Reviews (page 4 of 8)
I think their debut album was a bit better, but this is a great album nonetheless. Just a dozen or so quickfire Metal bangers filled with the occult, fast solo's and a vocalist grunting his way through. Hugely influential for a lot of metal genres. May sound like it was recorded in a bathroom, but so does all the cool stuff it influenced. It's a landmark album and it's still enjoyable to listen to today.
Diabolic.
An album I feel is more overrated because of its title and album art, especially when compared to contemporary proto-black metal albums. Reads more like an edgy album without much substance (and very poor performances at times), but picks up significantly with the last few tracks. Couple of decent songs, but a lot to skip. Top tracks: Countless Bathory, Don't Burn the Witch
I was kinda excited to get this album but ultimately disappointed. They used to play Venom videos once in a while on TV late at night when I was a kid, and they scared me a little. Listening now they are so silly. Too silly to be taken seriously. And the fidelity is awful. I might put this on out of curiosity, but then turn it off after a song or two.
I saw a Blue Rodeo show today. That was great. This, on the other hand, absolutely blows.
Har sikkert inspirert mange, men står seg dårlig med tiden.
Not my thing.
Some of the riffs are good, I find the vocals to be the reason to not go back to this album
Lots of fun. There are some really great theatrical moments and fun stuff. Not hugely enjoyable for me though as a full listen through
-never really heard metal quite like this and it wasn’t particularly digestible at first. kinda got irked by the first song -took an interesting turn as i kept listening tho, i think the atmosphere was pretty good at least -Favorites: Raise The Dead, Countess Bathory
So this is the satanic devil-worshipping stuff parents didn’t want their kids listening to. I honestly think that is the only reason anybody would ever listen to it, because their parents didn’t want them to. Cuz I see zero artistic or aesthetic appeal to this at all. Took my ears on a journey to the bottom of the ninth level of hell and back. Yikes this was abysmal. Or should I say abyssal.
I can recognise how the album would have a certain impact on metal, but to be honest, it's not my thing. Even the satanism part of it doesn't really raise my eyebrows or wow me particuarly. It's very much what you would expect, lots of heavy riffs, pounding drums, quick rhythms, 'shouty' singing.
Did NOT expect this one! Pretty impressed that this list is covering everything. A little cheese in the recipe but I get why this one is influential.
Uhhh.....nope. I'm all for heavy metal....but this? No thanks.
I wondered if Venom were on the PMRC's radar back in the day, and sure enough, they were among the original Filthy 15. But shockingly, not for "Teacher's Pet." I mean, this is tailor-made for a conservative freakout. Goat head and pentagram on the cover, numerous references to Satan, the occult, and virgin sacrifice, etc. Forty years later, it's all deeply silly, but the music still slays.
My heavens that was dumb. And yet so demanding of my attention. I see on Wikipedia they were critically assessed as "a trio of buffoons" around this time, and that tracks. I do appreciate the audacity of Teacher's Pet even if I do not condone it.
It's decent, wasn't great, felt the influence on others though for sure
gostei bastante mas sinto que eh influencia de system of a down
Maybe a perfect representation of rating albums on influence, culture or just my personal experience? It’s repetitive, it’s rough, it’s tedious but seems extremely important in the evolution of (thrash) metal. So I don’t know 🤷🏻♂️ It’s very rare that I do this, but I think I’ve got the picture after 3 tracks and probably going to leave it there (don’t worry, I still got the message - you love satan). Tara
This was pretty good and I can see how it was influential to the overall theme of black metal, introducing the name and the style of playing plus the theme of the lyrics (which were very stereotypically satanist). It doesn’t hold up amazingly as it isn’t as powerful as more modern day metal although that’s obvious but has the energy and the nice riffs which define the genre. It is however, quite repetitive and feels like it overstays its welcome a bit given that the songs follow a very similar formula and all focus on satan being amazing and stuff, it’s a bit goofy as a result but still decent. Favourites: none really. Overall, may seem a bit low but also reflects my opinion on the genre: 5/10.
Very Ronseal, this one. Does exactly what it says on the tin. Didn't know it at first, but I must have the title track on a various album somewhere as I recognised it. Other than that there are a lot of bands out there that do this worse, so not a 1 from me, but still only worth a 2.
Oh wow. So bad. One dimensional. My ears are bleeding. Copy and pasted this review from the Black Flag album review.
On paper this has nearly everything I detest about Metal. Time to throw the playbook in the bin, as this was pretty good in places , especially where they used chorus pedal with standard 'Gain up to 10' or should that be 11? Then you have the lyrics and all its 'Burn the Witch' sentiments. Its just a bit different from your average metal and there is my reason why its getting a three star.
I don't know what was in the water in England in the late 70s/early 80s (it certainly wasn't fluoride), but the metal is fucking spectacular, and this album is no exception.
First time for me. I don't mind some metal, and it was interesting to hear one of the pioneers. It has dated a little I think, doesn't quite have the power of some other metal bands.
Ugh this sucked!!! Only a 2 because some of the guitar work is stellar but the production of it was awful
I actually enjoyed this more than other metal offerings so far through the generator. The lyrics are all playfully over-the-top Satanist, like a parody. I don't think Venom wants you to take them too seriously. I'm sure Reaganism parents will agree, right? The guitar playing is impressive throughout, though I'm not a huge fan of the sound. It's very woofy and boomy, like the wrong microphone was used either for it or the bass. But I really need to take, like, a graduate-level course in metal music. I do not understand the distinctions between all the subgenres and the evolution of one to another or how to tell whether a band or album is "good" or not. I suppose I have not listened to enough yet to hear the differences. This album apparently began "black metal" most prominent in Norway, but is not really the same, and it's linked to extreme metal and thrash metal and speed metal, etc. etc. Overall, I enjoyed this, but the songs all just started to sound the same after a while, and I probably won't listen again.
Wtfwt?
Pretty good 4.2
I can see how this has been a great influence on a lot of other bands and I feel that it might deserve a better verdict then I'm giving. However I can't really give this more then 2 stars... It's just so dated, lyrics about hell and satan, they just seem a bit childish now. Musically it isn't very well developed, even though I can see where bands like Metallica have taken inspiration from this. Production is also not great
Listened to it for two minutes and stopped. To turn the volume up to the max and start again! The only way it should be! Why people who dislike metal are so humorless? We, metalheads, love Venom because a) we can take ourselves not seriously b) we can't take that satanic bullshit seriously. (2nd wave black metal not counting). So, yeah, people who wrote reviews Spinal Tap are not far from truth, but I don't believe that it's a bad thing. It's like people are hating on fun, just because it includes some shocking values. As for music? Songs are amazing. Production is good. Just listen to the Mantas' guitar and Abaddon's snare drum. It's not underproduced, it's intentionally the way it's supposed to be. My favourite here is Raise The Dead. It makes me wanna dance. Actually most of the album makes me want to dance, because it's just loud and raw rock 'n' roll. My only complain is that their first album "Welcome To Hell" is even better.
Weird
Good
What do you get when combining trash metal with satanism? An album that name a whole metal style! Pure gold!
fuck this. don’t put bands like this on the list as a joke, it’s not funny.
Mega oof right here
Not my thing.
2.8 1x extended version 1h5m
can't vibe with this
I see that its a precursor to thrash. I see why people would like it, I dont. Those lyrics....
Listening to early iterations of metal like this help me understand the genre’s appeal. I had a pretty good time with this even if I don’t plan on revisiting. The mix is weirdly subdued.
I can see why this was influential, but it sounds like it was recorded in a rusty can of sardines. I had to bail after 1 song and a half.
Not for me.
Kinda old school metal for my modern sensibilities
This is pretty decent and thrashy - vocals are just whatever but definitely can see this inspiring the genre. Also, why is the last track a preview? That was weird.
nope
Sounded really good for metal. Especially for the ones on this list. Lyrics are interesting but everything pretty solid musically.
