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Rating: The Venom were one of the greatest and most innovative bands in the history of metal. With their debut "Welcome To Hell" in 1981, they significantly shook the world of metal and set a new limit for the extremism of this genre both musically and lyrically and in imagery. Before that, the most one could hear were Sabbathian allusions and attempts to find mythical hidden messages in the records and songs of Led Zeppelin and/or The Beatles; never had such explicit flaunting been reached.
Originally, Venom consisted of 5 members who eventually became 3, not exactly virtuosos of their instruments, and whose goal was to play as fast and violently as possible. As often happens, the secret of their evil and extreme sound was born by chance; if in the case of Sabbath, their heavy sound was derived from blues played with a very heavy amplification and especially by the necessity to play with a lower tuning to aid Tony Iommy, the sound of Newcastle's Venom took an unexpected turn when rhythm guitarist-turned-bassist Conrad "Cronos" Lant plugged the jack of his bass into his guitar amplifier and, equalizing it all even with the effects of his former instrument, what came out was the so-called "Bulldozer Bass Sound" which would become the soul of the group's sound, later inspiring a whole generation of bands from Metallica to Slayer all the way to the cruder and more demented Black Metal groups like Meyhem (who took their name from a song in "Welcome To Hell").
I’ll say right away that I am not a fan of this genre, which I consider indeed demented, not so much for the music but for everything else we all know. No offense to the more hardcore blacksters, but at the same time, I consider Venom something seminal and therefore still "pure" and "uncontaminated," at least musically. Their intent was primarily to have lyrics that were alternative and shocking compared to those popular at the time in the UK, even though later on they obviously extensively capitalized on the image they had created.
After their brilliant debut came this "Black Metal", which gave its name to the entire future scene, and I will say right away that I don’t consider it a masterpiece unlike its predecessor. An slightly overrated album, although still great, and now we begin the description: it starts with the famous title track, which together with the ninth track "Countess Bathory" perhaps represents the absolute pinnacle of Venom's production, two of the most devastating pieces in the history of all metal, unmatched. "To Hell And Back" is also a great track, this time more powerful than fast and chaotic, but sufficiently dark not to pale beside the two previously mentioned; the subsequent "Buried Alive" (which is actually united with "Raise The Dead" into a single song) begins with sinister (real) sounds of moving earth to underline the funereal atmosphere of the track, but then continues slow and measured, more Sabbathian this time. Personally, I consider these 2 the minor tracks of the work.
"Teacher's Pet" returns to the violence, but it doesn't match the first ones and the predecessor album; with the quartet "Leave Me In Hell", "Sacrifice", "Heaven's On Fire", and "Don't Burn The Witch", we return to a level of excellence, among highs and lows they confirm themselves as excellent tracks nonetheless inferior to the gems mentioned at the beginning. The unnecessary "At War With Satan Preview" closes a work that has always been considered the masterpiece of the English band, certainly the atmosphere is absolutely dark and evil and with the predecessor (which is only a few months apart) completes a pair that for better or worse marked the beginning of (at least) a new genre, but also the beginning, as always happens, of a trend.
Musically this LP is seen as a continuation of the line of "Welcome To Hell" but with a refinement of the sound; I instead think that perhaps because of this it is inferior, the first still appears more violent, raw, chaotic, and spontaneous, without taking anything away anyway from this excellent album which had the honor of offering the name to an entire scene, and regardless of the effective value, this is no small thing, as well as inspiring other sub-genres like Thrash and Death in a decisive way, and not everyone can boast this
"Lay down your soul to the gods rock n' roll!!!!!!"
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Black Metal (03:44)
Black is the night, metal we fight
Power amps set to explode.
Energy screams, magic and dreams
Satan records the first note.
We chime the bell, chaos and hell
Metal for maniacs pure.
Fast melting steel, fortune on wheels
Brain haemorrhage is the cure.
For black metal!
lay down your souls to the gods rock 'n roll
Freaking so wild, nobodys mild
Giving it all that you got.
Wild is so right, metal tonight
Faster than over the top.
Open the door, enter hell's core
Black is the code for tonight.
Atomic force, feel no remorse
Crank up the amps now its night
black metal!
lay down your souls to the gods rock 'n roll
metal ten fold through the deadly black hole
riding hell's stallions bareback and free
taking our chances with raw energy
Come ride the night with us
Rock hard and fight
United my legions we stand
Freak hard and wild for us
Give up your soul
Live for the quest satan's band
Against the odds, black metal gods
Fight to achieve our goal
Casting a spell, leather and hell
Black metal gods rock 'n roll
Building up steam, nuclear screams
War-heads are ready to fight
Black leather hounds, faster than sound
Metal our purpose in life
black metal!
lay down your souls to the gods rock 'n roll
black metal!
03 Buried Alive (04:12)
I'm alive but dead, awake but asleep...
As friends gather round and mourners they weep...
My mind thinks of all the things I have done...
My body is cold but my heart beat goes on...
