Band:	Venom
Album:	Black Metal
Style:	First wave of black metal
Release date:	1982
Guest review by:	Boxcar Willy

01. Black Metal
02. To Hell And Back
03. Buried Alive
04. Raise The Dead
05. Teachers Pet
06. Leave Me In Hell
07. Sacrifice
08. Heavens On Fire
09. Countess Bathory
10. Don't Burn The Witch
11. At War With Satan [preview]

2002 re-release bonus tracks:
12. Bursting Out [60 min+ version]
13. Black Metal [Radio 1 session version]
14. Nightmare [Radio 1 session version]
15. Too Loud For The Crowd [Radio 1 session version]
16. Bloodlust [Radio 1 version]
17. Die Hard [12" version]
18. Acid Queen [12" version]
19. Bursting Out [12" version]
20. Hounds Of Hell

Venom: one of the first thrash metal bands, if not the first. Their music: loved and adored, or hated and despised. Where do I stand? I stand right in the middle. Yes, I sit on top of the fence - not really a fan, nor a hater.

This album is quite good, with great succulent riffs that have a rock & roll vibe, drums that make me tap my foot along, and vocals that possess me to bang my head. The album features a lot of killer tracks, but is brought down by fillers and a somewhat poor production.

During the intro to Black Metal, I thought, "This is going to be one hell of a thrash album!"

Upon further listening, I was let down in the thrash metal department, but not in the "one hell of an album" aisle. The characterization of this album as thrash is not unjust, but unfitting, as the album is a crossover from rock & roll and thrash metal. That being said, it is still a great album, featuring shrieking guitars, a groovy bass, and pounding drums.

The vocals and lyrics were the first things I noticed. The lyrics are very well written and sung with an amazing thrash/rock voice. The rasp in Cronos' voice is perfect - nothing overkill. The lyrics are cheesy, but still listenable - especially cheesy during the song "Teacher's Pet". Musically one of the highlights, it combines thrash metal and sleaze rock together, with a spectacular result. The guitar really gets it done, from the chugging riffs in most verses, to very fitting solos. The drums keep the rock & roll vibe alive on this album. They have the traditional beat, and really... there's nothing wrong with that.

Overall, I think this is a good album, had the production been a bit better and the album featured fewer filler tracks, it could have been a great album.

Highlights: "Black Metal", "Don't Burn the Witch", "Teacher's Pet"