I was a little bit nervous when I pressed play on this one, but it wasn’t long before I was genuinely enjoying myself. It opens with the sound of a chainsaw ripping through some sheet metal and then gleefully continues with occult songs name checking just about every demon in the AD&D Monster Manual. It was when I got on to the track Buried Alive which has a comedy vicar performing a burial service as the sound of earth hitting a coffin lid fills your ears, that I realised that these guys were just having a laugh with an album so over the top that it seems designed to cause maximum offence to the moral majority types. It’s only on Teacher’s Pet where the sexism and the implied story of a schoolboy being seduced by their teacher, that it threatens to cross the line into being genuinely offensive, but we are soon back to cheery songs about vampires and witches and devils. With this album they pretty much invented the entire genre of Black Metal by accident, and unfortunately some later bands would take it all a bit more seriously. Satan-tastic!
I actually never listened to this classic before today. I love how punk it is in the spirit, blended with heavy riffs, and you can ear how important it was for thrash and extreme (black, death) metal. It's probably not the best metal album on this list, but it's good nonetheless, it's impressive what they achieved for the time, and its influence is so important for the history of metal that it cannot be ignored. Good stuff.
De hecho, no esta nada de mal. Ademas, historicamente es bien importante, al menos para un genero del que suelo escuchar a sus exponentes más modernos.
Klingt in der Production sehr dull als wäre alles auf einem Channel die vocals poppen also nicht so off könnte sonst echt ganz cool sein texte fühlen sich aber bisschen repetitive an Bester Song: Don’t burn the Witch Rating 1,6/5 Production ist ass, so dass alles wie ein Einheitsbrei klingt und man keine Licks oder Instrumente präzise raushören kann, die Riffs geben early day Metallica vibes. Die Lyrics enthalten etwas zu oft das Wort “Satan”. Auch die vocals sind rythmisch oft langweilig und die Stimme ist nicht sehr energievoll 3,2/5
What torture for my ears. I like a good metal album but this wasn't it.
Oh I didn't care for that at ALL
I had a really harsh day at work today, and instead of relaxing in my couch, I'm in a moshpit with myself, giving punchs in the empty with my elbows. Thank you 1001albunsgenerator.
This is not for me fam.
While I can appreciate this for what it's done for metal, Venom is the ultimate one-trick pony. Black Metal is a rad track though.
This isn’t a genre of music I’d normally listen to. It’s not great. It’s very repetitive and the lyrics are poor. Hasn’t convinced me that this is something I should be listening to.
This album would benefit from a really good remaster. Overall decent, just wish it sounded better!
I did not hate this. It's not incomprehensible bullshit, it's just some British dudes being loud and dark but still kicking ass. I can see how this paved the way for other sub genres of metal. I also can't hate on an album that has a song about having sex with a slutty teacher in the middle of a record about death and darkness. This is alright (6/10, 3/5 on this scale)
Une bonne dose de satanisme une fois de temps en temps fait du bien. J'écoute Black Metal quand même assez souvent ces dernières années.
Je comprends pas le trip du black, death, etc. La thématique satanique pour moi devient un peu lourde après 2 tounes. Je comprends que c'était fait avec humour chez les gars de Venom. Ça sera pas 1 étoile pour ça. Aussi c'est assez 'tonne de brique' comme musique, un autre aspect que j'aime, comme chez Iron Maiden et Megadeth par exemple. Paraît qu'en live c'est encore meilleur. Juste pas mon style.
Pas mon style, mais pas dégueu non plus. Écouté une fois c’est assez. Black metal de nom seulement, j’ose dire.
Ok
Désolé je n'aime pas le métal
Interesting, and actually enjoyed some, but not great focus music :)
struggle cityyyyyy ugh cmon with this one
the only album thus far that i've genuinely struggled to get through. not only is this heavy/black metal genre just not my cup of tea, the recording and production sounds terrible. i understand why it's been included on this list in the sense that it was highly influential album for this style of music, but i just thought it was quite bland in comparison to other metal albums out there. the lyrical content was a major turn-off for me - i know they've said that it's unserious and they don't actually do/believe what they sing about but i just though it was super odd, far too literal and somewhat offensive in parts.
Could never really get into Venom, despite this being the stuff I like often. For me, they're a bit like the Beatles. I appreciate what they've both done for music and how they've both been the inspiration for different bands and genres - as Venom essentially started black metal - but in terms of their music at face value I just am not a fan. In Venom's case, there were some riffs and a couple of solos I enjoyed, but very hit and miss. The vocals sucked balls too
awful. parody of itself
I had my fun, and that's all that matters
Pretty sub-par metal. But hey, metal has to start somewhere! Best Song: Don't Burn the Witch Rating: 4/10 Stars: 2/5
Metal is always a tricky genre for me—it has to be really good metal for me to even give it a chance. So what exactly is Black Metal by Venom all about? Let’s find out. On my first listen, I genuinely couldn’t work out whether this was meant to be taken seriously or if it was some sort of parody, closer to Spinal Tap or Tenacious D than a serious metal record. At times, it felt almost cartoonish in its attempt to be dark and heavy. The whole experience was odd, confusing, and ultimately not for me. It’s safe to say this isn’t my thing—I won’t be coming back to it. There’s too much focus on Satanic theatrics and too much noise for the sake of noise. Favourite track: I couldn’t pick one. Least favourite track: Most of the album—I really didn’t enjoy much of it at all. Album artwork: Dark and grim, not something I’d ever want hanging on the wall.
In spite of, or perhaps because of, their relentless energy, I found this a bit boring after a fashion. Every song at the same tempo with only some minor variations in the lyrics just didn’t do it for me.
I understand many metal bands point to this album as their inspiration, but the first two songs, in their juvenile composition, really put me off, despite the other songs being a bit better. I hope the demons and their followers don’t get too mad at me.
Meh. I can see how it was probably influential, but I don't love the music it influenced, as a rule. The guitars sound sort of "muddy", which is probably more due to the era it was recorded. Lyrics are rather silly and juvenile. I didn't hate it, but I was glad when I finished the album. 2.5* rounding up.
Demasiado heavy para mi
Surprisingly listenable
Despite the name, this is more NWOBHM/Thrash, and a solid slice of it at that. Hugely influential album. Favorite track: Don't Burn the Witch
I don't really feel qualified to review this. The speedier, heavier, darker shades of metal just don't do it for me. This one was not particularly difficult to listen to, but I also didn't take much from it. 2.4/5
Heard some songs from it before. You gotta respect them for inspiring whole new subgenres of metal. And it's just a good album in general 3/5
Maybe I wasn't in the mood for metal when this one popped up, but I definitely wasn't in the mood for mediocre metal.
Te zacht, beetje druilerige vocals. Mist beetje punch en chaos met momenten. All meh, no jfizidbaodhrirbberrr.
Actually a decent album and I respect its history. Lyrically, it's dumb. Didn't hate it, but wouldn't listen again
I love 80's punk and hard rock but for some reason the intersection of these two in thrash / black / extreme metal doesn't quite do it for me. That being said, there was more to this album than I expected and I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Some of the lyrics and themes are a bit ridiculous, but letting the waves of high-energy sound wash over you is kinda satisfying.
Didn’t know Vemom was speed metal, I can get behind this. Maybe not something I would revisit but I can appreciate the ode to the dark Lord.
fuckin loud and take no prisoners insane lyrics and pretty weird. take no prisoners. its a 3 for me right now since I gravitate to metal that has more hooks and is a little more transformative through the song structure. but this has room to grow.
It’s not for me. I see its influence, though, as there are lots of parts that sort of sound like the bridge between Motörhead and Metallica. I think it’s a little hokey with the satan worship shit, but I bet in 1982 this is the kind of thing that led to the Satanic Panic that meant my mom wouldn’t let me play soccer.
