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1978-1980
Pre-LabelFormation and Early Days
Jesus Christ
Cronos
Mantas
Abaddon
Jeff "Mantas" Dunn joined Venom in 1979 as the lead guitarist, taking the stage name "Mantas". Along with Conrad "Cronos" Lant and Anthony "Abaddon" Bray, he formed the core lineup that would define the band's early influential sound.
1978-1980
Pre-LabelPercy Street and Jeavons Music Store
Jesus Christ
Cronos
Mantas
Abaddon
Percy Street in Newcastle city centre was a crucial landmark in my and Venom's history...
1981
Neat RecordsWelcome to Hell
"An epic of ugliness, a riotous noise, an appalling racket and this is possibly the heaviest record ever allowed in the shops for public consumption." - Geoff Barton, Sounds magazine (1981)
"The hi-fi dynamics of a 50-year-old pizza... brought a new meaning to the word cataclysmic." - Geoff Barton, Sounds magazine (1981)
"...an epic of ugliness, a riotous noise, an appalling racket and this is possibly the heaviest record ever allowed in the shops..." - Geoff Barton, Sounds magazine (1981)
"Welcome to Hell is simply too historically important to not be considered black metal or even thrash metal." - Metal Archives
- Live Like an Angel
1982
Neat RecordsBlack Metal
"Venom's second album, Black Metal, carved in stone some of the essential features of black metal." - Moynihan & Søderlind, Lords of Chaos
"Venom are Sabbath on Angel Dust, Motörhead for zombies." - Garry Bushell, Sounds magazine (1982)
"Carved in stone some of the essential features of black metal." - Moynihan & Søderlind, Lords of Chaos
"In 1998, it was voted 52nd among the '100 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die' by readers of Kerrang!" - Wikipedia
- Black Metal
- To Hell and Back
- Buried Alive
- Raise the Dead
- Teachers' Pet
- Leave Me in Hell
- Sacrifice
- Heaven's on Fire
- Countess Bathory
- Don't Burn the Witch
- At War with Satan (Preview)
1984
Neat RecordsAt War with Satan
"With side one of this album they top everything they've spewed forth before with a truly terrifying 20 minute cocept-epic, a real 15 rounder." - Garry Bushell, Sounds magazine (1984)
"Proof positive that Venom are the best heavy metal band in the world. And no, you can't dance to it." - Neil Jeffries, Melody Maker (1984)
"This record is the absolute, no holds barred, complete and utter last word in total heavy metal." - Neil Jeffries, Melody Maker (1984)
"It will definitely go down in Heavy Metal history as the ultimate headbang." - Sounds magazine (1984)
- At War with Satan
- Rip Ride
- Genocide
- Cry Wolf
- Stand Up (And Be Counted)
- Women, Leather and Hell
- Aaaaaarrghh
1985
Neat RecordsPossessed
"Possessed has too many fine moments to note in a mere review. Just sit back and experience the most genuine metal mindfuckers around." - Stefan Chirazi, Sounds magazine (1985)
"Possessed has too many fine moments to note in a mere review. Just sit back and experience the most genuine metal mindfuckers around." - Stefan Chirazi, Sounds magazine (1985)
"The album contains no less than 13 tracks of bang 'em till they bleed quality." - Metal Forces Magazine (1985)
"The last great album Venom ever made." - Greg Moffitt, Decibel Magazine
- Powerdrive
- Flytrap
- Possessed
- Hellchild
- Moonshine
- Wing and a Prayer
- Satanachist
- Suffer Not the Children
- Voyeur
- Mystique
1986
Neat RecordsEine Kleine Nachtmusik
This landmark live album captured Venom's raw power on stage during the "Hell at Hammersmith" show from 1985. Released shortly before Mantas left the band, it's considered a testament to the classic lineup's live performance intensity.
"This slab of live blasphemy offers not one, but TWO shows: Hammersmith 1985 and New York 1986. I can't say which one is better since they both kick ass!" - Metal Archives
"This record takes the best of the feel of classic live albums like Unleashed in the East and No Sleep 'till Hammersmith and give it a truly raw and evil twist." - Metal Archives
"Every song is played a lot faster than the originals, and the overall sound is great by thrash-heads standards." - Metal Archives
- Black Metal
- Countess Bathory
- Welcome to Hell
- Warhead
- Die Hard
- Manitou
- Satanachist
- Witching Hour
- Heaven's on Fire
- Too Loud for the Crowd
- 7 Gates of Hell
- In Nomine Satanas
- Nightmare
- Bloodlust
- The Seven Gates of Hell
1989
Under One FlagPrime Evil
This album marked Mantas' return to Venom with Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan replacing Cronos on vocals and bass, bringing a new era to the band's sound.
"A thrilling and ridiculously catchy slab of British black/thrash metal that never loses its ferocity or momentum." - Amazon Reviews
"The album received positive reviews and had good sales at the time of its release, defying expectations." - MetalBite
"One of the most important and musically superior albums of the late 80's." - Heavy Metal Tones
- Prime Evil
- Parasite
- Blackened Are the Priests
- Carnivorous
- Skeletal Dance
- Megalomania
- Insane
- Too Loud for the Crowd
- The Channing
- Harder Than Ever
1991
Under One FlagTemples of Ice
The third album featuring the collaboration between Mantas and Dolan.
"It fucking slays and offers hooks and rawness aplenty." - RAMzine
"The songs are well-written and catchy, the band appears to be gelling from a purely musical perspective." - RAMzine
"A more than solid album and much stronger than relatively weak but better known products." - Metal Archives
- I'm Paralysed
- Quicksand
- Black Legions
- Temples of Ice
- In Memory Of
- Acid
- Tribes
- Playtime
- Aaaarrghh
1992
Under One FlagThe Waste Lands
The final album of the Demolition Man era featuring Mantas.
"This album is loaded with crunchy guitars, tight drumming and some wicked songwriting." - Metal Academy
"Abaddon's finest recorded work." - Metal Academy
"The songs tended towards the dark side of thrash metal without neglecting atmospheric moments." - Metal Archives
- Intro
- Cursed
- Graveyards
- Black
- Mazed Winds
- Crucified
- Shadow King
- Clarisse
- Justice
- Wasteland
- Even in Heaven
1995-1996
SPV GmbHClassic Lineup Reunion
In 1995, the classic Venom lineup of Mantas, Cronos, and Abaddon reunited, beginning with a headlining performance at the Waldrock Festival.
"Cast in Stone is heavier than Metallica and more tuneful than Pantera." - Vox magazine
"A surprisingly listenable album that's maybe more old school metal than thrash, but aims a swift kick between the legs and truly delivers." - Jerry Ewing
"This may be the band's most musically accomplished offering." - Spinditty
2000
SPV GmbHResurrection
The final Venom album to feature Mantas before his departure from the band in 2002.
"The compactness and the honesty of the homogeneous album are noteworthy." - Metal Archives
"VENOM here serve a disc of Heavy-Metal burné, lourd, sombre and well produced!" - Rate Your Music
"Cronos can still sing like he always did...possibly even better." - Metal Archives
- Resurrection
- Bleeding
- Rise
- All There Is Fear
- Disbeliever
- Loaded
- The Evil One
- The Blood Is On Your Hands
- Vengeance
- Altered States
- Infected
- Control Freak
- Mystique (Extended Version)