Venom - The Seven Gates Of Hell: The Singles 1980-1985 (2003)

 

Venom is a metal band formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK in 1979.
Coming to prominence towards the end of the 'New Wave of British Heavy Metal', Venom's first two albums – Welcome to Hell (1981) and Black Metal (1982) – are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general. Venom's second album proved influential enough that its title was used as the name of an extreme metal subgenre: black metal.
Venom's original personnel came from three different bands: Guillotine, Oberon and DwarfStar. The original Guillotine featured Jeffrey Dunn and Dave Rutherford on guitars, Dean Hewitt on bass guitar, Dave Blackman on vocals and Chris Mercaters on drums. Blackman and Mercater were replaced by drummer Anthony Bray and vocalist Clive Archer of Oberon and soon after, Dean Hewitt was replaced by Alan Winston on bass. Around the summer of 1979, Conrad "Cronos" Lant from the bands DwarfStar and Album Graecum replaced Rutherford. Around this time, the band adopted the Venom moniker.
Prime influences of the formative band were Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Motörhead and Kiss. Other bands cited by Venom as an inspiration are Queen, The Who, Deep Purple, Sex Pistols, Van Halen, The Tubes and The Rolling Stones.
A few days before a show at a local church hall, Winston left the band. To fill in, Lant borrowed a bass guitar from Steve Thompson (later to become Venom's first producer). Playing the show with the borrowed bass plugged into his Marshall guitar amp and effects pedals, he created an unnerving racket and the 'Bulldozer Bass' was born.
Venom's lyrics often featured Satanic references, and the band members took on new stage names. Archer became 'Jesus Christ', Lant 'Mr. Cronos', Bray 'Tony Abaddon', and Dunn 'Jeff Mantas'.
In April 1980, the band recorded a three song disc, featuring "Angel Dust", "Raise the Dead", and "Red Light Fever". Soon afterward, six more tracks were recorded for just £50, with Lant taking vocal duties on the song "Live Like an Angel". Archer soon left the band, and Venom's line-up became a trio.
Venom's recording debut was the 1981 single "In League with Satan"/"Live Like an Angel" which was released by Neat Records. Later that year they released their full-length debut, "Welcome to Hell".
Though crudely recorded with sometimes dubious musicianship, "Welcome to Hell" was still a remarkable tour de force for the era. Venom's music was faster and harsher than most heavy metal contemporaries and while Satanism and other dark topics had been featured in metal before, the subject had rarely been more prominent. Lant was quoted as saying that this celebration of evil subjects was inspired by the perceived need to out-do musicians like Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath, who would 'sing about evil things and dark figures, and then spoil it all by going "Oh No, No Please God help me!"'
Their second album, 1982's "Black Metal" is cited as perhaps the most important influence in the development of black metal, thrash metal, death metal, and other related styles that are often grouped under the extreme metal umbrella. Many defining elements of these genres are first found in the lyrics and song titles created by Lant and his unique singing style as well as the guitar work and solos performed by Dunn. Though they would later be cited as important, neither of Venom’s first two albums sold well upon their original release. And while many of their British metal peers had found measures of popular success or critical acclaim (or, like Def Leppard, were moving away from metal towards hard rock), Venom were still regarded by critics as "a trio of buffoons".
In an attempt to prove their status as serious musicians, Venom recorded "At War with Satan" in 1983. The epic 20-minute title track, with substantial progressive rock influences, took up the first side of the LP. The B-side was focused on the rapid-fire, three-minute "scorchers" Venom were known for. In 1985, Venom released their fourth album, "Possessed', which was not as successful as previous albums. Dunn then left the band to pursue a solo career.
Two guitarists, Mike Hickey and Jim Clare, were hired to replace Dunn. Their fifth album, 1987's Calm Before the Storm, moved away from Satanic themes in favor of Tolkien-esque “Sword and Sorcery” material. This was even less successful than "Possessed", and Lant, Clare and Hickey all left Venom after subsequent touring to form Lant's eponymous solo band Cronos.
Bray was left as the only group member, but he was able to convince Music for Nations for a deal to release a new Venom album on the Under One Flag label, using Deadline demo tracks which were recorded with previous line-ups but never released. In 1988, Bray offered a vocals/bass role to Tony Dolan from Atomkraft. Bray and Dolan wrote new material prior to Dunn's rejoining the band along with rhythm guitarist Al Barnes. Together they recorded Prime Evil (1989), Tear Your Soul Apart (1990) and Temples of Ice (1991). Barnes then left the band, and Steve White from Atomkraft was hired as replacement. They released "The Waste Lands" in 1992, also without success. Music for Nations refused to release any more Venom albums, so Dolan and Dunn quit, effectively disbanding Venom. Bray continued to release compilation and live albums up to 1996.
In 1995, Lant, Dunn and Bray reunited the "classic" line-up, beginning by headlining the Waldrock Festival on 24 June 1995. They recorded and self-released the "Venom '96" EP with four re-recorded and one new song, resulting in a record deal with the SPV label. An album, "Cast in Stone", was next released in 1997, split between new material and re-recordings of popular early-'80s songs.
Bray left Venom in 1999 and was replaced by Lant's brother Anthony "Antton" Lant. This lineup released "Resurrection" in 2000 on SPV. However, in 2002 Dunn again left the group and was replaced by a returning Hickey. In late 2005, Venom released a career-spanning 4-disc box set "MMV", which includes an exclusive mini-poster of the band's seven-date tour of Europe with Metallica and a 60 page picture book, with interviews and pictures. The set includes all their best-known songs, along with rarities like live tracks, demos and outtakes. This lineup of the band released the "Metal Black" album.
Hickey left the group 2007, with a guitarist calling himself "Rage" serving as his replacement. This lineup released the record "Hell" in 2008. Anthony Lant has since left the group and has been replaced by drummer Danny "Dante" Needham.
Currently, the band is in the studio recording their next album which is due for release at the end of 2010 and also negotiating some live shows afterwards. Cronos commented saying, "There's a fresh energy with the new line-up and the sessions are going great, Dante is a really big hitter which is fantastic, his playing went down a storm with the South American Legions during our Latin American tour in December 2009. Rage has been tearing up the decibels and cranking his amp valves white hot, so the new album is sounding killer and should be ready to be unleashed end 2010"