Erster Song zu Ende.. und ich will schon nicht mehr. Unglaublich gammelig produziert (ja gut ist alt, aber wenn es so wichtig ist, warum gibt es dann nicht mal ein Remaster davon?). Ich lebe Metal zwar, aber nicht den Kram hier. Mal sehen, wie viele Songs ich aushalte. Joa hat mir absolut nichts gegeben. Nach Song 10 habe ich das Album dann für mich beendet. 1/5
Not a metal head but this is indeed a nice one of this genre
Metal and Satanic music! Loved this shit!
decent
This feels like a parody of a metal album
Maybe it was a pioneering album, but in a vacuum, meh 1*
Not bad.
I don’t like metal whatsoever.
Pretty boring. Not much else to it. Wasn’t offensively bad, just wasn’t good either. Didn’t think it was “speed metal” but I guess I wouldn’t know.
You have to be influential if people use your album name for a whole genre, right? This album sounds a little dated now - partially because it sounds like it was recorded in a highschool locker room, and partially because metal has evolved so much since 1982. Even looking past that, I think they blew it with the sound levels on this album. If you saw these guys live, I’m sure the vocals were usually buried under a lot of guitars/drums and you’d have no idea what they were shouting about. I’ve been to SO MANY shows like that, and honestly, that’s probably the right way to mix this kind of music. Nobody needs to hear the lyrics, just play loud noise and let me lose myself in it for a while.
*1982. English heavy metal. *Sounds like British Metallica. *Fine for what it is. Just not my thing. RATING - 5.5/10
Can I speak to the person who created this list?
Pretty funny. So over the top with the fake satanic imagery. It’s like a sixteen year old writing the most offensive things they can think of to displease their parents and then combined with some ok musicianship and a singer who growls and yells his way through it. I know it was important at the time because it was heavier than Sabbath or Priest but most of it sounds amateurish now. Slayer did it better but someone had to do it first so I will give them credit for that.
For most of my teenage years and early 20's, I considered myself a metalhead through and through and I've enjoyed a lot of more modern music heavily influenced by this very album. But somehow I never actually listened to Venom before. That said, it's not my preferred style anymore and this album sounds incredibly dated. It definitely has its qualities. Guitar-work and drumming are often pretty good. And if it feels like I've heard every one of these riffs before, it's probably because they were copied off this album. What most keeps me from enjoying this one are the horrible vocals though. They would work if they were cleaner, they would work if they were dirtier. Like this, well, every beginning can be improved on. These guys were also progenitors to some of the most ridiculous aspects of extreme metal styles. The whole glorification of death and satan worship is beyond stupid. It's not necessarily Venom's fault, as it comes across as tongue-in-cheek on this album (as it should be). But fact is that a lot of copycats took the whole shtick more serious than that and as a result, some aspects of metal culture are, frankly, really dumb, up to this day. In terms of personal enjoyment, this is a 3-star album. I'll give it a 4 for its direct influence on a lot of bands I've enjoyed much more (music-wise for the better, imagery-wise for the worse).
minus -100
• 1/5 • Sounds like the soundtrack of a death metal mockumentary
Ostatni raz coś takiego słyszałem jak byłem w gimnazjum. Ładne, szybkie gitary, doceniam historie, ale nie dla mnie. 2/5
Delightfully heavy!
This sounds like my cousin. I was yearning for something with adrenaline, but the production on this is noticeably poor. It's so muddy, and it feels as if there's a layer of Vaseline separating myself and the music.
Too shouty and dark for me. I did dig the punk+metal sound though and can understand how it would appeal to some.
Couldn't finish even pretending I was listening to Retsko at karaoke
No es para mi
After listening to this album í feel that my soul now belongs to satan. Hail to our dark lord
Groupe et album connu. J'ai découvert cet album à sa sortie dans les années 80, mais je ne l'ai pas apprécié à l'époque : un peu trop bruyant et chaotique par rapport aux autres groupes de Metal que j'écoutais. J'y suis revenu quelques années après avoir découvert le thrash (Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax) et le (vrai) Black Metal (Bathory). L'album m'a paru bien gentillet après ! Il a intégré ma collection, et je l'apprécie toujours maintenant, en particulier 'Buried Alive', 'Teacher's Pet', 'Sacrifice' et 'Countess Bathory' qui restent des classiques. C'est le seul album que j'ai gardé du groupe d'ailleurs ! Le son n'est pas très bon, et quelques morceaux sont plus faibles, ce qui lui fait manquer la note max. =>4/5
Ahh the very first black metal album. I really enjoyed it! Beter than expected
2/5
Not sure how keen I am on metal, so this should be interesting. edit: Didn't finish :/ Not the biggest on metal.
1.5 Too bad the vocals stink because the rest is pretty sweet
Not a metal fan
2.2 meh
A year ago, I may have given this a lower score, but I think (and considering Ozzy's recent passing) I've really gravitated to the instrumental aspect of metal a lot more. Especially, when the vocals are at least mildly palatable.
This was never gonna be for me
I don't think that I found any redeeming quality in this album. Sad.
More like Wack Metal
It really hasn’t aged well... and it probably wasn’t that good in the beginning. I think I heard this album when I was 15 (and already a metal fan), and even back then I thought it was rather primitive, raw and murky. It’s so badly recorded it’s painful – I had to push my speakers to high volume to hear anything beyond a soup of messy distortions and static. The riffs are pretty bad, but there’s a few catchy songs here and there if you listen with a kind ear. It’s actually not very "metal", except for the menacing, depressed voice of the singer. It could almost be crust before crust was a thing. I won’t deny it was an influential album that contributed to the birth of black metal (mainly by cranking up the ridiculous « Yeah ! Satan ! » vibe), but I’d rather listen to other proto-black metal bands. I’ll give it a 2* for historical interest.
These guys really love Satan huh? Favorite track: Teacher's Pet
Feels like a parody album. So much better metal out there that could’ve been on this list.
Heavy, but ok
A classic! It's odd how "un" heavy this sounds now.
I've heard some black metal albums in the past and usually I enjoy them, their aggression and atmosphere are always something that makes me want to seek more in the genre, ironically though I never got to check the "proto-bm" stuff like Venom or Sodom or whoever despite how instrumental to the development of black metal during this time, and I mean... I guess I wasn't too interested in the more heavy metal side of this genre which originated the style but I mean it's still gonna be some level of interesting so why not try it? While this album is fun and the type of raw and intense heavy metal of the era, I also don't entirely love it since so many of the riffs and songs kind of run together which makes telling apart some songs from others, aside from the fact that I don't find the songs as memorable as either contemporaries or bands that came later, but it doesn't stop it from having the kind of dark and evil atmosphere that I enjoy so it's got that going for it! Not something for everyone but for me, I think it's good if flawed
I love NWoBHM. Venom was a great band. It's interesting to listen now and think that Nirvana must have heard "Countess Bathory". Top album here. "Don't Burn the Witch" is a cracker. Proper headbanger.
ty for tenacious d, venom.
Venom in the closing seconds of "Teacher's Pet": Oh, wow, that was good! That was real good! Narrator: It wasn't.
Listens: 2 Standout tracks: Teacher's Pet, Sacrifice This is what I consider to be a proper descriptor of the genre that is "metal". I just listened to Ozzy Osbourne's Paranoid which is dubbed a heavy metal album, and although that album came out a decade earlier, I've just never considered the sound found on Paranoid to be anything other than classic rock - "Dad's garage" rock. This album is decidedly not that. This album has all of the hallmarks of metal: Screaming vocals, insane guitar shredding and thrashing, aggressive, wildly suggestive, satanic and subversive lyrics, and an epic album cover to boot. All that said, metal has never really been a genre that I've gotten into in any meaningful way. I can't relate to it. It doesn't call to me. But even then, I still like it more than the Beach Boys or Mariah Carey.
Not awful - but close.
Geordie Satan Jamz.
A really influential album that blew my expectations out of the water. This album is the blueprint for what was to come from 80’s metal (especially in the underground) of course Black Metal took a lot of inspiration from Venom and specifically this album and I can see where Slayer got their early sound and whammy crazed solos. Amazing album!
