Venom

The Profile

Venom are an English heavy metal band formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1979, widely credited as a key influence on the development of extreme metal and for popularizing the term “black metal” via their 1982 album.

Publicly verifiable: formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England; classic early lineup associated with the band includes Cronos (Conrad Lant), Mantas (Jeff Dunn), and Abaddon (Tony Bray); early releases “Welcome to Hell” (1981) and “Black Metal” (1982) are frequently cited as foundational influences on extreme metal.

Across these reviews, Venom are treated as foundational to extreme metal—especially via Welcome to Hell and Black Metal. Writers praise the band’s rawness, speed, and Cronos’s unmistakable voice/bass, while repeatedly arguing about how well the later albums hold up. Possessed and Resurrection get defended as underrated by some, while Metal Black and parts of the post-classic era are often criticized. Overall: huge historical impact, intentionally unpolished sound, and a discography that strongly divides listeners.