http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1097&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rssAll hail Venom! The godfathers of Black Metal, this NWOBHM band formed in 1979, releasing three classic albums before they'd given a single live performance. By the time the veiled-in-mystery band toured, the buzz about them was enormous. Cronos' dread-inspiring vocals seemed delivered not from the voice box, but from an inner Pandora's box. Drummer Abaddon and guitarist Mantas kicked up maelstroms of their own. No power trio before them had created such a fray of propulsive beats and godly riffage. Venom distilled all of Metal's clichés -- the obsessions with war, sex, fantasy, the occult -- and took them to extremes bordering on parody. Chanting along to the wicked camp of "In League with Satan" and "Live Like an Angel (Die Like a Devil)" are guilty pleasures. Amoral? Perhaps, but no less so than indulging in the rank sexism of "Red Light Fever" and "Teacher's Pet." Some followers (e.g., the Scandinavian Black Metal scene) took their satanic posturing literally, but for Venom the "metal" in heavy metal was always pure irony. - Chad DriscollBlack Metalen720Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:17:07 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1097&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss All hail Venom! The godfathers of Black Metal, this NWOBHM band formed in 1979, releasing three classic albums before they'd given a single live performance. By the time the veiled-in-mystery band toured, the buzz about them was enormous. Cronos' dread-inspiring vocals seemed delivered not from the voice box, but from an inner Pandora's box. Drummer Abaddon and guitarist Mantas kicked up maelstroms of their own. No power trio before them had created such a fray of propulsive beats and godly riffage. Venom distilled all of Metal's clichés -- the obsessions with war, sex, fantasy, the occult -- and took them to extremes bordering on parody. Chanting along to the wicked camp of "In League with Satan" and "Live Like an Angel (Die Like a Devil)" are guilty pleasures. Amoral? Perhaps, but no less so than indulging in the rank sexism of "Red Light Fever" and "Teacher's Pet." Some followers (e.g., the Scandinavian Black Metal scene) took their satanic posturing literally, but for Venom the "metal" in heavy metal was always pure irony. - Chad Driscoll http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702834&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702834 tra.2702834 Venom art.1097 0.99 Black Metal alb.258640 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/0/6/6/1716601_170x170.jpg 2009-07-07 00:00:00.0 1982-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Black Metal tra.2702834 224000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702834&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702834&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702848&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702848 tra.2702848 Venom art.1097 0.0 Black Metal alb.258640 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/0/6/6/1716601_170x170.jpg 2009-07-07 00:00:00.0 1982-01-01 00:00:00.0 true At War With Satan tra.2702848 206000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702848&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702848&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702836&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Metal Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702836 tra.2702836 Venom art.1097 0.99 Black Metal alb.258640 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/0/6/6/1716601_170x170.jpg 2009-07-07 00:00:00.0 1982-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Buried Alive tra.2702836 252000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702836&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702836&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702840&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702840 tra.2702840 Venom art.1097 0.0 Black Metal alb.258640 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/0/6/6/1716601_170x170.jpg 2009-07-07 00:00:00.0 1982-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Teacher's Pet tra.2702840 270000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702840&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702840&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702741&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Sat, 1 Jan 1994 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702741 tra.2702741 Venom art.1097 0.99 Skeletons In The Closet alb.158313 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/8/2/8/518284_170x170.jpg 2002-09-03 00:00:00.0 1994-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Venom Station - (radio station ID's for America and Spain) tra.2702741 273000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702741&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702741&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2680940&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Thu, 27 Jun 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2680940 tra.2680940 Venom art.1097 0.99 In League With Satan alb.129147 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/6/9/7/507960_170x170.jpg 2002-05-21 00:00:00.0 2002-06-27 00:00:00.0 true In League With Satan tra.2680940 207000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2680940&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2680940&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3055475&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 1 Jan 1985 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 3055475 tra.3055475 Venom art.1097 0.99 Possessed alb.112351 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/5/9/7/1797955_170x170.jpg 2009-09-22 00:00:00.0 1985-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Possessed tra.3055475 314000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3055475&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3055475&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562286&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Sat, 1 Jan 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 1562286 tra.1562286 Venom art.1097 0.0 At War With Satan alb.300981 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/5/9/7/1797953_170x170.jpg 2009-09-22 00:00:00.0 1983-01-01 00:00:00.0 true At War With Satan tra.1562286 1197000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562286&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562286&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2258899&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Thu, 1 Jan 1981 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2258899 tra.2258899 Venom art.1097 0.99 Welcome To Hell alb.112232 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/3/9/6/1616932_170x170.jpg 2009-03-31 00:00:00.0 1981-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Welcome To Hell tra.2258899 193000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2258899&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2258899&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3074281&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 5 Nov 2002 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 3074281 tra.3074281 Venom art.1097 0.99 Kissing The Beast alb.275107 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/9/6/6/556696_170x170.jpg 2002-11-05 00:00:00.0 2002-11-05 00:00:00.0 true Hell Bent For Leather tra.3074281 139000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3074281&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3074281&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3074271&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 