 

 

 

-Tracklist:

Disc 1

Side A:
1. In League with Satan     03:30      
2. Live like an Angel, Die like a Devil     03:48
3. Bloodlust     02:59    
4. In Nomine Satanas     03:24      
5. Die Hard (12" version)     03:03      

Side B:
6. Acid Queen     02:28    
7. Bursting Out     02:57    
8. Warhead (12" version)     05:56
9. Lady Lust     02:45    
10. Seven Gates of Hell     05:26 

         
Disc 2

Side A:
1. Manitou (12" version)     04:39    
2. Dead of the Night     04:05    
3. Woman     02:53      
4. Nightmare (12" version)   03:51
      
Side B:
5. Satanachist     02:43    
6. F.O.A.D.     03:02    
7. Witching Hour     04:16    
8. Teacher's Pet / Poison / Teacher's Pet     07:59

 

 

-Line up:

 

 • Abaddon: Drums
• Mantas: Guitar
• Cronos: Vocals, Bass.

 

 

 

 

 

Label: Earmark

Includes all Venom EPs and singles that were released through Neat Records in the eighties, excluding 'assault EPs'.
Includes also an essay written by John Ticker which has information about band's early history and releases that are presented on this compilation.

Ltd. Edition 180 Gram Vinyl. 

 

 

Mord - Christendom Perished (2006)

 

Mord was founded in 1999 and started out by Nordra, who recorded a first demo as a one man band in 2001, he also entered to studio with a guitarist of the Iuvenes in 2002 to work out serveral tracks but they never finished it. In August 2003 Necrolucas joined Mord as a drummer and in February 2004 Mord entered Necromorbus Studio and recorded their first official demo Unholy Inquisition which gained a lot of interest in the Underground.
Shortly afterwards the Unholy Inquisition was released as a MCD and 7"EP. Developing style of uncompromising musical annihilation Mord recorded first full-lenght album called Christendom Perished, recording session took place at DBX studio in August 2005.
Despite the poor promotion and distribution this album gahtered many good reviews.