I had to Google this, to find out in Venom had invited Black Metal. They did! Which, it turns out, makes sense, because the lyrics to the title track are so formulaic they're what I'd write if you asked me to do a black metal song as a joke.
did not like
I liked it, but I didn't love it. This album is a good one, it's interesting in many aspects, but lacks of more development, at least for my like. I really appreciate the influence it had on the metal genre (and specially some of its subgenres), and I'm glad that albums like this one are part of that musical journey. When I finished listening to it I wondered how fast the time passed. It has been such a pleasant listening.
This is one of those albums you enjoy purely at face value. The production is intentionally rough and low budget, which actually adds to its raw charm and underground appeal. It’s loud, messy, and unrefined, but that’s what gives it character. This album helped shape the sound and aesthetic of early extreme metal inspired acts like Bathory, Mayhem, Slayer, and Metallica.
I expected to hate this I didn’t It was quite fun in its own stupid way
Egentligen bara en ganska medioker heavy metal platta, har ingenting musikaliskt att göra med black metal förutom att genren tog sitt namn härifrån. Kanske lite mer ondska och ockultism än average heavy metal från denna tid men mest tramsigt. Lyssna hellre på Judas Priest "British steel" eller nåt med Saxon från samma tidsepok.
Något bättre än förväntat.
Det blir så lätt fel när ett band bygger sin musik på tuffhet. Vem tycker att satanisms är tufft? Blev någon annan än Siewert Öholm provocerad. Tomma poser och dålig teater. Låter som en gäng rollspelsentusiaster som vill spela punk. Rätt trist rakt igenom.
THE ORIGINAL BLACK METAL!!!
Some good stuff on here but its clear that black metal still had to evolve a bit more to become what it is today (? Idk what im talking about here Translation: the album is mid)
01) Black Metal - 4,0 02) To Hell and Back - 3,5 03) Buried Alive - 5,0 04) Raise the Dead - 4,5 05) Teacher's Pet - 4,0 06) Leave Me in Hell - 4,0 07) Sacrifice - 4,0 08) Heaven's on Fire - 3,5 09) Countess Bathory - 5,0 10) Don't Burn the Witch - 4,0 11) At War with Satan (Preview) - 1,0 TOTAL: 3,86 (39/100) After the first song, I can already see that this will be a well-deserved one star album.
Am not a fan
Pretty rudimentary metal if I'm being honest. Noisy and not super interesting. Given the time this was released, I could see how these guys may have been considered pioneers in the metal scene, specifically speed and thrash metal. I genuinely can't tell if they're meaning to be silly throughout the album, as the satanic and nightmarish themes feel heavy-handed and almost earnest. It all sounds very unpolished too, but it seems that was intentional. Just makes me want to listen to Motörhead more than anything I guess.
For being one of the first heavy metal albums, it's not bad. The production is really bad and it is a little cringe, but for the time I can let that slide. This ended up sounding more like Motorhead than I thought it would. Low 4.
I have to respect it cuz it made everything I like. The album itself is just ok Will I listen to again: 94%
This is a very good album and a very important influence to a lot of the early thrash and death metal bands. Yes, it's a little silly but so is a lot of the crap on this site that people fawn over. It's an easy 4 star album that I'm giving 5 stars to because of a lot of the anti-metal snobbery on display.
## Venom's *Black Metal*: The Unholy Blueprint of Extreme Metal Released on November 1, 1982, Venom's second album, *Black Metal*, is a seismic force in heavy music history. Though controversial and technically crude, its fusion of satanic imagery, raw aggression, and DIY ethos birthed entire subgenres. Here’s an in-depth dissection: --- ### **Lyrics & Themes: Provocation as Doctrine** - **Satanic Shock Tactics**: Tracks like "Sacrifice," "Heaven’s on Fire," and "Leave Me in Hell" weaponize blasphemy with lines like *"Satan records the first note"* . This was less philosophical than theatrical—Cronos aimed to out-evil contemporaries like Ozzy Osbourne . - **Horror & Mythology**: "Countess Bathory" (inspiring Quorthon’s band name) and "Buried Alive" merge gothic horror with metal’s theatricality, using nightmares and occult lore as narrative fuel . - **Juvenile Missteps**: "Teacher’s Pet" undermines the album’s menace with cringe-worthy voyeurism (*"Teacher caught me masturbating / Underneath the desk"*), clashing tonally with its darker peers . - **Genre-Defining Aesthetic**: The title track’s rallying cry—*"Lay down your soul to the gods rock ’n’ roll!"*—codified metal’s rebellious spirit, influencing black metal’s anti-religious stance . --- ### **Music & Sound: Primitive Fury** - **Speed Metal Foundation**: Tracks like "Black Metal" and "Raise the Dead" fuse Motörhead’s punk-driven pace with Sabbath’s heaviness, prioritizing frenetic energy over technicality. The guitar solos are chaotic, often described as "pointless stereo meandering" . - **Standout Moments**: "Countess Bathory"’s riff (reportedly inspired by children’s show *The Magic Roundabout*) is a proto-black metal classic, while "Don’t Burn the Witch" showcases infectious, fist-pumping grooves . - **Rhythmic Simplicity**: Abaddon’s drumming is rudimentary—critics compared it to "beating cardboard boxes"—yet its primal force galvanized thrash and death metal’s percussive brutality . --- ### **Production: Lo-Fi as a Weapon** - **Intentional Rawness**: Recorded in just 7 days at Impulse Studios, Cronos engineered a deliberately abrasive mix. Distorted bass, minimal overdubs, and effects like chainsaws grinding steel (*"Black Metal" intro*) or shoveling mud into microphones (*"Buried Alive"*) created a "gig in the cellar" aesthetic . - **Controversial Legacy**: While pivotal for black metal’s underground ethos (e.g., Darkthrone’s *Transilvanian Hunger*), the muddy guitars and inaudible bass divided critics. *Punknews.org* noted it lacked "subtlety," sounding "like an inept Motörhead" . --- ### **Influence: The Genesis of Extreme Metal** - **Genre Creation**: The album named black metal and inspired its Norwegian second wave (Mayhem, Burzum) through imagery and attitude, though musically it aligned closer to thrash . - **Thrash/Death Catalyst**: Metallica, Slayer, and Exodus cited Venom’s velocity and Satanic themes as foundational. Metallica even opened for them in 1983, with James Hetfield sporting a Venom shirt . - **DIY Ethos**: Venom’s rejection of polished production empowered underground scenes. As *Loudersound* noted, they proved "bad musicians [could] write good songs" . --- ### **Pros vs. Cons: A Balanced Verdict** | **Pros** | **Cons** | |-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | **✓ Genre-Defining Aesthetic**: Satanic imagery/pseudonyms (Cronos, Abbadon) became black metal staples . | **✗ Inconsistent Songwriting**: "Teacher’s Pet" and the spelling-chant "Sacrifice" undermine the album’s menace . | | **✓ Unmatched Energy**: Tracks like "Black Metal" and "Countess Bathory" remain timeless speed metal anthems . | **✗ Technical Limitations**: Sloppy solos and repetitive riffs ("House of Pain") highlight musical constraints . | | **✓ Production as Statement**: Raw sound pioneered extreme metal’s lo-fi ethos . | **✗ Dated Elements**: Juvenile lyrics and chaotic mixing may alienate modern listeners . | --- ### **Legacy: The Devil’s Bedrock** *Black Metal* is less a "perfect" album than a cultural detonator. It inspired: - **Bathory** (named after "Countess Bathory"), whose early work expanded Venom’s template into Scandinavian black metal . - **Metallica’s "Kill ’Em All"**, which borrowed its relentless speed . - Norwegian church burners and bedroom black metal artists who embraced its anti-establishment rage . As Cronos declared: *"We weren’t trying to be the next Iron Maiden... We are Venom"* . Mission accomplished. > **Final Score: 4/5** — Flawed yet indispensable, *Black Metal* remains metal’s most consequential paradox.
mislio sam da će bit dno dna, na kraju je bilo podnošljivo. al praktički isto sranje deset puta, zadnja je stvar donekle drukčija
Well I’ll give them this, the album definitely made me want to headbang. The music got the blood pumping but the lyrics were not my cup of tea and fairly basic. I also found his voice to be monotonous. In some songs, I found it boring but in others, I didn’t mind. Probably influenced more so by the music than the vocals. I actually think if I zoned out on the album and the lyrics didn’t catch my attention so much, I would have enjoyed it more.