5 Nov 2002 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 3074271 tra.3074271 Venom art.1097 0.99 Kissing The Beast alb.275107 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/9/6/6/556696_170x170.jpg 2002-11-05 00:00:00.0 2002-11-05 00:00:00.0 true Countess Bathory tra.3074271 283000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3074271&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3074271&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22741015&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Mon, 26 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 22741015 tra.22741015 Venom art.1097 0.99 Hell! alb.22733971 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/8/0/2/1382089_170x170.jpg 2008-08-26 00:00:00.0 2008-05-26 00:00:00.0 true Straight To Hell tra.22741015 266000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22741015&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22741015&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3074269&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 5 Nov 2002 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 3074269 tra.3074269 Venom art.1097 0.99 Kissing The Beast alb.275107 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/9/6/6/556696_170x170.jpg 2002-11-05 00:00:00.0 2002-11-05 00:00:00.0 true Welcome To Hell tra.3074269 161000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3074269&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3074269&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10893946&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 10893946 tra.10893946 Venom art.1097 0.99 Cast In Stone alb.10892033 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/8/9/0/1780984_170x170.jpg 2009-08-31 00:00:00.0 2006-07-18 00:00:00.0 true Bursting Out (Classics Re-Recorded) tra.10893946 171000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10893946&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10893946&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2680964&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Thu, 27 Jun 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2680964 tra.2680964 Venom art.1097 0.99 In League With Satan alb.129147 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/6/9/7/507960_170x170.jpg 2002-05-21 00:00:00.0 2002-06-27 00:00:00.0 true Rip Ride tra.2680964 192000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2680964&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2680964&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2680975&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Thu, 27 Jun 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2680975 tra.2680975 Venom art.1097 0.99 In League With Satan alb.129147 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/6/9/7/507960_170x170.jpg 2002-05-21 00:00:00.0 2002-06-27 00:00:00.0 true Moonshine tra.2680975 195000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2680975&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2680975&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702739&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Sat, 1 Jan 1994 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702739 tra.2702739 Venom art.1097 0.99 Skeletons In The Closet alb.158313 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/8/2/8/518284_170x170.jpg 2002-09-03 00:00:00.0 1994-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Raise The Dead tra.2702739 209000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702739&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702739&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702746&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 1 Jan 1985 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702746 tra.2702746 Venom art.1097 0.0 Eine Kleine Nachtmusic alb.305969 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/2/9/0/970929_170x170.jpg 2002-09-03 00:00:00.0 1985-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Countless Bathory tra.2702746 217000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702746&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702746&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702726&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Sat, 1 Jan 1994 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702726 tra.2702726 Venom art.1097 0.99 Skeletons In The Closet alb.158313 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/8/2/8/518284_170x170.jpg 2002-09-03 00:00:00.0 1994-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Dead On Arrival - (previously unreleased) tra.2702726 188000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702726&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702726&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702727&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Sat, 1 Jan 1994 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702727 tra.2702727 Venom art.1097 0.99 Skeletons In The Closet alb.158313 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/8/2/8/518284_170x170.jpg 2002-09-03 00:00:00.0 1994-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Snots Sh*t - (demo, previously unreleased) tra.2702727 128000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702727&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702727&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702837&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702837 tra.2702837 Venom art.1097 0.99 Black Metal alb.258640 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/0/6/6/1716601_170x170.jpg 2009-07-07 00:00:00.0 1982-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Raise The Dead tra.2702837 173000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702837&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702837&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702841&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702841 tra.2702841 Venom art.1097 0.0 Black Metal alb.258640 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/0/6/6/1716601_170x170.jpg 2009-07-07 00:00:00.0 1982-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Leave Me In Hell tra.2702841 221000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702841&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702841&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702842&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702842 tra.2702842 Venom art.1097 0.0 Black Metal alb.258640 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/0/6/6/1716601_170x170.jpg 2009-07-07 00:00:00.0 1982-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Sacrifice tra.2702842 228000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702842&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702842&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702845&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702845 tra.2702845 Venom art.1097 0.0 Black Metal alb.258640 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/0/6/6/1716601_170x170.jpg 2009-07-07 00:00:00.0 1982-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Die Hard tra.2702845 180000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702845&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702845&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702849&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702849 tra.2702849 Venom art.1097 0.99 Black Metal alb.258640 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/0/6/6/1716601_170x170.jpg 2009-07-07 00:00:00.0 1982-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Too Loud for the Crowd tra.2702849 135000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702849&variant=play&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702849&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss