Black Metal CD

MUSIC

POP

Song Listing

Disc 1

Song Title

1. Black Metal ~ Venom

2. To Hell and Back ~ Venom

3. Buried Alive ~ Venom

4. Raise the Dead ~ Venom

5. Teacher's Pet ~ Venom

6. Leave Me in Hell ~ Venom

7. Sacrifice ~ Venom

8. Heaven's on Fire ~ Venom

9. Countess Bathory ~ Venom

10. Don't Burn the Witch ~ Venom

11. At War with Satan (Preview) ~ Venom

12. Bursting Out [60 Min. Version] ~ Venom

13. Black Metal [Radio One Session] ~ Venom

14. Nightmare [Radio One Session] ~ Venom

15. Too Loud for the Crowd [Radio One Session] ~ Venom

16. Bloodlust [Radio One Session] ~ Venom

17. Die Hard [12" Version] ~ Venom

18. Acid Queen [12" Version] ~ Venom

19. Bursting Out [12" Version] ~ Venom

20. Hounds of Hell [Outtake] - (take) ~ Venom

21. Bloodlust [7" Single A-Side, NEAT 13] ~ Venom

22. In Nomine Satanas [7" Single B-Side, NEAT 13] ~ Venom

Album Notes and Credits

Notes & Personnel Info
	Includes liner notes by Dave Ling.
	All tracks have been digitally remastered.
	Personnel: Cronos (vocals, bass guitar); Mantas (guitar); Abaddon (drums, percussion).
	Audio Remasterer: Andy Pearce.
	Liner Note Author: Malcolm Dome.
	Recording information: Hammersmith Odeon, London, England (06/01/1984); Impulse studios, Newcastle, England (06/01/1984).
	Director: Bob Harvey.
	Photographers: Ross Halfin; Peter Cronin; Richie Nichol; Fin Costello.
	Newcastle natives Venom had exploded across the U.K. in 1981, unleashing one of the most reviled, unapproachable, and, well, toxic debuts in rock history with their landmark Welcome to Hell opus. An unprecedented example of sonic excess applied to the lowest fidelity recording available (or even imaginable), the album wielded its satanic subject matter and uncontrolled speed like a weapon against all that was considered tasteful and refined in music -- a true Frankenstein's Monster, even by heavy metal standards. Needless to say, it was ruthlessly derided and ultimately doomed commercially, but amazingly influential nevertheless, sowing the seeds of much that would be referred to as "extreme metal" in the coming decades. Released hot upon the heels of this first assault came Venom's nearly as crucial second album, 1982's Black Metal, whose title alone still lends itself to the most uncompromising strain of heavy metal in existence today. Like Welcome to Hell, Black Metal revealed a trio of visionary village idiots grappling with forces beyond their control (i.e., creative developments so groundbreaking they themselves had little control over its final destination, nor the technical ability to match their vision, more often than not). And yet, that epitomizes Venom's enduring mystique, carried forward here by another slew of proto-thrashing classics like the title track (introduced by a chainsaw, no less -- how subtle), "Raise the Dead," and "Acid Queen." Further highlights include the surprisingly complex "Leave Me in Hell," the unusually goofy "Teacher's Pet," and the absolute classics "Bloodlust" and "Countess Bathory." Also on hand as the LP's final track is the introduction to the 20-minute epic "At War With Satan," which would take up their next album's entire first half in what proved to be a fatefully ill-conceived (and executed) overextension of the band's capabilities. And while no single track here would match the impact of first album nuggets like "Witching Hour" and "Angel Dust" in terms of future influence (the aforementioned "Countess Bathory" possibly being the sole exception), taken as a whole, Black Metal is right up there with its predecessor. [Neat/Sanctuary's 2002 reissue features an additional nine tracks -- all rarities -- and killer packaging to boot, making it the definitive version to own.] ~ Eduardo Rivadavia
Producer: Keith Nichol; Michael Rodd; Venom

Associated Artists and Works

Sigh

Technical Info

	Release Date : 08/25/2009
	Original Release Date : 1982
	Catalog ID : 2711804
	Label : Sanctuary Records
	Number of Discs : 2
	Studio/Live : Studio
	Mono/Stereo : Stereo
	SPAR Code : n/a
	UPC : 00602527118048

Professional Reviews

Record Collector (magazine)
(p.90)
- 4 stars out of 5 -- "The foggy production was the point...the album was a deliberate two fingers to the metal scene of the day, a blasphemous, blue-collar rant..."