Venom, Black Metal

Beginning of the Black Metal genre. Fantastic riffs which by now has been turned around by many bands. It is one of the most important releases in metal world. Very distinct vocals drumming and riffs.As this is black metal don't be surprises by lyrics revolving around hell satan, death. I dont mind poor mastering when it comes to early releases but would be great to hear that one remastered.

Ah, so here it begins!

The genre that we all know and love (or not) was named after the title of this album, from the early seething darkness of Hellhammer, through Mayhem and Mutilation's to the god-awful Dimnu Boigir every band owes something to this LP.

But not as much as you might think, this is considered the birthplace of Black metal but this is far from a Black metal album. The lyrical themes are satanic, perverted and silly, the drums are fast and the guitars screech but it is all done with such an air of self irony that one cannot see any of the songs here being on a Burzum cd. What this is is a brilliant crossover between Hardcore Punk and Alice Cooper and this should not detract from it's worth, tracks like 'Black Metal' and 'Leave Me in Hell' are great drunken floor fillers, but if your looking for 'true' early Black Metal I suggest you pick up the first Bathory album

Venom, Black Metal - What can I say? This album is absolutely amazing! From the chainsaw attacking a door intro right to the very last note of Hounds of Hell is heavy metal history. There may not be many people's opinion you can trust in music today, but if Slayer's Kerry King says that Venom are the most important metal band ever, then I feel safe that they are at least a good band. Brilliantly quick in some places, slow and brooding in others, the only thrash/heavy metal album I would say is better than this is Reign in Blood by Slayer, which means that there is nearly no better in the genre, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!