Not my type of music, but surprisingly pleasantly mixed. Normally bounce off of heavy metal because it's harsh, but this is fine. Has an almost live feel, which would normally be a bad thing, but I think helps in this genre so it's not just a wall of sound. Lyrics are just plain silly. Nothing awesome here, but it's not the worst. 2.
So absurd in its lyricism that it reached the point where I thought, “oh surely they’re in on the joke.” No. They are not in on the joke. It’s like they saw the satanic panic of the 80’s as a premier marketing opportunity and leaned in as hard as possible with the corniest satanist lyrics you’ve ever heard. Compare this with an album I genuinely love, Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden, which was also released in 1982, and the difference couldn’t be harsher. It gets two stars for the guitarist and drummer rockin their hearts out, even if the lead singer is ruining all their aura.
Imagine you're a disillusioned, disenfranchised youth in 1982... your choices are Olivia Newton John, Joan Jett, or... this. I know which I'm pickin 10 times out of 10! Lyrics are silly and mastering is awful and some of the songs on the back half are a silly slog, but the core guitar work is great. Hard to imagine that this is only 3 guys making so much noise.
Not bad for early death metal!
Nope. No longer my speed. Monotonous.
I’ll have to remember this for the next time I sacrifice someone for Lucifer. This music not my thing right now but I bet it would be fun to see them live.
I honestly didn't hate this, maybe its because my last album was horrible (Now I Got Worry by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion), but I kinda vibe with the heavy distorted guitar and drums. The lyrics and vocals are super corny and it almost feels like a parody of Metal, but it kept the energy up. This album isn't anything special, but I'm sure it was influential for its time. Standouts: Don't Burn the Witch Rating: 3/5
Classic metal album. I can hear how this group was influential to so many metal bands to come after. Very punkish with some of the riffs and beats, but definitely metal. Rock on. 3.36/5 stars = 3.
Sometimes albums are a pleasant surprise. Other times, you kind of exactly what to expect from the cover and that's definitely the case here. Venom were a low budget death metal band, exploring the stereotypical themes of satan worship, while pushing the edges of the genre into faster, growlier territory. I can see how it was very influential, but on its own, it sort of feels like a caricature of the genre. The points are mainly for significance here, as I don't think I'll end up listening to this one again.
2.5/5
To much devil. Had the potential to be an ok metal album but missed the mark
One of my favorite things about this project is finding albums like this, where you can hear the sonic influence it had on later albums or artists. The flow from Motörhead to Venom to trash and speed metal is very interesting and satisfying. Also, thinking about this album being unbelievably heavy when it came out but the black metal it would spawn just a few years later makes it look quaint. Nice riffs, good vocal delivery, some good lyrics and some not so good lyrics (Teacher’s Pet).
Oh god.. Een metal album. Kan meevalleen a la metallica. Iig kwa zang kan ik dit goed hebben. Het is geen grunch tot nu toe, en dat is prima. Eigenlijk best vermakelijk en energiek. Teacher's pet heeft een beetje blues vibe, daar ga ik wel lekker op zeg. Blues metal combinatie. Poah, best goed! Al met al, ik zou hier geen uur/uren naar luisteren, maar voor de lengte van dit album echt prima te doen en best van genoten. FAV: Teachers Pet
Heavy metal, like Rap, is beyond my understanding of what music should be. I didn't waste my time listening to this.
Fav: Raise The Dead Least Fav: At War With Satan (Introduction) A metal album, of which I’m listening to on a busy train, should be a sign of disaster but no I actually thought it was alright…just as long as you avoid the edgy teenager lyrics
Ah, so this is the music that Spinal Tap was making fun of. Got it. I don’t mind heavy metal, but this album is just hell and death on every song, with guttural yells in place of singing. I couldn’t wait for it to end.
This is drama. It must have contributed to the Satanic Panic. It’s hard to imagine how this sounded for the first time as a genre back then. Now it sounds less hardcore and more performative in a bad way. Honestly dug all the intense guitar, but metal just isn’t for me. The lyrics and vocals took me out. We get it, Satan is cool
Felt like a caricature. Like WWE & Fright Fest combined. Some decent guitar but the singing and lyrics are so cheesy. Easier to get through than the last album but felt repetitive and got boring.
I understood why some people like some of the songs. But 90% of this album was noise. I honestly had to listen to it while I was playing it in the living room and I was in the bedroom 😂
I’m open to heavy metal but this didn’t do it for me. Was fun going on a Wikipedia deep dive on heavy metal sub genres though. This album is more thrash metal than black metal, despite the album title.
Released during the Satanic Panic of the 80s, this album defined the genre of Black Metal. You can definitely see its influences in a lot of different artists. There were times when the vocals sounded exactly like Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and you can see the instrumental influences on a lot of bands like Pantera and Metallica. Good stuff, but like a lot of progenitors of genres, the basics don't seem as special as a lot of other works that have built upon it.
2- Stars (4/15)
6/10 Highlights: Raise the Dead Countess Bathory
Feels like more modern punk/thrash metal for '81. Some good riffs, but album souded like it was recorded in the next room with 1 mic! Probably wouldn't listen to again.
Leaned so heavy into the Satan theme that it gets a bit cringey after a while. I'm guessing they were trying to be as shocking as possible especially for the time this came out. Album needs a remastered or something, vocals sounded like they were recorded down the hall from the mic. A better balance could really improve the experience
Сильно агрессивная музыка, чтобы проснуться было прикольно
More grey than black. Perhaps as a template for future black metal, speed metal, and the various subgenres that people have created, this is important, but it comes across as pretty standard.
this album was whatever to me but im sure its for some people…
Black Metal - Music for edgelords by edgelords. 3/10
Maybe I just don’t like metal music. This is so cringey for most of it. I can really see why people love it though. If you can get over the lyrics and love galloping this is probably a 5. From a historical angle I was very excited for this album, being the album that defined the term black metal, but this really doesn’t live up to the European Black Metal that came after it for me. I was hoping that being a fan of Deafheaven would make this make sense but I think I realized I might need the mix with Shoegaze to enjoy it. This sounds like the album I would make if I was trying to make fun of Metallica, seek and destroy literally a year later clears this. But I like Mercyful Fate! But mainly because I go into it not taking it seriously? I don’t know, this is really confusing me. Raise the dead would go hard on a Tony hawk soundtrack that’s just a punk song. But then teachers pet is like the worst blues rock just soaked in feedback and reverb which is almost cool if the song wasn’t a terribly written I want to fuck my teacher song. I think I’m landing on this is bad because it’s serious in its presentation of something that should be not taken seriously at all, which is why tenacious d is being referenced so much in the other reviews. You can definitely be serious about it and be good, mayhem as an example, terrible scary people making terrifying music. This album jams, it’s fun, the lyrics are terrible, and this no doubt influenced so much good metal that I can’t be as hard on it as I am being above. 3 enjoyment, 4 historical.
I don't like this music for its musicality, but it can be entertaining to listen to. I know this is lame, but I was having a good time comparing King Giz songs to some of this. This album is hella cheesy, but I did find myself getting into at times. Definitely not something that I would put on on my own time, but I appreciated the listen although it went on too long for me. Eh 3
Started strong and silly. Teacher's pet was so bad though that I was taken out of this record entirely and now I have to give this album a soft 2/5
Horrible
This is from the British band Venom. Apparently this is the album that started the death metal genre. The band did a good job with their lyrics, album cover, etc. Although I don’t like death metal, this one gets an extra star for its historical significance.