In January 2007 the deal with Southern Lord has been terminated.
The 2nd full-lenght album Necrosodomic Abyss is released on Osmose Productions.

 Both members of this band are from Poland. 

-Tracklist:

1. Opus I     04:27
2. Opus II       03:47
3. Opus III     04:33
4. Opus IV     04:41
5. Opus V     04:26
6. Opus VI     04:54
7. Opus VII     06:08

8. Opus IX     03:55

-Line up:

- Nordra: Vocals, Guitars, Bass
- Necrolucas: Drums.

 

 

 

 

 

Label: Antichristian Front Records.

 

Limited to 500 copies. 

Recorded at DBX Studio.

Comes in gatefold cover and A2 poster (first 100 distributed by the band is hand numbered).

 The first track starts after 7 seconds of silence, this is not a pre-track and is likely a mastering error.

 

Ktulu - Orden Genético (1994) [Reissue] (1996)

 

Founded in November 1986, without a name, and took the moniker Ktulu in early 1987, after Metallica's The Call of Ktulu instrumental composition (in turn, inspired by the writings of HP Lovecraft). The band members pronounce the band's name Kah-toulou.

The band records their first demo in 1987, with only a couple of tracks: Otro Cuento and Legiones de Muerte.

They recorded their second demo in 1988 with 3 songs: Testigos, Uno Más y La Soga.

In 1991 they recorded their first LP with the label «Momentos Thráshicos» (Semaphore).

In 1992 they recorded a new demo of 2 songs No Creo En Ti and Vuelve Mañana with which they perfect their sound and prepare for the jump to the rest of the world.

In 1994 Ktulu changed label, S.M.D. Records in association with another, Hardvinyl Records, and released of their second LP Orden Genético (1994).

Ktulu contributed their song "Apocalipsis 25D" to Alex de la Iglesia's movie El Día de la Bestia (1995).

Put on hold in mid-2002 and reactived in late 2003 with Willy K as the only remaining member, searching for new musicians. Played live again for the first time in April, 2007.

-Tracklist:

1. Mensaje Subliminal     06:31    
2. Autodestrucción     05:25
3. Sin Treguas      05:05    
4. Orden Genético         05:01    
5. Utilizados          04:12    
6. El Ultimo Pájaro     05:02    
7. Deja De Joder     05:30    
8. No Creo En Ti     05:03

 9. Apocalipsis 25 D [bonus]

 

 

-Line up:

• Willy K : Vocals
• Miguel Suesta : Drums
• Pablo : Bass
• Montes : Guitars
• Jorge Cabrera : Guitars.

 

 

 

Label: Dro East West.

 

 Made by Warner Music Manufacturing Europe.
Recorded at Marathon Estudios.

 

The 1996 reissue contains the song "Apocalipsis 25 D", which appeared on the soundtrack of Álex de la Iglesia's film "El Día de la Bestia".

Recorded by José A. Llop.
 Mixed by Antonio Ribaloba. 

 

 The samples used in the song "Apocalipsis 25D" are taken from the movie The Exorcist by William Friedkin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vivo aquí al otro lado de la verja
Lejos de la razón
Un destructivo trauma
Me encerró
Pasos vacilantes sigilosos
Mueven sus torpes pies
Vierten en si sus vómitos
Una y otra vez

Falsas sonrisas
Expectador de mí
Miradas fijas

Piensas que mi vida ya no vale para nada
Siendo prisionero en mi inerte ser

Mi cráneo arde con las descargas
Que una a una sacuden
La energía explota en mis venas
No puedo ver

Todos sus intentos son en vano
Por hacerte volver
A la consciencia de un hecho
Del que escapé

No entiendo nada
Expectador de mí
Sigo la nada

Piensas.....
Piensas.....

A veces por un momento
Creo que soy consciente de alguna existencia
Yo soy el último pájaro del nido
Que olvidado nunca aprendera a volar
Nunca aprenderá
A no volar

Navegando en un limbo de sueños
Que nunca tienen fin
La realidad vive en ellos
Son mi existir

Brujas con uñas sucias y afiladas
Devoran un cadáver
Veo almas asustadas
Por un extraño ser

Valles en la placa
Espectador de mí
Veo mil caras

Piensas
A veces
A veces
A no volar.

