Venom

Venom was never a great band musically, but back in the early '80s they were the only Black Metal band in existence. It took me a while to get into them and even now I find them more amusing than anything else--these guys are so Satanic, it's hilarious!

I used to own a crappy vinyl box set which contained their first 3 albums, with many of their non-LP singles and such mixed in, and upgraded them all when the CDs were re-issued with the rare tracks as well. I'm not hard-pressed to buy more recent Venom releases (the joke wore off rather quickly), although I wouldn't mind getting a collection that includes their rare singles, i.e. "Warhead" (which was covered by Bewitched), "Lady Lust", "Dead of the Night" and "F.O.A.D." (The Metal City compilation includes two of their rare tracks, "7 Gates of Hell" and "Nightmare".) Used to own a fairly large collection of rare 12" singles by the band, complete with lewd & revolting cover art, but alas I sold them all long ago...

"Welcome to Hell"

  1. "Sons of Satan" (3:32)
  2. "Welcome to Hell" (3:10)
  3. "Schizo" (3:55)
  4. "Mayhem with Mercy"--instrumental (0:58)
  5. "Poison" (4:28)
  6. "Live Like an Angel, Die Like a Devil" (3:49)
  7. "Witching Hour" (4:06)
  8. "1,000 Days in Sodom" (4:29)
  9. "Angel Dust" (2:30)
  10. "In League with Satan" (3:45)
  11. "Red Light Fever" (5:05)
  12. "In Nomina Satanas" (3:25)
  13. "Bursting Out" (2:58)

This album is ridiculously campy -- the garbage track "Sons of Satan" sets the mood perfectly, and other key tracks include "Live Like an Angel..." and "In League with Satan". The bonus tracks "In Nomina Satanas" and "Bursting Out" are a nice addition.

"Black Metal"

  1. "Black Metal" (3:40)
  2. "To Hell and Back" (3:00)
  3. "Buried Alive" (4:16)
  4. "Raise the Dead" (2:45)
  5. "Acid Queen" (2:28)
  6. "Blood Lust" (2:59)
  7. "Teacher's Pet" (4:41)
  8. "Leave Me in Hell" (3:33)
  9. "Sacrifice" (4:27)
  10. "Heaven's on Fire" (3:40)
  11. "Countess Bathory" (3:44)
  12. "Die Hard" (3:02)
  13. "Don't Burn the Witch" (3:20)
  14. "At War with Satan (introduction)" (2:14)

Pretty much in the same vein as their debut, although it does contain my FAVORITE Venom song of all time, "Teacher's Pet"! "Teacher caught me masturbating underneath the desk, she looked at me and winked and said, 'See you after class...'" Haha, love those lyrics. "Buried Alive" is an uncharacteristically slow tune, almost doom-metal in a way...man, say whatever you want about Venom, but be sure to mention they inspired the entire GENRE of black metal, okay?? (And speaking of "Black Metal", that song has been covered by Cradle of Filth.)

"At War with Satan"

  1. "At War with Satan" (20:01)
  2. "Manitou" (3:02)
  3. "Rip Ride" (3:08)
  4. "Genocide" (3:58)
  5. "Cry Wolf" (4:18)
  6. "Stand Up (and be Counted)" (3:28)
  7. "Women, Leather and Hell" (3:19)
  8. "Woman" (2:54)
  9. "Aaaaargghh" (2:21)

Oooh, Venom goes progressive!! Well, in a way. The 20-minute title track is a complete mess, but I love it anyway. The other songs, however, show that the joke is starting to wear thin. "Manitou" and "Woman" are the bonus tracks here.

"Possessed"

  1. "Powerdrive" (3:15)
  2. "Flytrap" (3:49)
  3. "Satanachist" (2:43)
  4. "Burn This Place (to the Ground)" (2:40)
  5. "Harmony Dies" (2:42)
  6. "Possessed" (4:50)
  7. "Hellchild" (2:39)
  8. "Moonshine" (3:17)
  9. "Wing and a Prayer" (2:44)
  10. "Suffer Not the Children" (3:06)
  11. "Voyeur" (3:00)
  12. "Mystique" (4:58)
  13. "Too Loud (for the Crowd)" (2:58)

Pretty much the same hilarious crap the band's been puking out since they started, although the joke's kinda wearing thin by now. I like how the title track incorporates phrases which were printed on their earlier records: "We drink the vomit of the priests, make love to the dying whore..." Earned 'em a place on the PMRC's "Filthy Fifteen" list, that did. :)

(Found out too late that there's a remastered/expansed version which adds half a dozen bonus tracks, including "Warhead", "F.O.A.D." and the highly sought live versions of "Poison" and "Teacher's Pet"...gahh!! Why does God hate me for buying Satanic music?)

"Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" (live album)

  1. "Intro/Too Loud (For the Croud)" (4:22)
  2. "7 Gates of Hell" (4:40)
  3. "Leave Me in Hell" (3:10)
  4. "Nightmare" (3:41)
  5. "Countess Bathory" (3:36)
  6. "Die Hard" (2:49)
  7. "Schizo" (3:24)
  8. "Guitar Solo MANTAS" (3:12)
  9. "In Nomine Satanas" (3:25)
  10. "Witching Hour" (4:15)
  11. "Black Metal" (3:28)
  12. "The Chanting of the Priests" (4:57)
  13. "Satanachist" (1:58)
  14. "Fly Trap" (3:37)
  15. "Warhead" (4:16)
  16. "Buried Alive/Love Amongst the Dead" (5:36)
  17. "Bass Solo CRONOS" (3:46)
  18. "Welcome to Hell/Bloodlust" (7:11)

At first I freaked out when this CD arrived, since I thought it was originally a double CD...turns out I was wrong. Nice live album, proving that Venom is just as crappy live as they are in the studio. Great for a laugh though. :) Quite a few unreleased tracks here, including one, "Love Amongst the Dead", which I've never found a studio version for. Sure wish they could have added "Teacher's Pet/Poison" (released as a 12" b-side for "Witching Hour") as a CD bonus track, but oh well.

"Prime Evil"

  1. "Prime Evil" (4:41)
  2. "Parasite" (3:09)
  3. "Blackened Are the Priests" (4:19)
  4. "Carnivorous" (2:11)
  5. "Skeletal Dance" (3:09)
  6. "Megalomania" (5:25)
  7. "I Agree" (2:57)
  8. "Harder Than Fever" (3:11)
  9. "Into the Fire" (3:22)
  10. "Skool Daze" (4:22)
  11. "Live Like an Angel -- Die Like a Devil" (3:03)

This was one of the first albums released after Cronos left. I bought this piece of shit a long time ago and sold it almost immediately. It just ain't Venom w/o Cronos, dammit!! This re-purchase is solely for the cover of Black Sabbath's "Megalomania", which to my knowledge, has never been covered by ANYBODY else.

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