And I thought Black Sabbath had a lot of Satan talk! In this one, Satan gets they/them pronouns. Baphomet also receives several shoutouts. That's not why I'm giving it a 2, mind you; the lyrics are interesting enough. I just sure don't like this heavy guitar and this growly style of singing. Or the random foray into Literotica.com territory, even if it made me lol. Highlight: `[Countess Bathory]'s riff also bears resemblance to the intro of the 1991 Nirvana hit song "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Years later, Lant had the opportunity to ask Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, whom he collaborated with on Grohl's heavy metal side project Probot, if they had taken inspiration from the band's 1982 song. Grohl did not give Lant a response.' (from Wiki)
Just annoying
Discounting Hissing Sids, venom means to me a spiteful malicious feeling or extreme ill will which describes my view of this lot and this album. 1/5 23/6/25
Real good proto-speed/thrash album. I love all of the riffing, and there's some flamboyance and theatricality to the singing that kind of reminds me of old-school GWAR. Guitars on this record sound super gnarly, I imagine these guys were amazing to hear live. 4/5
This was better than expected. It has a lot more in common with punk than I expected. I was hearing Misfits, Germs, things like that, as well as Motorhead, more than I was hearing Black Sabbath most of the time. I appreciate this but would probably reach for later bands that did this better most of the time. 3.49/5
fire
I’m just not a metal guy. That has been reaffirmed with this list as not a single one has been able to break through. I can hear how this was influential but it doesn’t make me like it. 2/5
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would
Have heard this type of music since the 80’s. When I was trying to figure it all out. (Still haven’t). I out grew this music. They sound tight in heavy groove. Just not my bag anymore. I stopped at type O negative.
Solid riffs. Lyrics need work.
As I listened to (all of) this album I thought maybe the app should be re-named “1001 albums to listen to before you complete puberty”.
A few cool riffs. But ultimately pretty terrible.
Pretty terrible. I should have loved this but it just wasn't there. Admittedly, I only listened to the first few songs so it may have gotten better? But I doubt it.
An album that influenced a lot of metal subgenres. Not something I’d often be in the mood for but can appreciate nonetheless. Some nice lead guitar work.
Metal
Not a shocker that "This is Spinal Tap" was released two years after this album came out.
I didn't like this. Bad production killed any interesting potential I could see in this. But it was influential, so deserved spot on the list.
4/10 It’s no Dean Blunt
Some songs aren't too annoying but the vocals certainly are. 2 stars or D-.
Influential album, but I don't like metal at all and I don't like this album. It's satanic, the drumming is bad, the production is just weak. There is nothing to like here. p.s. about the bad lyrics: in "Countess Bathory" the charges against her have been described by historians as a witch-hunt, and its purpose was to destroy her family's influence in the region. She was a powerful noblewoman and her family was a big threat to big empires, like the Habsburgs. The lyrics are just silly and often satanic.
My very little experience with Venom is from my teenage years, when my metal head school mates were wild about this band, and they had Venom sleeve patches or even back patches in their denim vests. Now listening to this, it's obvious that this same enthusiasm were shared by loads of future trash metal kids around the world. Venom sounds very much like the speed/trash metal bands that came bit later. Probably will not listen to this album on repeat, but it definitely deserves to be on the list.
Messy, thin, and absolutely legendary. It’s not the best-sounding record, but its influence is huge. I’ve been waiting for something like this in this challenge, so it probably hit even harder than it should. Still, I liked.
One of the first albums I've ever bought myself. I tell the story that I went in to downtown by myself at tender age of 12-13 and came home with Venom's Black Metal and Kiss' Hotter Than Hell, but I was probably few years older and I think it's a false memory. A precursor to thrash and black metal, an album's worth of NWOBHM with notable punks aesthetics, this is an assential album in my music collection as well as thousands of other young metal heads of the 80's. I still know the lyrics to "Buried Alive" by heart as soon as the song kicks in.
weirdly i did not hate this lol
Glad to finally hear the album that sparked the black metal movement! It's like a more evil motorhead. Great stuff
I get that there are people that like this kind of music, but I don't fall into that group. The music is monotonous and I suppose in 1982 the lyrics were shocking, but today they're just embarrassing.
So mid. No good songs.
Didn't like the mixing, songs very similar
Obnoxious, unnecessary and generally shit kind of music. Go away.
I just don't like metal. This one is kind of silly though.
'Buried Alive' is joyous and uplifting! There are some decent heavy riffs in here but the lyrics and voice are silly, especially the spoken stuff! I'd rather listen to this than some feeble 'Christian Rock' though.
Not worth my effort typing out a review
Rather unpleasant
In a nutshell: the genre had to start somewhere (shoulder shrug) Can definitely hear the Motörhead influence. Is it me or does the frontman (Conrad) sound like Otto from The Simpsons? Overall: 2/10
Wie de Tetel seid esches halt Black Metal. S Deng a dem esch halt dass es e rächt begränzti Zuegänglechkeit hed. Ech zom Biispel fühle so die Art z Senge and t absänz vonere Rechige Melodie ond Akkörd of t Tuur ned so Geil. Ech ha drom au nie gross s Bedürfnis gha do wiiter z lose. Wenn Black Metal denn lieber öppis wie AC/DC. Trotzdem esch es för sis Genre no relativ guet.s Schlagzüüg esch no guet gspelt ond t Rockgitarre eigenltech au.
Imagine yourself, a misunderstood teen, just settling into a midnight run of some Dungeons and Dragons in the early 80’s. Satan Panic at its height! Black Sabbath and Venom blasting out of the JBL’s. Let the nat 20’s roll!!! \m/ Metal will always be contentious, even amongst those that call themselves metal heads, myself included. So yea this album is not gunna be everyone’s cup of tea. Especially when you consider this album in the context of its early influence on death and black metal as newly developing genres at the time. All that said…yes it’s a bit campy. Metal still had lots of punk roots at this time and it wasn’t taking itself too seriously so that’s to be expected. Does it hold up…absolutely!!! It’s a fun romp into old school metal. It’s got some killer riffs and some legit hooks. Their influence on bands like Metallica, Megadeth, GWAR, and Slayer can’t be dismissed.
I can definitely understand why Venom is considered a major influence on all metal. Every song hits hard and is unique while maintaining a cohesive theme.
quite goofy but really fun
Day508 - i’m not a death metal fan by any means but i wonder what the reaction was forty years ago. listening now and reading the lyrics it sounds silly
Decent metal album. A little muddy and started to get old after a while, but still fun.
Interesting album today. These guys were responsible for starting the black metal sub genre in the 80's. It's more thrash/speed metal at the point of this record, but I can imagine at the time how revolutionary this album/sound was. I mean, I'm comparing it to the black metal we see nowadays and this is like super soft compared to that, but in the 80's, a British band singing about hell and Satan with dark "evil" lyrics would have been hard as fuck. Solid album! Favorite songs: Don't Burn the Witch, Bursting Out, Heaven's on Fire, Leave Me In Hell, Die Hard, Nightmare, Raise the Dead, Black Metal, Teacher's Pet Least favorite songs: Buried Alive 4/5
Seems like a good version of itself! Cool that it's from a time I don't associate with death metal.
Quite enjoyed it , but found it got a bit too samey. 3.5 stars
The recording sounds so so weak.
Always amazing at the diversity of music people are able to enjoy.
I'm only really aware of Venom through the ridiculousness of their song titles In League With Satan...At War With Satan (come on guys, which one is it, make your mind up). The latter is previewed here at the end of this album but i don't really feel I need to go and check it out. Overall this is pretty silly and kind of fun, but the fact it inspired an entire genre (black metal) that is anathema to me from everything I have heard means that if anything I'm knocking a point off for influence rather than recognising it in my rating.
