Rating: NNN
There’s a legendary bootleg of Venom playing a New Jersey nightclub in the mid-80s where, among many quotable between-song-banter moments, frontman Cronos addresses rumours that his pioneering metal trio is packing it in – finished. His hell-fury screaming response? “Well, we’re recording a fucking new album now!”
Nearly 25 years later you could be forgiven for assuming that Venom, which formed in 79, had packed it in. But once again Cronos would roar the contrary, all while thrusting a copy of their newest disc, Fallen Angels, at you.
The pre-Slayer British band’s use of satanic imagery was far ahead of the game, and they’ve stayed true to those themes. Damnation Of Souls and Sin, for example, burst through your speakers with double-kick-drum fury, while Pedal To The Metal is the kind of classic fist-pumper Judas Priest wish they could still write.
Top track: Pedal To The Metal