 

Deeds of Flesh - Inbreeding the Anthropophagi (1998) Reissue [2002[

Deeds of Flesh were formed in 1993 by Jacoby Kingston, Erik Lindmark (1972-2018) and Joey Heaslet. They signed to Wild Rags Records and released their first EP, entitled Gradually Melted. They then moved labels to the now-defunct Repulse Records, and released their first full-length album, entitled Trading Pieces, in 1996.

Two years later, in 1998, they released a second album, entitled Inbreeding the Anthropophagi, on the same label, this time with Brad Palmer replacing Joey Heaslet on drums. After this album was recorded, guitarist Jim Tkacz joined the band. The band then lost their contract with the label and self-released a demo.

After this, they founded their own label, Unique Leader Records, which as well released Deeds of Flesh albums and has since become home to a number of other death metal bands from around the world like Pyaemia, Disavowed, Gorgasm, Beheaded, Decrepit Birth, and Severed Savior.

As of 2012, due to a severe tendinitis in his fretting arm, Erik Lindmark only handled guitar duties in the studio while doing vocals live.

On November 29th, 2018, Lindmark passed away from Sclerosis.

-Tracklist:

1. End Of All   1:22
2. Feeding Time    4:24
3. Inbreeding The Anthropophagi    4:48
4. Infecting Them With Falsehood  4:55
5. Canvas Of Flesh  3:04
6. Ritual Of Battle   3:35
7. Fly Shrine   4:14
8. Gradually Melted   4:18

-Line up:

- Erik Lindmark (R.I.P. 2018): Guitars, Vocals
- Brad Palmer: Drums
- Jacoby Kingston: Bass, Vocals.

 

Label: Displeased Records.

The album's lyrical concept revolves around the legend of Sawney Bean, his inbred, cave-dwelling family, and their grisly practice of attacking travelers on local roads for food and profit.
Dedicated to the memory of Josh Heatly (Infamy).

Recorded at Moon Productions Studio, Arroyo Grande, California, U.S.A.
Produced by Deeds of Flesh.

 

     -|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|- Erik Lindmark -|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

 

2006.04.17 La Iguana Club, Vigo (Esp)

 

Mourning - Greetings From Hell (1993)

 

Dutch Death Doom Metal formed in 1989.

 

Greetings From Hell was recorded in november 1992 and released few months later by Foundation 2000.

 

They changed their name as Rouwen (means "to mourn" in Dutch), who only recorded an ep in 1997 called ''Rouwkots''.

 

Discography

 

-Demo 1991 (Demo 1991)

-At the Dawn of... (Split 1992)
-Greetings from Hell (1993)
-Rouwen - Rouwkots (mini cd 1997)

 

 

-Tracklist:

1. Intro / Arma Satani     07:57
2. Sweet Dreams     03:47
3. Demon's Dance     03:34
4. Territorial     03:12
5. Denial of Your Destiny     03:50
6. Only War and Hell     08:07
7. What?     03:02
8. Deranged or Dead     04:15
9. Buried with the Dead     03:23
10. Get AIDS and Die     04:56

-Line up:

- André van der Ree: Drums
- Marc van Amelsfoort: Bass, Vocals
- René Roza: Guitars.   

 

 

Label: Foundation 2000.

 

Recorded at Beaufort Studio, 2-13 November, 1992.
Co-mixed by Mourning.

 Made by Dureco/Weesp, Holland.

 Distributed by Dureco.

 Producer: Han Swagerman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ocultan - Lembranças do Mal, A Crucificação (2002)

 

The band started in 1994 in São Paulo - Brasil , when Count Imperium (at this time the vocalist and the bass player) got together with the guitarist Cerberus . After 2 years of searching, in 1996, they found a drummer: Lord Fausto . In June of 1996 was released the first musical register of the band “Eternus Malus”. Six months later the band releases its first Demo-Tape “Regnus Ad Exus”.
Few weeks later, Cerberus decides to leave the band and Count Imperium assumes the Guitars.
Some months later, in 1997, Dom Junior enters to assume the bassist place. January 1998, Lady of blood enters the band as the guitarist.

