Metal Black

Venom | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 4, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sanctuary
• ASIN: B000ERU7LG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,388 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

UK pressing. 2006 album from the most influential metal band on the planet and is packed with visceral stinging barbs primed to turn metal on it's head once more. Castle. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Venom return as strong as ever, April 10, 2006

By 

A. Stutheit "Teyad" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Metal Black (Audio CD)

Venom emerged in the early 1980's and went on to become possibly the most influential extreme metal band of all time. They have influenced a countless number of bands, including Metallica and Slayer, and Venom's 1982 sophomore album, "Black Metal," practically gave birth to a whole new kind of heavy metal.

24 years later, Venom are still alive and kicking, though they have kind of lost relevance (some people have forgotten about them) in recent years. Their last album, "Resurrection," was released back in 2000, and some fans were disappointed with it, saying it's just an "average" album. Well, six years after their last studio release, Venom (vocalist/bassist Cronos and drummer Antton) have reunited with guitarist Mykvs, and released a new album, entitled "Metal Black."

"Metal Black" finds Venom going back to their roots, with riffs that are simple yet catchy and a production job which is very rough (the drums sound especially raw). So, this "back to basics" album sounds very old-school, but it isn't just a nostalgic rehash of "Welcome To Hell" and "Black Metal."

"Antechrist" bursts out of the starting gate with fiery, blistering riffs. The next song, "Burn In Hell," has about a ten second drum intro before launching into a fast, chug and churn guitar lead. Next, "House Of Pain" is backed by stop-start bursts of lumbering riffs and thunderous double bass work. But track four, "Death & Dying," is my personal favorite song on here. It sports a choppy beat with stomping drums, and pounding, rhythmic riffs which should have the entire crowd headbanging at one of Venom's shows. This song is also capped off by a rather complex, several parted guitar solo. The last two highlights are the catchy "A Good Day To Die," and "Sleep When I'm Dead," which is scorching.

So, 25 years since their first album, and 24 years after creating black metal, Venom still know how to bring the goods, and crank out tunes which are plenty fast, heavy, and dark. "Metal Black" is one of the finer black metal albums to be released so far in 2006, and it's highly recommended to all fans.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars COMEBACK ALBUM OF THE DECADE, July 2, 2006

By 

old school alice fan "Matt" (Vancouver BC Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Metal Black (Audio CD)

This album will blow your head clean off. Oh sure, you have wimp friends who say, "Oh, VENOM can't play, they can't sing." That's because your friends are a bunch of idiots who have neither brains nor taste. They do what they are told, and they listen to what they're told. They are sheep. They own Nine Inch Nails albums. Why do you hang out with such losers? Discard them. Threaten them if they call or try to come over. Then... Do yourself a huge favor by educating yourself about rockn'roll. Discover that only rarely bands come along that influence and in effect jumpstart entire forms and genres of popular music. Like Buddy Holly. Elvis. Arlo Guthrie. The Beatles. The Mamas and Papas. The Doors. Alice Cooper. Kiss. Nirvana. VENOM. Yes, VENOM. This unholy trinity trio from Jolly Old didn't just jumpstart the whole 80's. 90's, and beyond for hardcore death black noise thrash speed metal, they rammed a trident straight up the gulliver of the mainstream and we have been wallowing in a myriad of awesome heavy thrash in the decades thus ever since. VENOM did it all first. They are the godfathers of anything you're probably listening to now and never got the respect they deserve. Cronos rules. Cronos is God. That voice. The charisma. The talent. The presence. The lyrics. Nothing can touch VENOM when they are at their best. Nothing. And this album is VENOM AT THEIR BEST. This album kills. This album is everything great about WELCOME TO HELL, AT WAR WITH SATAN, POSSESSED, CALM BEFORE THE STORM, CAST IN STONE, and RESURRECTION all rolled into one killer, I mean, one FREAKIN killer album that you won't believe. Mike Hickey has recorded, along with Count Cronos himself, of course, the deadliest licks this side of Hades. His solos will astound you. What a great guitarist. A few listens, and the riffs will effen haunt you. They are that brilliant. And Count Cronos, the Vampire Supreme Himself, By Holy Order of the Satanic Majesties Request, what can I say. On his shoulders rests the responsibility of creating the greatest of all subgenres of music, BLACK METAL. ASSASSIN will ring in your ears over and over and over. ANTICHRIST is one of the greatest songs ever written, never mind one of the best VENOM ever written. REGE SATANAS should be #1 on the Billboard Charts. HOUSE OF PAIN will have you wanting to destroy everything you see without knowing why. DARKEST REALM is probably Western Civilization's greatest cultural achievement since AT WAR WITH SATAN. MALEFICARUM will make you do anything, even sell your grandmother to gypsy slave traders, just for the pleasure of hearing it again. And again. When you hear Count Cronos cry, "Maleficaruuuuuuuuuuuuummmmm" you'll understand. It is paradise. Unbound. Rise. Fall. Into Hell. Maleficaruuuuummmmm...... This album rules. This band rules. Cronos rules all. Listening to this album will make you feel like a forty foot tall rampaging gorilla made of steel and Jack Daniels with the self confidence of Godzilla. You will conquer anything with VENOM in your stereo. Tell your wimp friends to listen to some real metal... V E N O...freakin' M Thank you dark lords for granting Cronos a miraculous recovery to release this gem. This is one of the greatest albums of all time. I have spoken. I'm gonna listen to it again right now. "I bear the soul of Satan, I wear the seal of Death...ANTECHRIST!" If you don't know who VENOM is or don't think VENOM is the greatest band of all time, then you are a cultureless and clueless idiot. We feel sorry for you. Why do you live? VENOM RULES.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Top notch axe work!, April 13, 2006

By 

L Salisbury (Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Metal Black (Audio CD)

For the first time in their career Venom have released a well produced clean sounding album. Except for his appearence on Dave Ghrol's "Probot" project Cronos' bass and vocals have never sounded clearer. And this line-up has a firmer grasp on song structure. But the REAL star of this CD is guitarist Mike "Mykus" Hickey (who had previously worked with Venom on their good-but-under-rated "Clam Before the Storm" in 87). Mykus' use of melody, riffs and especially breaks make even the filler tracks shine!The lyrics are more of the horror comic book same but who really pays attention to them anyway?
The best CDs in the last few years from NWOBHM hold-outs are Witchfynde's "Witching Hour" (01), Pagan Altar's "lords of Hypocracy" (04), Diamond Head's "All Will Be Revealed" (05), Handsome Beasts' "04", and now Venom's "Metal Black". Here's hoping this line-up won't wait 6 years before their next album.