Great Metal Albums of 1984: Venom- At War With Satan

 

Everybody probably all knows the stereotypes of all heavy metal bands. They can only play four chords, they scream because they can't sing, etc. Well, when I came upon the third album from British death metalers, Venom, I thought that they had a point. My first thoughts of "At War With Satan" was that it was loud, it was brash and it sounded like the whole album was recorded in somebody's basement. Yes, the album ticked all the boxes of the opinions many non-metal people have about heavy metal. But guess what? I couldn't have cared a monkey's about what they thought. I liked this album on account of all that.

For those who have or listened to "At War With Satan" on either cassette or vinyl will know that the entire first side is comprised by the title track. Therefore, you get nineteen minutes of Venom viciousness in one song. The song itself is meant to tell the story of how Hell revolts against Heaven and God is thrown into hell, all centered around the keeper of the gates of Hell who shares his name with Venom's drummer. While a very long concept song, it does keep you on your toes with the various changes throughout so you don't get bored with it. Plus there's some interesting guitar soloing from Mantas. Back in the day, if I had listened to the track on CD, I might have thought it was different songs as opposed to one long one.

Side two consists of the remaining six songs whose combined length equal that of the title track on the previous side. If anyone had problems with Venom stretching out like they did on side one, then they'd be rest assured that Venom return to their more traditional roots of short, sharp headbangers. "Rip Ride" starts things off well enough but is quickly superseded by "Genocide." That is a cool track. "Cry Wolf" actually is slower than what was considered traditional Venom but the band pull it off. The joke at the time was that you could actually make out what Cronus was singing here. Maybe it was meant to be a single. Following, "Stand Up (And Be Counted)," another song whose lyrics you can understand after the initial growls, comes my all time favourite Venom song, "Women, Leather and Hell." This song typifies what I have always liked about Venom. It's loud, ferocious and about some of my favourite subjects. I was rather disappointed when they didn't play it at Bloodstock, 2016. That leads to the very amusing closer, "Aaaaarrrghh."

Track Listing:

1. At War With Satan
2. Rip Ride
3. Genocide
4. Cry Wolf
5. Stand Up (And Be Counted)
6. Women, Leather and Hell
7. Aaaaaarrrghh

[caption id="attachment_2436" align="aligncenter" width="209"] Venom[/caption]

Cronus- bass, lead vocals

Mantas- guitar

Abaddon- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weXJZ5iVd9o

Critics back in 1984 mostly agreed that "At War With Satan" catapulted Venom into the world of mainstream metal. Maybe it did but those of us who liked this album didn't care about that. What was good was the fact that the band was able to write more mature songs without losing any of their edge.

Next post: Loudness- Disillusion

It is also my displeasure to announce that due to the events of the past month and a half, I will not be going to the full Download Festival. The good news is that I will attend the Sunday where I intend to see, Kreator, Marilyn Manson and headlining will be Ozzy.

To get Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Mercyful Fate- Don't Break the Oath

 

To this day, I'm not sure whether or not I should be disappointed by "Don't Break the Oath," the second album from Danish metal band, Mercyful Fate. I have to admit, I was expecting great things from them after hearing their great 1983 debut album, "Melissa" and another admission, it did take me a couple of listens before I really got into it. When I did, I discovered that it's still a pretty cool album.

For those of you who read my post on the "Melissa" album, you might remember that it was the album that really got me into black metal. What I liked about it was the fact that there were no backwards messages from the Dark Lord. On their best known song, "Black Funeral," lead singer King Diamond comes straight out and sings, "Hail Satan!" He doesn't do that on any of the songs on "Don't Break the Oath" and maybe that's what the disappointment was for me. After all, when I put the album on, I had my altar prepared and my knives sharpened so I could sacrifice a few chickens and goats. The album didn't inspire me to go through with it. Shame, I know.

On this album, King Diamond not only doesn't sing "Hail Satan," on some of the songs, it's hard to hear what he's singing. He could be telling us to eat our peas and carrots and we'll never know. Of course, the counter argument here is that with that versatile trademark voice and falsetto vocals, he could be singing about vegetables and would still sound good. I think the clearest he comes in is on the third track, "Desecration of Souls." However, it is the track after that I think is the best track on the album, "Night of the Unborn." King comes in nice and clear although at one point when he goes falsetto, he briefly sounds like a chicken being strangled but he pulls it down and delivers a great performance backed up by the guitar work of Hank Shermann and Michael Denner. This song reminds me so much of the black metal I loved on the previous album.