Listened to this album a while back, really import to metal in general, of course creating the name of black metal, the album is just fine though
This is the hundred twelfth album I’m rating. I haven't listened to a lot of metal so I'm looking forward to this album. Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. Not Adding to my Playlist - Black Metal, To Hell and Back, Buried Alive, Raise the Dead, Teacher's Pet, Leave me in Hell, Sacrifice, Heaven's on Fire, Countless Bathory, Don't Burn the Witch, and At War with Satan (Preview). All in all I liked 0/11 songs. I hate Black Metal. Awful awful genre.
Scrapes a 2 because many of the lyrics hit well shortly after the death of the pope.
i forgot how goofy and corny this album is LOL
An oddity but maybe a step in metals evolution all pretty mono in texture and lyrics, part Motörhead but all devil worship. Not high pitched singing, not unlistenable but wouldn’t choose again.
This album is a bit of a landmark in that it really points the way for some branches of metal while really showing it's roots. I don't think there are any great songs here, and the production is largely unimpressive, but the energy and its place in history make it worthwhile.
Influential for many reasons yet... Some of the worst drumming in history
it was all right, not a huge metal guy but i see the appeal.
I was initially underwhelmed but it warmed up on me as I went through the album. Not bad for early heavy metal and much more palatable than much of today's nu metal. 3/5
This album was horrible unless you were a satanist, I guess.
A real head scratcher
Well that was awful. Y’all need Jesus. TBH in a lot of this album it was kinda cheesy, felt very much like they wanted to seem super hardcore so they included a bunch of satan worship. This was trash.
are they trying to be a parody type band? like Spinal Tap?
Not something I would very likely choose to listen to, but it's kind of fun in a way. Some nice guitarwork.
Very poorly mixed, and metal was a dumb genre to begin with...
It's not really for me. It's not bad, but it's very murky, and it's kind of silly. 2.5 rounded up.
good fun! Leave Me in Hell reminded me of Master of Puppets so much, uncanny
Terrible
Decent metal album, but the audio quality was terrible. 3.5/5
Not for me. Reading up on the album, it's hard to deny its influence on other artists, but I'm simply not the target audience.
This is why people think metal is a joke. Nothing about this feels genuine or authentic. This is all a performance. Every single song title invokes some kind of horrible imagery, and brings to mind images of despair, violence, or else some kind of twisted concept. And I know, I KNOW, I can hear you saying - "but that's the point! It's supposed to be over the top, it's supposed to be shocking!" Sorry, I don't care. When every song is just relentlessly about the same thing, and when the thing feels so goddamn performative that it definitely isn't authentic, I just don't care. I have no belief that the guys in this band are Satan worshipers. Like, sorry but I cannot imagine people living their lives like that. It's an image, and it's a really shaky one. Maybe that doesn't matter to metalheads, but it's never sat well with me when a band writes lazy ass lyrics about worshiping Satan or whatever. Like at least try to be creative with your lyrics, regardless of the topic. One star. Standout Track: Black Metal
I'm generally quite partial to a bit of metal, but I simply can't consider this album more than an OK listen. I've listened to my fair share of heavy metal throughout my life and I didn't find this album pulling me in like some others have. I am, however, well aware of this album's influence and standing, and I can definitely see it as well-deserved after listening to the whole thing.
Don't like metal
Maybe just not in the mood for the album but wasn't feeling the heavy metal
I didn’t hate this. I feel like this band probably set the bar for death metal… and everyone who came after in this genre was inspired by the likes of them. The songs did tend to sound the same to me after a while, but they’re all structured well musically. Decent listen, but kind of exhausting after a while.
1982. Heavy rocking metal that seems pretty par.
This was better than expected, only because, after seeing the album name, band logo, picture of the dudes in spotify, etc., the bar was waaaaaaaaaay too low
Sehr dunkler Metal, ein paar melodisch schöne Stellen. Aber überwiegend gehen die Stimmen in Richtung "Geschrei", das ist nicht meins. 2/5
Influence has to be taken into consideration, but it isn't all that great
Blows chunks
Better than expected. Still not my style. Musically impressive. 3/5
Thank fuck that's over. Awful
Den: Right, that's it. (Opens door) I'm getting out here if we're anything to do with the New Romantics. (He gets out of the van.) Cut to Den standing on the grass verge at the side of the road, smoking a cigarette. The others get out of the van and walk over to him. Vim: (voice-over) One of the things about being a leader, right, is that you've got to sort out arguments that come up between people in the group. You've got to be fair, and you've got to make sure your own ego doesn't get in the way. Colin: Come on Den, it was... it was only a joke. Den: I don't care! I don't care if it was a joke or not. Colin: (to Spider) Tell him. Spider: It was a joke! Den: I'm not going any further until I hear Alan say that... that we're heavy metal. Colin and Spider look expectantly at Vim. Spider: Go on, tell him, then. Vim: Okay, okay, we're heavy metal, okay? Heavy metal, heavy metal, heavy metal! Have I said it enough? (shouting) We're heavy metal, okay? Just like your fucking brain! That's a quote from the Comic Strip Presents - Bad News Tour episode, and I think Venom were a clear inspiration for this hilarous parody. Lyrics are very very silly. Very metal.
hurjat. afjalisrucnalcsalkfjakldsjfhaklshnjdailn venommm..... alussa luulin että nyt tulee produktio kultaa. sitten tapahtui niin että monotoninen paska i minkäänlaista dynamiikkaa ja mietiskelin pikkasen että mites tässä kävi näin. koko albumi kuulostaa että huoneen taakke menty ei uskallettu valon alle tulla. ei parrasvalojen välke viehätä näitä veikkoja ilmeisesti.. sittenhän sieltä tuli lyriikkaa jotain helvetti helvetti en halua elää.. mietiskelin pikkasen että mites tässä kävi näin. miksi et ole kuollut? jos ei saatana kelpaa. mutta ei nää saatananpalvojat ole saatananpalvojia, teeskentelijöitä vain. perkeleen papasta tehty rahavirran lähde. kuin joulupukki koka-kolan maskottina konsanaan. devil does not come as goat.. come as all you want.. as money.. as beutyful woman.. sacrifice
Sounds like a punk band impersonating a metal band. Not awful but not sure why I would listen to this over other thrash records
This is not timeless nor important.
Weer zo'n vaag, nietszeggend album. 1.4
Bad ass metal. It’s like a concoction of Motorhead, MetallicA and Sepultura born in the depths of hell and sent to Earth as a true “Metal up your ass!” album. “Don’t Burn The Witch” is heavy!! It’s a bit of a long album, but I’ll forgive them as some of the tracks from the Radio 1 Session go hard. Some have mentioned Tenacious D. LOL. “Punk rock tried to kill The Metal, but they failed as they were smite to ground”
I enjoyed this album listen! Typically metal is not my thing but I was digging the heavy metal vibes of this one. It’s not something I normally gravitate towards but I would listen to it again and recommend it to others!
Apparently this was a trailblazing hard core speed metal offering. As much as I like heavy metal, the grim, dark nature of the themes is a bit much for me. I won’t be listening to this again.
Black metal is not really my taste.
Most people initial takeaway is that it sounds likebitnwas recorded on a tape player in a bathroom but the importance of the album to the genre can't be understated. Great riffs, aggression and gnarly vocals.
This spot really should/could have gone to someone more deserving, like, say, Liberace, or the Chipmunks.
