Venom's 1982 album "Black Metal" is a landmark release that defined the genre of the same name. Its raw production, satanic lyrics, and aggressive sound set a new standard for extreme music.
- The album was recorded in three days at Impulse Studios in Newcastle. It was originally released on Abaddon Productions, a label co-founded by Venom's manager. The album's title track became an anthem for the burgeoning black metal scene.
- The album was controversial upon its release due to its lyrical themes and imagery, and was banned in some countries. It reached number 42 on the UK Albums Chart, a significant achievement for an extreme metal band at the time. Metalion, founder of the influential black metal fanzine Slayer, cited this album as a primary inspiration for his work.
- The album artwork, featuring the band's iconic demon logo, has been widely imitated. The lyrics and overall aesthetic of "Black Metal" directly influenced countless bands in the black metal genre that followed. Venom's 1984 live album, "Official Bootleg," featured live versions of songs from "Black Metal."
Venom is a British extreme metal band formed in Newcastle in 1979. They are considered one of the most influential bands in thrash metal, black metal, and death metal.
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