Venom - Fallen Angels (Album Review)

01.Hammerhead
02.Nemesis
03.Pedal To The Metal
04.Lap Of The Gods
05.Damnation Of Souls
06.Beggerman
07.Hail Satanas
08.Sin
09.Punks Not Dead
10.Death Be Thy Name
11.Lest We Forget
12.Valley Of The Kings
13.Fallen Angels


Cronos (Bass/Vocals)
La Rage (Guitar)
Danny "Dante" Needham (Drums)


Hugely influential UK outfit now celebrating a full 30 years since the release of their
‘Welcome To Hell’ debut, will have a brand new studio album released on November 28th
via Spinefarm Records/Universal.

Lets face it they accidentelly invented a new genre and approach to heavy metal with that
debut album, though it was slated at the time and the band faced accusations that they
couldnt play, they proved themselves big time! I remember taking my prized white label copy to neal kay to play a track, he did then told me never to bring that disc again!

With their second album 'Black Metal' they gave name and rise to what would become the
most exciting and controversial sub-genre of rock music ever.

Titled ‘Fallen Angels’ and featuring 13 fresh recordings produced by main-man / bassist
Cronos, this is the follow-up to 2008’s ‘Hell’ release, and sees the trio adopting a style highly redolent of classic early Venom and creating a true 3rd album (At war With Satan was a great album, but had a smooth production and an ambitios side one) with modern studio technology employed only to increase the general level of nastiness.

Says Cronos: “When we make an album, it usually takes a few tracks to get into the vibe,
although this album’s vibe was very much present during the ideas stage… everything came
together so naturally. “We all started throwing ideas together on the South American tour, and then again during
the live shows of 2010, and so we knew from the start that we had some amazing new songs
to make a great album.“With any new album, you look for a few songs to put into the live set, although that is
going to be very difficult with this record, as we can nail the entire album live if we
want! “‘Fallen Angels’ is the result of a band that has spent nearly two years touring and
growing as a unit, and as the band grows tighter, so the songs get better and heavier,
and we instinctively know what each other is thinking, and the ideas flow easier. “This album is only the very start for this line-up; there will be many more albums and
live shows to come for Venom. It has taken a long time and a lot of changes to finally
deliver a Venom that can attack Black Metal the way it should be – fast, furious, tight
and terrifying. All Hell Breaks Loose… Hell Fucking Yeah !!!!!!!!!”

All in all a brilliant album, chaotic at times but raw and alive, oh and track 9 is not an Exploited cover as i thought it might be.

Rating 10/10

For fans Of : Warfare, Darkthrone, Exploited, Discharge, GBH, Ravens Creed