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Rating: It is certainly difficult to explain, in a few words, the influence that a band like Venom has had on the entire music scene, and on the birth of numerous genres, among which Black Metal and Thrash Metal obviously stand out. Surely, if you listen to a Venom album for the first time, 90% of people will say, "What's this rubbish? And this would be music? Where is the harmony?" And that's the point. Venom is not a band about harmony between instruments, to be clear. They are not a band with a singer with a clean voice and teased hair, with fireworks at the end of the concert. Not at all. Rough, violent, demons coming down to earth, children of Satan, direct, these are some adjectives to describe Venom, and in particular the voice of Cronos. Very few in 1981, when "Welcome To Hell" was released, would have ever said that a band almost incomprehensible in its songs would have had such a huge influence. A year later, Cronos and his companions reunited to give birth, or in this case, it would be more appropriate to say to the darkness, to their second album, "Black Metal." These two records I am talking to you about will be the roots of what will later be the Black genre, the one without which Venom would probably never have been born.
It starts with the Titletrack, one of the group's most famous songs, always performed live, and characterized by an intro where it feels like being in a factory, then hearing the explosion of the instruments, Cronos's raw voice and the famous chorus "For Black Metal.... Lay down your soul to the gods rock 'n roll!" One of the best on the album, definitely. "To Hell And Back" is a slight slowdown, but driven by great drums, where Venom talk about their journey to hell, arm in arm with Lucifer, kisses with the Satanic queen, and their other cheerful escapades. They should make a TV series about it, right? "Buried Alive" begins for over a minute with verses, not quite understandable, of a man in agony, almost in suffering, scared of something. Cronos will recount this agony to us, with a suffering voice, in which he has been buried alive, and he wonders if this torture inflicted on him is real or a dream. "Raise The Dead" moves to faster rhythms, and is the second part of "Buried Alive," in which he, having emerged from the grave, calls the dead to fight together. "Teacher's Pet" and "Leave Me in Hell" earn the title of the fastest and most successful songs, especially the latter, where an excellent bass line is outlined. "Sacrifice," which gave me chills on the first listen in the chorus, will not let you stop keeping the rhythm with your feet, but will also give you fear due to Cronos's malevolent voice, which seems to call us to himself. "Heaven's On Fire" and "Countess Bathory" are two excellent songs where Cronos's voice, if possible, seems even more ungraceful and demonic. "Don't Burn The Witch" introduces us, for the first time, to a very good rhythmic section, almost paradoxical that Venom leave it as the penultimate song. "At War With Satan/Intro" anticipates what will be the song and title of the next Venom album, where a malevolent voice tells of Satan, who is about to gather the infernal army to attack Heaven, flying with his chariot toward the celestial skies for revenge on the land where his angels fell. Cronos's voice reciting the first verses of the song, then quickly fading, leaves us with a hint of curiosity about what will happen in God's land...
As soon as it was released, "Black Metal" witnessed a change in the world of music. An unheard-of violence, never heard by anyone before, equally blasphemous lyrics with no secrets. Venom, blunt and direct, were preparing to take on the world with their violent and infernal music, proving that the era of Black Metal had just begun.
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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