And on .... and on
As they lower me down into that hole in the ground
I scream out for help but they hear not a sound
I tear at the lid, my fingers they bleed
Is this happening to me or is it just a dream
Summon the dead....
Baphomets call....
Blood on my hands....
"Let me out of here!"
My bones are decayed, my flesh it doth rot
I'm lying in silk, take the lid off this box
My lungs gasp for air, my eyes scream for sight
I promise the rise of my body this night
Summon the dead......
Baphomets call........
Blood on my hands......
Screaming in torment....
I'm telling you all......
Take heed of my plea......
Answer my call.............
I'm gonna be free...........
04 Raise the Dead (02:53)
Rising from the deadly tomb I've got
maddened eyes with fright
fingers bleeding fast heart beating
The moons my only light
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
If God won't have me, then the Devil must
we will raise the dead
we will raise the dead
we will raise the dead
stop at nothing raise the dead
Gaze across the blackened yard
my mind is filled with dread
So give me all the powers of Hell
and I'll raise the dead
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
The hotter the fire, the greater the lust
I hear the star of the Necromancer
my blood is black and my heart doth bleed
I am infernal and my mind's in torment
I'll raise the dead make the world unclean
Laughing as my legions rise
control the zombies mind
I hold Hell close to my breast
I'm leaving God behind
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
I'll enter hellfire, I'll break the crust
05 Teacher's Pet (04:44)
Teacher caught me masturbating
underneath the desk
she looked at me and winked her eye
said "see you after class"
I heard the school bell ring that told
me that the day was done
she called me back and locked
the door my lessons just begun
Teachers pet
Teachers wet
Sitting down she crossed her
legs her skirt crept up her thigh
feeling something start to rise
my thought began to fly
You've been a naughty boy she said
now that you can't conceal
I'll have to punish you
the best way that I feel
Teachers pet
Teachers wet
She took my hand and gently placed it
in between her thighs
with open legs and heavy breath
she slowly closed her eyes
Her flesh was aching and her
hands began to stray
on thing that I know for sure
I won't forget today
Teachers pet
Teachers wet
Pulled me down forwards her mound
teacher tasted sweet
sixty-nine - I don't mean lines
this was teachers treat
Played hide and seek with teachers mouth
her lips were warm and wet
Now today I've had my way
and teacher won't forget
Teachers pet
Teachers wet
07 Sacrifice (04:30)
Hooded figures, clouded skies
fires burn within their eyes
pentagram with baphomet midnight strikes
goat of mendes lifts his head
summons up the living dead
virgin flesh lies tied and bound
hail satanas
S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E.
scream for mercy cry and repent satan claims your soul
sacrifice, sacrifice, oh so nice, sacrifice
Candles glow on alters bare
a virgin's death is needed there
sacrifice to Lucifer my master
bring the chalice raise the knife
welcome to my sacrifice
plunge the dagger in her breast
I insist
S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E.
limbs weaken limbs fly away demons rejoice
sacrifice, sacrifice, name your price, sacrifice
Death is swift 'neath satan's sword
all the same young and old
life means nothing to my lord
drink from chalice warm and sweet
virgin's heart final beat
lightning strikes virgin dies
satan smiles
S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E.
the moon is black and the witches dance, heaven is denied
sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice
08 Heaven's on Fire (03:42)
You think your soul is nice
you've lived in paradise
so now you take the stand
you want to hold your masters hand
you think your soul is free
look up and you'll see me
the pearly gates ablaze
the angels hear the zombies gaze
(Chorus)
heavens on fire
and there aint nothing you can do
heavens on fire
and when you die you'll go there too
the angels live their death
no there aint nothing left
the clowns of God despise
but torment renders no disguise
the skies a blazing tomb
plenty sorrow plenty doom
they battle living sin
the souls of God can't hope to win
(Chorus)
if God is so almighty
then why is he enslaved
in heavens hell by satan
the universe his slave
satan rides the skies
look up you'll see his eyes
disguised as endless stars
to keep an eye on endless wars
do you believe in God
he's chained up like a dog
and every hour he screams
satan rules supreme
09 Countess Bathory (03:47)
Welcoming the virgins fair, to live a noble life
In the castle known to all - the count's internal wife
She invites the peasants with endless lavish foods
But, when evening spreads it wings, she rapes them of their blood
Countess Bathory
Countess Bathory
All day long the virgins sit and feast on endless meals
The countess laughs and sips her wine - her skin doth crack and peel
But when nighttime fills the air one must pay the price
The countess takes her midnight bath with blood that once gave life
Countess Bathory
Countess Bathory
Living in her self styled Hell, the countess dressed in black
Life's so distant - death's so near - no blood to fury time back
The castle walls are closing in, she's crippled now with age
Welcomes death with open arms - the reaper turns the page
Countess Bathory
Countess Bathory
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Other reviews
By coppino
High school music played by evil geniuses.
The first masterpiece of Music. A must even for your deceased grandmothers; they will be reborn, you’ll see.
By Harlan
Venom is not a band about harmony between instruments, to be clear.
As soon as it was released, 'Black Metal' witnessed a change in the world of music.
