Venom announced this Thursday, the 5th, Into Oblivion , their sixteenth studio album, featuring the consolidated lineup with Cronos (bass/vocals and founding member), Rage (guitar), and Dante (drums). The album marks their first new material since Storm The Gates , released in 2018.
With the announcement, the band released their debut single, “Lay Down Your Soul ,” a powerful track that harkens back to the band's early years and classic Black Metal. With a humorous touch, the song has all the elements to become a future live highlight. “I think it’s healthy to acknowledge elements from the past and bring them into a new context, which gives them a totally new approach. The fans are going to go crazy,” commented Cronos.
With thirteen tracks, Into Oblivion delivers Venom's characteristic sound: heavy, dark, and striking. The album combines classic elements of the band's 80s sound with a more modern and progressive approach, without losing the intensity and incendiary atmosphere that have always defined the group.
The album had been in development for several years, but factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic, setbacks during recording, and the pursuit of a high-quality result delayed its completion. In Cronos' words: "This album really pushed the boundaries, but if you want to make a killer album, you pay with blood, sweat, and tears."
Overcoming obstacles, Venom returns with an album that honors their legacy. Rage states: “I’m very proud of this album, it’s amazing! It sounds so different, yet so familiar. The sound is a step ahead, no two songs sound the same, but they all work together.”.
Venom needs no introduction. Since their formation in Newcastle in 1979, the band has paved the way for extreme metal and created its own genre: Black Metal. Today, the style is more popular than ever on a global scale, with the group's influence remaining as enduring as its original creators.
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