Speaking of the guitars, it is the work of Shermann and Denner that stands out the most. I didn't mention the first two tracks above on account of not being able to fully understand the vocals but these two guitarists push the songs through at a break-neck pace and that what makes those songs good. Even when they go a little prog metal on "The Oath," the guitars are just spot on. The vocals are good as well. I love how the slamming guitars mix well with King's vocals before going out on a cool guitar solo. That tight chemistry remains on the much more power metal like tracks"Gypsy" and "Welcome Princess of Hell." Always loving a bit of unpredictability, things slow down a lot so Michael and Hank show their softer side on the guitar instrumental, "To One Far Way." But things go out with a bang with the closer "Come to the Sabbath" and by the end, I forget why I thought I should be disappointed in the album.

Track Listing:

1. A Dangerous Meeting
2. Nightmare
3. Desecration of Souls
4. Night of the Unborn
5. The Oath
6. Gypsy
7. Welcome Princess of Hell
8. To One Far Away
9. Come to the Sabbath

[caption id="attachment_3680" align="aligncenter" width="362"] Mercyful Fate[/caption]

King Diamond- vocals

Hank Shermann- guitar

Michael Denner- guitar

Timi 'Grabber' Hansen- bass

Kim Ruzz- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoA7rBJIOPU

Unfortunately, after "Don't Break the Oath," Mercyful Fate would break up due to musical differences. As you will see in future posts, King Diamond would go on to have a fabulous solo career. But for now, I enjoy what a good album this is, even if I don't want to sacrifice anything.

Next post: Armoured Saint- March of the Saint

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Grim Reaper- See You in Hell

 

Whenever the new wave of British heavy metal or NWOBHM is mentioned, it is usually Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Saxon who spring to mind first. These great bands blazed a trail for metal bands from both sides of the Atlantic to follow. Leading the chase out of Great Britain was the heavy metal outfit, Grim Reaper. For me, the name alone made them worth giving them a listen and that turned out to be a very wise choice.

Coming from Droitwich which is in Worcestershire, England and only about 20 miles from Birmingham, there is no surprise in the Judas Priest influence with the band. However, lead singer Steve Grimmett has a vocal style that is somewhat like Iron Maiden although I can at times hear a little of Halford as well. Okay, I'm a wishy-washy bastard. Anyway, with this mighty infusion, it is little wonder that Grim Reaper sounds as good as they do and why I think their debut album, "See You in Hell" is cool.

The title track, which is the band's best known song leads the charge. Listening to it, it is no wonder why it's number 38 on VHS Most Awesome Bad Metal Songs Ever. It's definitely my all time favourite Grim Reaper song. However, the seven other songs on the album aren't far behind and make sure that it's not a one song album. All throughout the album are the bashing power chords and way out soloing of guitarist Nick Bowcott and the fore-mentioned vocals of Grimmett. All of which are supported by a more than capable rhythm section of Dave Wanklin and Lee Harris. This makes it difficult for me to pick out a standout song beyond the title track. They are all stomp on your face metal tunes that rock. The only possible exception is the slower, at times ballad like "The Show Must Go On." While quality wise, its as good but no better  than the other tracks, it does depart from the hammering chords of those songs and shows that Grim Reaper are versatile. Bowcott's guitar work is quite eerily outstanding on it. However, that only changes things up slightly before the closer blasts your ears to pieces.

Track Listing:

1. See You in Hell
2. Dead On Arrival
3. Liar
4. Wrath of the Ripper
5. Now or Never
6. Run For Your Life
7. The Show Must Go On
8. All Hell Let Loose

[caption id="attachment_4261" align="aligncenter" width="382"] Grim Reaper[/caption]

Steve Grimmett- vocals

Nick Bowcott- guitars

Dave Wanklin- bass

Lee Harris- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJgv-qBBT3Y

Grim Reaper's debut "See You in Hell" album led the charge for what many thought would be a second new wave of British heavy metal. Especially with Maiden and Priest coming out with albums the same year. In 1984, that was true and though things would go sour for this band a few years later, this is still an album to be proud of.

