L to R: Jeffrey “Mantas” Dunn, Conrad “Cronos” Lant and Anthony “Abaddon” Bray
Today we take a trip back to 1982 to the second album by Venom called “Black Metal” released on Neat Records which was sold to Sanctuary Records in 1995.
The album, Black Metal has been considered a major influence on many, many bands and is often credited for being a huge influence on the early Norwegian black metal scene. Vocalist/bassist Conrad “Cronos” Lant came up with the concept for the cover of the album and the band includes Jeff “Mantas” Dunn on guitar and Anthony “Abaddon” Bray on drums. The track listing for Black Metal is as follows:
1) Black Metal
2) To Hell and Back
3) Buried Alive
4) Raise the Dead
5) Teacher’s Pet
6) Leave Me In Hell
7) Sacrifice
8) Heaven’s on Fire
9) Countess Bathory
10) Don’t Burn The Witch
11) At War With Satan (preview to their next album of the same name)
Venom have gone through many different lineup changes over the years, reunited with different member lineups and have been the subject of lots of media criticism. The band has taken it all in stride though and are highly regarded in metal circles and by fans alike.
Check out the live video from 1985 of the band playing some of their classic songs below:
The Metal Wire 