741 - Venom Manitou 1984

"Manitou" was released as a single in 1984 by the three forefathers of black metal, Venom. Included again in their album "Cast in Stone", which reunited the three original members. 

Across infernal wastelands 

Many miles of sunburnt 

Hell Tribes are scattered limbs 

And dust all laying as they fell 

Open lies the challenge to all 

Warriors now men 

Let the spirits guide the winds 

until Manitou ascends.

 

648 - Venom Sacrifice 1982

Venom was formed in 1979 when drummer Abbadon and guitarist Mantas met at a Judas Priest concert. Eventually, their initial singer and bassist left the band and Cronos joined. The album "Black Metal" was the album that initiated the black metal movement. "Sacrifice" is a moderatly fast song about sacrificing a virgin in the name of Satan.

350 - Venom Black Metal 1982

Venom started in 1980 in Newcastle, where three madmen had the idea to play satanic Punk/Metal as it was never seen before… for their names, they chose pseudonyms of demons, that just fitted their concept. Cronos on vocals and bulldozer bass, Mantas on guitars and Abaddon on the drums, that was the original line-up and it’s still the only true Venom band. They have influenced a countless number of bands, including Metallica and Slayer, and Venom's 1982 sophomore album, "Black Metal," practically gave birth to a whole new kind of heavy metal. The three guys created a term, which defined a whole genre:
Black Metal!...lay down your soul to the gods rock'n'roll!!!

173 - Venom Countess Bathory 1982

Venom´s album "Black Metal" is filled with dymanite odes to human sacrifice, blood-obsessed vampiresses and slutty school-teachers. If Hell was to have a soundtrack, this would be it. "Countess Bathory" is pure black metal. The middle "creeping" riff being wonderful to this day. As Cronos sings the chorus "Countess Bathory", it sounds so angry and raw you can't help but love it.

49 - Venom Welcome To Hell 1981

Venom has been reviled by many, hungrily devoured by others, they are one of the defining origins of extreme metal. Though not as dark as “Black Metal” and “At War With Satan,” "Welcome to Hell" was nonetheless a sea change as far as the development of Heavy Metal goes. It had the dirtiest sound in Metal, as anarchic as much of the second wave Punk being spewed forth back then. At times it sounded like the instruments were being played in reverse, and on many of the tracks it had that “Black” quality that gives the association to the Black Metal family tree. Proficiency was not a word associated with VENOM then, but the chaos that ensued won them many friends, as well as enemies. This track is very much Heavy Metal in feel, but after being dragged through a sewer.