Next post: Gary Moore- Victims of the Future

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Metal Albums of 1986: Mercyful Fate- Melissa

 

My first experience of  the 1983 "Melissa" album from Danish metal band Mercyful Fate didn't come until early 1985 when I heard the best known song from the album, "Black Funeral" on a compilation album. During that time, I constantly heard the Jesus brigade going on about how the lyrics of rock songs all have hidden Satanic messages that mess with your subconscious. Well, it is safe to say that there are no such hidden subversive lyrics in the song, "Black Funeral." No, instead lead singer King Diamond just comes out and sings "Hail Satan." I've loved that song ever since.

"Black Funeral" isn't the only song on the Melissa album that has straight forward messages from the Dark Lord. There are lyrics in most of the songs here that grab my attention and fill me with much amusement. Take the second track, "Curse of the Pharaohs." Those lyrics, "Don't touch, never ever steal unless you're in for the kill or you'll be hit by the curse of the pharaohs" Continue to make me smile. After that is "Into the Coven" with, "Come, come into my coven and become Lucifer's Child." The penultimate track, "Satan's Fall" gives two different sets of lyrics to amuse. The first is "Bring me the blood of the unborn child." The second greatly amused my roommate at University in London and upon hearing it repeated "Satan's still alive." With all of these, one my think that I have upside down crosses on my front lawn and an altar in my backyard where I sacrifice chickens, goats and virgins to Satan. I don't because like so many millions of people, song lyrics don't effect me like that.

Satanic lyrics is only one reason to like this album. The music on "Melissa" is of top quality. Most metalheads know the unmistakable voice of King Diamond and his ability to go from a deep, low growl to his high pitched harmonies. On this album, he is probably at his best. However, what has gone less noticed is the guitar work of both Michael Denner and Hank Shermann. Not only do they hammer out some cool solos throughout the album, there is some nice little guitar breaks in the songs as well. Two more to add to the list of under appreciated guitarists. Furthermore, this is the only album that I know where the first three tracks all have catchy riffs. The opening riffs in "Evil" definitely grab your attention and when the song ends, the opening riffs to "Curse of the Pharaohs" keeps things moving. That's not all, the medieval sounding opening lead guitar intro to "Into the Coven" is done very nicely. So, all in all, this is an album to enjoy the music while being amused by the lyrics.

Track Listing:

1. Evil
2. Curse of the Pharaohs
3. Into the Coven
4. At the Sound of the Demon Bell
5. Black Funeral
6. Satan's Fall
7. Melissa

[caption id="attachment_3680" align="aligncenter" width="358"] Mercyful Fate[/caption]

King Diamond- vocals

Hank Shermann- guitar

Michael Denner- guitar

Tim "Grabber" Hansen- bass

Kim Ruzz- drums

Mercyful Fate's "Melissa" album was my first true indoctrination into black metal and it had the effect of getting me hooked on it. For me, it was the right album at the right time.

Next post: Tank- This Means War

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Venom- Black Metal

 

When many people talk about the new wave of British heavy metal, (NWOBHM,) they usually do so with bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon and Def Leppard in mind. A good number will also include Motorhead in with the above but most will leave black metal thrashers Venom out. One reason for that, according to some British metalheads I met upon my arrival in the UK, is that they couldn't take Venom seriously. Who's trying to take them seriously? I'm sure not in the sense of being some kind of music critic. I simply appreciate their loud, aggressive thrash metal sound supplemented by very amusing lyrics about death and Satan. Granted, they're not the most talented musicians in metal but what they put together is enjoyable for me. This is evidenced the 1982 album, "Black Metal."

Listening to "Black Metal" makes me regret the fact that I had never heard of Venom until 1984. I can't even blame being in the service for that. This album would have satisfied the hard edge I was searching for in music and while I wouldn't hear of the term 'thrash' for three more years, "Black Metal" would still have been the answer.

From the get go with the opening title cut, I immediately found myself soaking up the thunderous beat and thrashing guitars from the album. Even when they try to slow down with the introduction of "Buried Alive," you know that in a second, you're going to get your ears blasted. You know, I can never make out what they're trying to do at the beginning of that song, but hey, who cares? Even though, I have to really concentrate to listen for when "Buried Alive" ends and "Raise the Dead" begins, it's not a major thing to worry about. The album just goes on rocking your socks off.

I think one problem some people might have had with this album is that they couldn't pigeon hole it. While the music is thrash, the lyrics are definitely black metal. Take "To Hell and Back" for instance.

