everything they could ask for in a metal epic (Tempo changes that range from fast to slow, good soloing and many different atmospheres making it the most multidimensional Venom song I have ever heard). The rest of the album is composed mainly of cuts that are never really given the credit they deserve. My favorites picked out of that set of songs include "Rip tide", "Genocide", and "Cry wolf". The main bonus treat on this album is the collection of 12" singles never released on the original LP. All six of them are great, but I personally prefer "Warhead", "The seven gates of Hell", and "Woman". This album has received some negative flack for being to ambitious and containing too much filler. People started to ignore this album because of newer acts popping up in the states such as Metallica and Slayer. Personally, I see a point in Venom's career where they were brimming with ideas and were not scared to take chances with their music.

You remember those supposed back masked albums you used to play backwards, and strain to hear any evil (or even recognizable) lyrics? Well, Venom saves you the trouble of trying to spin your CD backwards. It's hardcore demonic heavy metal in normal play, and it isn't just some glitter evil band either, these guys belt out hard powerful speed metal (and were doing it before it was popular). They were doing this better and earlier than current speed bands (Megadeth, Slayer, etc.) I actually heard my first Venom album (yes album) back in 1981, and have been a fan ever since. No, I'm no Satanist, but I like the sound, and the lyrics are creepy and evil, yet not obviously written by some non-talented geek. There are serious devotees in this band, and they are singing about stuff either found in history or more arcane publications (such as the song about Countess Bathory). If you'r looking for something besides Enya, and want some dark music, be warned, this ain't your daddy'! s old CD (or...maybe it is!)

Some Venom fans were disappointed when this album was released way back in 1985; I really don't know why. OK, "Women Leather and Hell" isn't very good, and the last track is little more than Venom fooling around in the studio, but the rest of the album is excellent. The highlight is undoubtedly the 18 minute title track, which is an epic sort of like Rush's "2112" with an evil Satanic theme. If nothing else this proved that critics of the band who said that Venom had little songwriting ability and could barely play their instruments were very mistaken. Also, the production on this album is much clearer and sharper than on the previous two releases, which surprised some (including myself). This is an important addition to any 1980's black metal collection; unfortunately, this CD is becoming hard to find. If you can find one, I recommend the remastered CD that Castle Communications released in 2002; the sound is somewhat better, and it includes several bonus tracks, including the classic "Seven Gates of Hell".

Finally the great concept album by Venom being 'At War With Satan' is back in CD format with plush artwork, remastered sound and bonus tracks. With this release Venom were certainly on the brink of hitting the big time with media hype at an all time high in the UK, with the then great 'Kerrang' magazine having built the band up since the un-surpassed 'Black Metal' opus some time before. Perhaps in hindsight it was the media circus factor that damaged the band or perhaps it was the fact that this release didn't quite move the world in say the way such releases as 'Reign In Blood' or 'Master Of Muppets' would, could and did. Expectations were high for failure, and to some extent they really didn't possess the polish and the quality control of both production and song selection required at this crutial and vital stage of their career. The 20 minute opus being 'At War With Satan' is a triumph no doubt indeed, containing enough to keep the faithful more than happy and enough to bring a few curious others on board, but not the (black) masses. It is true to say that it is this song alone that earns all four stars given. But imagine if you will how much greater this classic stretch of music could have been with a professional production and a second opinion provided by true management. A major label missed this band by one CD! Purists will say Venom are diluted when the production values are improved, well I say listen to 'Resurrection' and then be silenced. The concept of side one is built upon four monsterous riffs, returning each time to the home base of the trail end of the outro of 'At War' from 'Black Metal'. Hands down it is a winner and is a real joy to listen to even now. Side two is weak with sub standard noise, a direction that the band continued to tread unsuccessfully for many years in one way or another. In hindsight this CD, the third of an Unholy Trinity, contains everything I love and hate about this band. Enormous highs and plundering lows. You'll want it any way but start with the first two chapters.

oh, this release was more impressive in lp form. originally, it looked as if you were opening some evil spell book - pretty amazing to a 12 year old, which i was when i first saw it. the first track filled up the entire first side of the lp! it would be great if whatever company venom now have distributing this stuff would release "at war . . . " with an artwork layout more reminiscent of the original.

This is an awesome metal masterwork, not as great as Black Metal but awesome and with some needed production. The track list is great, the riffs are awesome, Cronos delivers great vocals and the songs are just plain awesome. Check this out, great for any metal or Venom fan.

This underappreciated classic differs a bit from its 2 predecessors, Welcome To Hell and Black Metal. A bit more sophisticated and diverse, and a clearer production. It contains only 7 songs (the original version), but the title track lasts well over 15 minutes; a great collection of riffs and different styles, this track alone already justifies the purchase of this album. Other great tracks include "Cry Wolf" "Genocide" "Stand Up And Be Counted" and my alltime favourite Venom song "Rip Ride." That baby shreds!

When this album, their 3rd, was released in 1984, Venom was the top extreme act, but the band was already competing with young Slayer and Metallica. Both Slayer and Metallica released thrash classics in and around 84. (Both were opening for Venom on their completely over-the-top gigs around that time). But when listened to now, it is quite clear that Venom played a different style of music. Slayer and Metallica both evolved into supertight, dark thrash and Venom more or less stayed sloppy, raw and black. They remain the true pioneers of the black metal genre, but after 85 however they had lost it completely and Slayer and Metallica were still progressing considerably.

Not their greatest album perhaps, but still essential. Fans of black metal, 80s metal, thrash metal, whatever, your collection should include this album. The last true classic by one of the greatest metal bands of the 80s.

Venom is the greatest band in all recorded history. There is nothing more aggressive than hearing Cronos' bulldozing bass lines counterpointing the terror driven guitar leads of Mantas. At War With Satan begins with the title track - an epic tale of good versus evil, the struggle to conquer the souls of mankind. This is the most thought provoking metal tale ever spun on any album by any band. On "Manitou" Venom conjures images of a tremendous primal beast, one whose natural roots cause serious wonder as to the end of its powers. As you tremble in fear to this album, just remember that it is only music.