Let's not beat around the bush here. Is this album simple? Yeah. Is it stupid? Yeah, a little. Is it primitive? Sure sounds like. Is it not mixed the best? I can't tell production apart most of the time, and even I can tell you that this isn't the greatest production job in the world. To most people, any combination of those things would be enough to condemn this thing to the realm of low ratings. But let's be real: to people like me, this is what makes this album awesome. There's quite a few genres of music out there where I don't ask much from them. Country music is probably the biggest, but coming right up behind it is metal music. And, I mean, we get into how I feel about all of the various sub- and micro-genres of metal, but let's just stick to the base level, and on that front... I mean, jeez, as long as there's loud, chugging riffs and some lyrics about war, mythology, The Devil or how great metal is, I'd be hard pressed to dislike it. That doesn't mean I'll just eat up any old slop; I **do** have standards. It's just that BLACK METAL easily meets them, and then some. Frankly, it's one of those "I don't have much to say about this album" albums, 'coz I'm not sure how I could really express my feelings on this thing besides just motioning to the music and going "Yeh?" And if you don't get it, well, then I really don't know what to tell you. It's like... OK, so I've seen some reviews of this album compare it to Tenacious D, right? Or even just straight-up call it parody in a derisive way. Well, I'm not only someone who loves Weird Al, but also someone who loves Meat Loaf's BAT OUT OF HELL precisely because it comes across as so parodic that it wraps back around to being awesome. And, yeah, that's BLACK METAL to me. Besides "Teacher's Pet", there's nothing I can think of to knock it for — and even then, if I'm fine with a song like "Hot For Teacher"... Honestly, I feel like I really hafta appreciate an album like BLACK METAL. There's no pretensions to it, and I don't hafta think up any big, deep reasons why I like it. There's no poetry I hafta scrutinize; no complex musicality I hafta squint my ears at; no long history I need to know; no big emotions I hafta pull out if it... All I need is my raw, gut reaction of "Hell yeah." And as much as I do enjoy albums that give me a bit more to chew on, every now and then, it's just nice to have something I can enjoy so simply. For me, you can chalk this up as another victory for the New Wave Of British Metal, right alongside Iron Maiden and Motörhead. Good-ass shit. ('N really, I'm glad this is only "black metal" in name only and not in sound. Now **that's** a sub-genre I don't recall being too hot on, I tell yah...)
Truly kickass metal, through and through. Solid 5 Stars.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’m gonna just barely bump up to a 5 because how well it stuck the landing on the last track. Seriously, “Don’t Burn the Witch” is that fucking good. If it were even a little bit worse, I’d be at a 4 that I admire a lot, but it seriously nails it, and I think I have to go up. It’s very weird for me to give a 5 to an album with a sort of slower start, because the first 2 tracks here set a really awkward tone. Literally, that first track starts off with a truly awful tone, with whatever that scratchy-ass sound is. The mixing is off, the lyricism is bland, the vocals feel a little sickly, and the reverb muzzles some of the bite it’s going for. There’s still something compelling there, though, & while the second track builds upon it nicely with some great guitar work, this album still doesn’t really break through until “Buried Alive” starts. It is really a vibe shift once that slower, grungier guitar comes in – the album finds a brand new level of confidence that it never really lets go of; the production feels better, the grit in the vocals gets a really nice presence, the reverb is used more effectively, & the lyricism expands to provide way more imagery, in a way that makes each track feel more vivid, for better or for worse (especially for ‘worse’ on “Teacher’s Pet”). It really makes the album feel better for the rest of its run time, and it hits a pretty damn good stride. I have to acknowledge it – “Teacher’s Pet” is an insanely awkward song. It sticks out here for how different it is from the rest of the album, lyrically, & it’s just an insane thing to write a song about to begin with. There’s a clear difference from something like “Hot for Teacher” by Van Halen & this, and one’s enjoyment of the track really depends on the tolerance for the lyrics. I don’t think I have the tolerance for the lyrics, but obnoxiously enough, I think the track might have either the best or second-best production on the album. At its very, very worst, it’s got some consensually awkward shaming involved that feels far too intimate for my tastes, even in a comically exaggerated way. It’s not a bad listen at all, though, which is why it’s not knocking this album down to a 4. Sure as hell not a playlist track, though. Really, the most impressive thing here is that this is from 1982 – it’s not the craziest heavy metal in the world, but all of the proper tones for the faster advancements of heavy metal throughout the 80s are here, especially in terms of setting the stage for a band like Metallica to take it to another level. I would even argue this is a pretty handy prototype for some of the 90s grunge to come as well. I don’t think this sounds quite the same as what modern “black metal” is considered to be, but it all has to start somewhere. Objectively, this is probably a 4, but between its historical significance, & the way it just nails the finish so well, that I feel safe about bumping it up to a 5. At the very, very least, I don’t think it’s deserving of a 2.46 average on the site. That’s criminally wrong. P.S.: I’ve never really heard an album end with a teaser for the next one. That’s pretty fucking cool.
I was looking forward to this: The low production value, the satanic worship, the shreddy guitars; all the hallmarks of what would become black metal are here, but, on this release, Venom has more in common with Motorhead and Metallica than the genre this album would inspire. If you can get past their cartoonish obsession with evil, there's some good music here. I come back to this album every so often, and it's a fun listen, but the music isn't so good that it demands a place in every metalhead's top 5. Highlights: "Buried Alive", "Countess Bathory", "Don't Burn the Witch" Questionable, but still good: "Teacher's Pet"
This is 100% not for middle-aged guy me. That being said, it reminded me a lot of the nonsense that teenage me was listening to in the 80's. So I just couldn't bring myself to hate it.
I enjoyed the dark themes and there were some spectacular guitar moments. The vocals didn't do much for me and the production quality felt like it was recorded in a garage. I think the rhythms and melodies were nonexistent and it just made this album not as palatable as it could've been.
Kako se kaže:historijska važnost ali da mi je neki posebni gušt i ne baš
Schlock. Over the top satanism with bad music. I like metal, and this is kinda just noise around edgy lyrics.
kind of shocked by the relative apathy a lot of ppl seem to hold for this! obviously this sows the seeds of extreme metal w/ the lofi sound and the earnestly Evil aesthetic and the running w/ the hardest fastest edge of NWOBHM's fringes, but it hasnt quite crossed over and thus its fundamental appeals lie almost entirely in heavy metal. there is still a clarity of direction and a tunefulness that has yet to be stripped down to pure riffs and vibes, yet in a way that still represents a leap forward in abrasiveness and aggression (as opposed to say, later meloblack, which is a conscious de-escalation). short and sweet, extremely fun! dont know whats not to love tbh
Thumping!
Goofy as hell
Not bad, but not great either. Fairly generic and samey feeling throughout. Decent instrumentals and vocal work. 'Leave Me In Hell' was my fave from this album.
Had never heard this and it was pretty solid. Quite enjoyable.
Happy to see this show up. The first couple tracks come out hard and fast. Let's be clear - it's not black metal as we know it now. But if you wanted Motorhead to be more extreme, this is it. There's still catchy songwriting here and the production is effective with the raw guitar tone and unyielding drum and bass backbone. Buried Alive slows things down and has a groovier feel with some great lead work. The tempo kicks way back up on Raise the Dead and stays there for the next few tracks. Just punishing riffs and dark, grimy speed metal. Sacrifice is a highlight, and then Heaven's on Fire is even more aggressive, especially the drumming. Countess Bathory is more mid tempo with a killer riff and heavy drumming. Maybe the best track so far, but Don't Burn the Witch opens with a twisted, evil riff and then pummels you into submission. Bang your fucking head. I even love the spooky outro (which is actually the intro to their next album) and then it fades out. Required listening for metalheads, but this may appeal to other folks too.
Not bad, pretty average metal, although I don't know much about the genre.
Ooooof, definitely my least liked genre. Spoiler alert: these guys aren't black. The lyrics are hysterical, actually. It's like they asked ChatGPT to write shock-value satanic verse in the voice of a troubled 12-year old boy. I'm gonna pass but thanks for sharing your anger.
This is probably as good a score as I can give any metal record. It's silly, it's brash, it's fun. So I only just about don't like it.
not a lot of redeemable qualities here
not my jam really. black metal is cool, but i wouldn’t choose to listen to it.
This sounded like every lame metal album I've ever heard. Did it basically create this genre or something? Cool I guess, but still not interested.
These dudes love satan.
Outstanding album from a badm I had only read about and never really gave them a chance. Surprised and happy to have found this metal time period gem
What a ground breaking record for black metal
Old metal. 😏