Today in 1997 Venom released the album Cast in Stone Newcastle, England NWOBHM/Black/Speed Metal Status:Active Years active: 1979 (as Guillotine), 1979-1993, 1995-present UK act VENOM was formed in 1979, as a new moniker to be used by the band that originally started out as Guillotine. In 1978 this band consisted of Jeffrey Dunn and Dave Rutherford (guitars), Dean Hewitt (bass), Dave Blackman (vocals) and Chris Mercaters (drums). Then this band was hit with a flurry of line-up changes: Blackman left, replaced by Clive Archer (vocals), while Mercaters was replaced by Anthony Bray (drums). Next guy out was Hewitt, replaced by Alan Winston (bass). And finally Rutherford left in the summer of 1979, replaced by Conrad Lant (guitars). Shorty after the Gullotine moniker was left behind, with Venom as the new name of choice. The band was reduced to a quartet just prior to a concert the same year, as Winston suddenly decided to quit. Lant took over bass duties, and by using his guitar amps for the bass he borrowed for the gig also created the distinct bass sound that would be something of a trademark sound for the rest of the bands career. The band, now reduced to a quartet, recorded their first demo Demon in 1980. Archer left the band soon after, and Venom decided to continue on as a trio, with Lant taking over the vocal duties. In 1981 Venom were signed by Neat Records, who released their first single In League With Satan. Their full length début Welcome to Hell followed shortly after. But it was in 1982 that the band really made an impact, with the album Black Metal. The album name was soon after used as a stylistic expression to describe bands playing metal exploring occult lyrical themes, and is an oft cited inspiration for later artists active in the emerging thrash, black and death metal environments. While Venoms musical endeavours were regarded as a source of inspiration by others, many felt that the band first and foremost were a rough and untalented crew. To try to prove them wrong their next venture was a rather ambitious display. In 1983 it was released under the name At War With Satan, featuring a title track clocking in at nearly 20 minutes, accompanied by shorter tracks exploring compositional and musical territories more typical of the band. In 1985 their fourth album Possessed was released, a production which failed to achieve the same commercial impact as their previous efforts. Dunn left the band shortly after to pursue a solo career. Mike Hickey and Jim Clare (guitars) were brought in to replace Dunn, and in 1987 Venoms fifth outing Calm Before the Storm surfaced, now sporting lyrics exploring fantasy themes rather that the satanic and occult themes Venom had as a trademark feature. Fans and critics alike were less than enthused about this effort, and soon after Lant left to form his own Cronos project, with Hickey and Clare joining him in this venture. Bray decided to keep Venom going as a concern though, and after convincing Music For Nations to issue a record deal, he brought in Tony Dolan (vocals, bass) from Atomkraft, convinced Dunn to return and brought in Al Barnes (guitars) to flesh out the line-up. The album Prime Evil (1989), compilation EP Tear Your Soul Apart (1990) and studio effort Temples of Ice (1991) followed, and while they didnt convince the fans that got into venom at the start of their career, these efforts were noted as worthwhile thrash metal efforts by the few non-Venom fans that decided to check them out. As commercial entities they failed to make an impact though, and after the last of these three efforts Barnes decided to quit. Steve White (guitars) from Atomkraft was brought in for a fourth effort, 1992s The Waste Lands, but when this one failed to gain commercial momentum as well their record label decided that this version of Venom was a dead end, and refused to issue any further productions. Dolan and Dunn quit the band due to this, and Bray kept going alone again, now restricted to the production of live albums and compilations. In 1995 Dunn and Lant both decided that it was time to reunite the classic trio, and joining Bray they recorded and self-released the EP Venom 96, featuring 4 re-recorded tracks and one new effort. On the strength of this production Venom was signed by German label SPV. The album Cast in Stone followed in 1997, consisting partially of new and partially of re-recorded old compositions. In 1999 Bray left Venom in 1999, and Lant decided to replace him with his brother Anthony Lant (drums). One year later this new line-up issued thr album Resurrection. In 2002 Dunn left venom again, and was replaced by former member Hickey (guitars). And in 2006 this line-up was responsible for the album Metal Black, described by some fans as an album featuring Cronos and two other guys. Hickey would leave the band again shortly after, and in 2007 a guitarist known by his stage moniker Rage was the new man in. In 2008 a new studio effort, Hell, followed. Anthony Lant left the band in 2009, replaced by Danny Needham (drums). This new line-up has been active as a live unit since the second half of 2009, and in between concerts they are working on a new studio effort as well, with a planned 2010 release. Steamhammer Cronos – bass guitar, vocals Mantas – guitar Abaddon – drums, samples 1. The Evil One (3:20) 2. Raised in Hell (2:51) 3. All Devils Eve (2:56) 4. Bleeding (2:46) 5. Destroyed & Damned (6:48) 6. Domus Mundi (3:55) 7. Flight of the Hydra (3:25) 8. Gods Forsaken (4:27) 9. Mortals (3:19) 10. Infectious (3:39) 11. Kings of Evil (4:18) 12. Youre All Gonna Die (3:04) 13. Judgement Day (4:35) 14. Swarm (5:07) Total Time: 54:36 This album marks the reunion of the classic Venom featuring Cronos, Mantas & Abaddon. Bonus CD (Original release, 1997): 01-10: Re-recordings Bonus CD (Santuary re-release, 2006): 01-10: Re-recordings 11-15: Dynamo Festival 1996 EP: 1. Intro (1:59) 2. Bloodlust (2:59) 3. Die Hard (3:06) 4. Acid Queen (2:50) 5. Bursting Out (2:50) 6. Warhead (4:14) 7. Lady Lust (2:52) 8. Manitou (3:45) 9. Rip Ride (3:07) 10. Venom (4:13) 11. The Seven Gates of Hell (5:03) 12. Welcome to Hell (3:46) 13. In Nomine Satanas (3:46) 14. Black Metal (3:23) 15. The Evil One (1:57) Tracks 6 and 14 were written by Abaddon in conjunction with two studio engineers, originally for a different project. The industrial samples were recorded seperatley from the rest of the album. Cast in Stone is the ninth album by heavy metal band Venom, and also their first album in 12 years to feature the original lineup. Recorded at Lartington Hall Studios near Barnard Castle, it was released on SPV/Steamhammer in 1997. It is the last Venom album to feature Abaddon on drums. youtube/watch?v=L-askEGAcCg
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 22:11:51 +0000
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