ALBUM REVIEW: Venom Inc. - “Avé”

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 11/08/2017

Label: Nuclear Blast

This record, is a triumph. Venom Inc. have produced a record more than worthy of the Venom name and it contains some of the best and most “Venom” moments since the early 80's. I cannot praise or recommend this record enough to fans of Venom or just metal in general. The songs, performances and production all deliver.

“Avé” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Avé Satanas (8:33)

2. Forged In Hell (4:59)

3. Metal We Bleed (5:17)

4. Dein Fleisch (7:11)

5. Blood Stained (5:22)

6. Time To Die (4:05)

7. The Evil Dead (4:18)

8. Preacher Man (6:37)

9. War (4:30)

10. I Kneel To No God (6:19)

11. Black N Roll (4:45)

The Review:

For those who are unaware, there are essentially now two versions of Venom: Cronosleads “Venom”with side men while “Venom Inc.”features two thirds of the original line up, plus Cronos' replacement Tony Dolan who was in the band from 1989-1992 (a period which included the rather excellent “Prime Evil" album).

With origins out of the way, we can conclude: 1. Two versions of Venom (which is what we effectively have) gives the fans choice 2. You can like and listen to one or both bands and have more or less music.

I myself enjoy Cronos' Venom and have enjoyed all their albums of recent years. I am also am avid supporter of Venom Inc. When I first heard about the band, I really hoped that they would record as well as tour. My wish has come true and we now have “Avé” out on Nuclear Blast. Does it live up to expectations?! In my view: YES!

Venom were once the most extreme band in music, so without them the thrash, death, black (obviously) sub genres would not exist. They are thus one of the most important bands in metal and have always sounded like a more evil, sped up Sabbath or a more metal Motorhead- or a combination of those two if you prefer. Venom Inc. have delivered a perfect blend here of sped up Sabbath murk, with more overtly satanic references, spliced with a hard rocking and living Motorhead vibe and the raw evil of early Slayer or Celtic Frost.

The album starts off slow and evil with “Avé Sathanus” and then really starts rocking out with “Forged in Hell”. The production is punchy, slick and raw (paradox?). Each band member delivers a very energetic performance with Mantas and Abaddon light years away from their earlier recording work in terms of technicality. Dolan delivers a spiteful vocal performance which is perfect for the record. Compared to a band like Nile, this is classic rock- but in the context of what Venom were and still represent, this is heavy stuff. The guitars and drums sound suitably massive and the likes of “Forged in Hell” will get necks snapping everywhere.

There are, of course, stand outs which will feature in the band's live set for sure and these often hark back to the band's heyday- as on “Metal We Bleed“ (absolutely glorious Motorheadworship) and closing tour de force “Black N Roll” (a tongue in cheek nod to all the sub genres the band effectively created). Surprisingly, though, the album also has depth and variety with Mantas and Dolan not scared to bring in some of the sounds and atmospheres they explored with “M:Pire of Evil”. Notably, “Dein Fleisch” has a kind of industrial vibe and a running time of over seven minutes (then again, Venom were never afraid of a long track- see side one of “At War With Satan” for proof!). Later on, “Preacher Man” marks out another experimental type of track, which is a great song- finely crafted- and with a dark vibe but without the extremity. It's also one of the best things on the record.

Yes, there are sledgehammers elsewhere- “Blood Stained” and “Time To Die” at mid pace and flat out, respectively and raw and pure evil such as “The Evil Dead”. To be fair, the intensity of tracks such as “War”would not be out of place on any extreme band's record- all these songs are vicious and adrenaline inducing to the max. Even slower tracks such as “I Kneel To No God” are crushingly weighty.

This record, then, is a triumph. Venom Inc. have produced a record more than worthy of the Venom name and it contains some of the best and most “Venom” moments since the early 80's. I cannot praise or recommend this record enough to fans of Venom or just metal in general. The songs, performances and production all deliver. Venom Inc. are here and they continue a legacy of one of the most important metal bands of all time. Not only that; they also do it incredibly well.

“Avé” is available everywhere now

Band info: official || facebook