"I have been to Hell and back - kissed satanic Queen
Traveling at the speed of light - saw thing never seen
Arm in arm with Lucifer - Belial on my back
I have swam the lake of flames - walked forbidden tracks
To Hell - - and back
To Hell - - and back"

True, part of me wants to roll on the floor laughing my ass off when I hear them but it also makes me want to scream them at any religious nuts who happen by. I think that this is something else that makes this album so cool. If you think that those lyrics are amusing, then check out "Teacher's Pet" which opens with the line "Teacher caught me masturbating underneath my desk." Then there's my favourite track, "Sacrifice" where they constantly spell the title throughout the song. With all of this, no wonder it is said that "Black Metal" influenced a generation of metal.

Track Listing:

1. Black Metal
2. To Hell and Back
3. Buried Alive
4. Raise the Dead
5. Teacher's Pet
6. Leave Me In Hell
7. Sacrifice
8. Heaven's On Fire
9. Countess Bathory
10. Don't Burn the Witch
11. At War With Satan (preview)

[caption id="attachment_2436" align="aligncenter" width="254"] Venom[/caption]

Cronos- bass, lead vocals

Mantas- guitar

Abbadon- drums

History has rewarded "Black Metal" by saying that it influenced both the thrash metal and black metal scene. Hearing this album, I can certainly testify to that. It possesses what I have always loved about both sub-genres of metal. It's just a shame I didn't get to listen to it back in the day because I think Venom were ahead of their time.

Next post: Triumph- Never Surrender

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Metal Albums of 1981: Venom- Welcome to Hell

Thank God that my local record store back in the mid 1980s had the foresight to have a heavy metal import section otherwise I might not have heard of Venom for at least two more years from when I did. While Venom came out with all the other great NWOBHM acts in 1981, they didn't quite enjoy the commercial success of the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest or Saxon. This was in spite of the fact that commercial radio didn't totally suck at that time. There was a genuine danger of them slipping beneath my radar totally but fortunately they didn't and I got to hear great metal delights like their debut album "Welcome to Hell."

After my obligatory listen, twice, to "Welcome to Hell," I have come to the conclusion that Venom were actually ahead of their time. True, some people worried that rock music was the devil's tool and would lead many an impressionable young mind to sacrifice goats to the dark lord, there wasn't the all metal is Satanic fervor that would come a few years later and I was even dead smack in the bible belt at the time, thanks to the military. A few grumbled about demonic persuasion in music but Venom was the first band I know to come right out and sing about it. Songs like "Sons of Satan," the title track, "One Thousand Days in Sodom" and "In League With the Devil" are all songs that would have the bible bashers wanting to throw copies of this album onto the fire pit. The best thing is that I get the firm impression that Venom just didn't give a shit. I would never have taken the lyrics seriously then or now. In fact, I would have had a good giggle at them while enjoying the powerful metal that they deliver along with all those amusing lyrics. It can also be argued that they. along with Motorhead, were the first pioneers of thrash because there are a lot of thrash overtones on this album. I honestly believe that most of America wasn't ready for this type of ear bashing back then though I would have been. "Welcome to Hell" is just a totally enjoyable album.

Track Listing:

1. Sons of Satan

2. Welcome to Hell

3. Schizo

4. Mayhem With Mercy

5. Poison

6. Live Like an Angel (Die Like a Devil)

7. Witching Hour

8. One Thousand Days in Sodom

9. Angel Dust

10. In League With Satan

11. Red Light Fever

[caption id="attachment_2436" align="aligncenter" width="209" class=" "] Venom[/caption]

Conrad 'Cronos' Lant- bass, vocals

Jefferey 'Mantas' Dunn- guitar

Tony 'Abbadon' Bray- drums

Reflecting back, I think the real reason why Venom and "Welcome to Hell" escaped my notice in 1981 was the fact I was down South at the time. It has nothing to do with religion, it was more the fact that I was in the South when Southern Rock had also ascended to its zenith. Come to think about it, what a fantastic year 1981 was for music! We had both Southern Rock and New Wave of British Heavy Metal. What more could a 20 year old US Marine, who was really digging music, could ask for?
On a personal note, I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts on the death of my father in law. The funeral went really well and again, thanks for all your support.

Next post: AC/DC- For Those About to Rock, We Salute You

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