By Jim Rowland
Venom (should) need little introduction. One of the most influential bands in metal, their legendary status was assured with just their first three albums in the early 1980s. They’ve endured in one form or another ever since, not without controversy of course. The current line-up of Cronos, Rage and Dante has been together for 17 years now, and new album ‘Into Oblivion’, Venom’s 16th studio offering, marks their first new recordings since 2018’s ‘Storm The Gates’. As it turns out, it has been well worth the wait.
‘Into Oblivion’ has been a long time in the making, with the band taking their time to achieve a result as good as they could possibly get.
Marrying the blood-curdling fury of the early Venom with the production values and musicianship of the later era, it has turned out to be a pure metal monster. Of each of the 13 tracks on offer, no two sound the same, with each track having a personality of its own.
There’s thunderously fast and heavy tracks like ‘Into Oblivion’, ‘Live Loud’ and the ‘Black Metal’-referencing ‘Lay Down Your Soul’ nestling alongside grinders like ‘Dogs Of War’ and the Slayer-esque ‘Unholy Mother’, and the anthemic ‘Legend’.
‘Death The Leveller’ is a belter with a distinct old school NWoBHM vibe, ‘Kicked Out Of Hell’ is a pure thrash attack, and the chugging juggernauts of ‘Man & Beast’ and ‘Metal Bloody Metal’ show Cronos’ demonic vocal delivery to be in fine fettle. The album’s longest track, ‘As Above So Below’, is another belter with impressive technical and progressive qualities.
‘Into Oblivion’ is the best I’ve heard Venom sounding in a very long time. Loud and proudly pure metal, this is classic Venom for the modern era.
- ‘Into Oblivion’ is out now.