After some waiting, in September 1999, finally was released the debut CD “Bellicus Profanus” via Evil Horde Records.
Six months later, march of 2000, by many reasons, among them, personal and musical, Lord Fausto was removed from the band. Count Imperium assumed as new drummer and Males Maleficarum joined as the vocalist.

February 2002 is released the newest work of Ocultan: “Lembranças do Mal, A Crucificação” once again through Evil Horde Records. This release showed a new Ocultan, faster and brutal and all the lyrics were sang in Portuguese.
The same year, in December, the band signs with Mutilation Records and releases its 3rd Long Play “Lords of Evil…” which was released in two formats: CD and Vinyl. This work brought ever more devastation than the previous one.
From this one, the band started to receive many excelent critics from the specialized media!

July 2003 marks the release of the band’s first live album: “Infernal Live” released via Imperial Records
The feedback of the Live CD was better than the expectation and soon the band was receiving even better critics. After this exclusive release, the band already have many songs composed to release its forthcoming album which was released in December under the title of “The Coffin” via Mutilation Records.

Some time after the release of “The Coffin” the band started to receive many good critics and the album was acclaimed as the best Ocultan’s album so far.
April, through professional problems, Males Maleficarum was invited to leave the band. Daimoth was invited to be the new singer and guitarist.
Continuing with the production of great albums, the band enters in studio to record the 5th album of the career "Profanation".

After the foundation of Count Imperium’s own label, Pazuzu Records, is released the new album “Profanation” which had its first 1000 copies sold less than a month!
The good selling and the good repercussion in the specialized media celebrates all the evolution of the band and their work. It also give them the opportunity to play some great gigs and play in some of the biggest Festivals in Brazil.
November, Daimoth decides to leave the band and Legacy (ex-Morthor) joined as a singer only, since then the band returned to have only one guitarist.

In the beginning of 2006, Ocultan starts the process of composition of the new album. After 13 new songs, the band entered in studio to start the recording of “Regnum Infernalis”.
This album demands much more attention to the details and took much more time in the process of composition than the others. This album also has some Death Metal influences and a much more technical instrumental.

“Regnum Infernalis” was released in May via Pazuzu Records. Like the other releases, this one had the same good repercussion and is pointed by some people as the best release of the band.
Dom Junior leaves the band in December and Magnus Hellcaller was invited to replace him as the Bass player, current member from Brazilian Black Metal band Blackthorny.

The year of 2008 marks a historical moment for all the Brazilian Metal scene. The recording of the first Brazilian Black Metal band DVD!
The year just started and the band already start to compose the new material to be released in the firsts months of 2010. In between the band is making tour to divulgate the release of the DVD “Ceremony of Hate”. Ocultan started the year focused in new songs and the band made a deal with the label Freemind Records to release the upcoming album, in december, after finished the compositions and started the studio recordings, once again Ocultan faced changings in the line-up, in this time Legacy left the band for personal problems, with a new stuff about to be finished, Count Imperium decided to came back to the vocals, as it would take some time to find a new vocalist who was prepared to get the songs quickly.

 

-Tracklist:

1. Supremo Mal     05:08
2. Eterno Poder Obscuro     06:14
3. Os Sete Caldeirões do Inferno     02:32
4. O Orgulhoso Exu Belzebuth     05:37
5. O Sangue, a Maior Oferenda     03:36
6. Vossas Damas     05:39
7. Lembranças do Mal, a Crucificação     06:02
8. A Matança     04:55

 

 

-Line up:

⛧Count Imperium: Drums
⛧Lady of Blood: Guitars
⛧Dom Junior: Bass
⛧Males Maleficarum: Vocals.

 

 

 

 

Label: Evil Horde Records.

All music and lyrics by Ocultan.
Guitars and bass arrangements by Lady of Blood.

Track titles in English are:
1. Supreme Evil
2. Eternal Obscure Power
3. The Seven Cauldrons of Hell
4. The Proud Belzebuth Exu
5. The Blood, the Great Gift
6. Thy Maidens
7. Remains of Evil, the Crucifixion
8. The Slaughter

Recorded and mixed at Estúdio Phonovox, September/October 2001.
Produced by Zé Renato & Ocultan.