http://mp3.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 Metalen720Wed, 2 Dec 2009 20:42:17 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://mp3.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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702834&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702834&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702834&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702836&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702836&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702836&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22741015&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22741015&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22741015&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3053868&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 3053868 tra.3053868 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 Acid Queen (12' Version) tra.3053868 151000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3053868&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3053868&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2258899&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2258899&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2258899&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2680940&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2680940&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2680940&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1918358&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 6 Jun 2000 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 1918358 tra.1918358 Venom art.1097 0.99 Ressurection alb.209107 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/8/3/1/1721388_170x170.jpg 2009-07-14 00:00:00.0 2000-06-06 00:00:00.0 true Vengeance tra.1918358 233000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1918358&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1918358&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562133&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Sat, 1 Jan 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 1562133 tra.1562133 Venom art.1097 0.99 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 Women Leather And Hell tra.1562133 201000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562133&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562133&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562131&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Sat, 1 Jan 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 1562131 tra.1562131 Venom art.1097 0.99 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 Rip Ride tra.1562131 188000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562131&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562131&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562286&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562286&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562286&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10893951&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 10893951 tra.10893951 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 Venom (Classics Re-Recorded) tra.10893951 256000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10893951&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10893951&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10893952&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 10893952 tra.10893952 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 7 Gates Of Hell (Ltd Edition Dynamo Festival 1996 Mini Album) tra.10893952 303000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10893952&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10893952&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562292&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Thu, 1 Jan 1981 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 1562292 tra.1562292 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 Mayhem With Mercy tra.1562292 59000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562292&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562292&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201188&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 18 Mar 2003 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 3201188 tra.3201188 Venom art.1097 0.99 The Seven Gates Of Hell: Singles 1980-85 alb.308155 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/4/7/1/561740_170x170.jpg 2003-03-18 00:00:00.0 2003-03-18 00:00:00.0 true Blood Lust tra.3201188 178000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201188&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201188&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201186&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 18 Mar 2003 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 3201186 tra.3201186 Venom art.1097 0.99 The Seven Gates Of Hell: Singles 1980-85 alb.308155 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/4/7/1/561740_170x170.jpg 2003-03-18 00:00:00.0 2003-03-18 00:00:00.0 true In League With Satan tra.3201186 207000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201186&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201186&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.16670465&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Sun, 25 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 16670465 tra.16670465 Venom art.1097 0.99 Venom's Metal Punk alb.16658298 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/9/5/0/1120599_170x170.jpg 2006-06-25 00:00:00.0 2006-06-25 00:00:00.0 true Muscle - Original tra.16670465 161000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.16670465&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.16670465&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562291&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Thu, 1 Jan 1981 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 1562291 tra.1562291 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 Sons Of Satan tra.1562291 217000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562291&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1562291&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201191&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 18 Mar 2003 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 3201191 tra.3201191 Venom art.1097 0.99 The Seven Gates Of Hell: Singles 1980-85 alb.308155 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/4/7/1/561740_170x170.jpg 2003-03-18 00:00:00.0 2003-03-18 00:00:00.0 true Acid Queen tra.3201191 146000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201191&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201191&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1918357&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 6 Jun 2000 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 1918357 tra.1918357 Venom art.1097 0.99 Ressurection alb.209107 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/8/3/1/1721388_170x170.jpg 2009-07-14 00:00:00.0 2000-06-06 00:00:00.0 true Resurrection tra.1918357 185000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1918357&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1918357&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10893953&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 10893953 tra.10893953 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 Welcome To Hell (Ltd Edition Dynamo Festival 1996 Mini Album) tra.10893953 226000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10893953&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10893953&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702835&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 2702835 tra.2702835 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 To Hell And Back tra.2702835 183000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702835&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2702835&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9572875&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 4 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 9572875 tra.9572875 Venom art.1097 0.99 Metal Black alb.9571134 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/8/3/1/1721383_170x170.jpg 2009-07-14 00:00:00.0 2006-04-04 00:00:00.0 true Lucifer Rising tra.9572875 263000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9572875&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9572875&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22741004&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Mon, 26 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 22741004 tra.22741004 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 Hand Of God tra.22741004 273000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22741004&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.22741004&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201189&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 18 Mar 2003 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 3201189 tra.3201189 Venom art.1097 0.99 The Seven Gates Of Hell: Singles 1980-85 alb.308155 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/4/7/1/561740_170x170.jpg 2003-03-18 00:00:00.0 2003-03-18 00:00:00.0 true In Nomine Satanus tra.3201189 203000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201189&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201189&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201196&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss Black Metal Tue, 18 Mar 2003 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Venom on Rhapsody Online 3201196 tra.3201196 Venom art.1097 0.99 The Seven Gates Of Hell: Singles 1980-85 alb.308155 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/4/7/1/561740_170x170.jpg 2003-03-18 00:00:00.0 2003-03-18 00:00:00.0 true Manitou (12" version) tra.3201196 277000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201196&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3201196&variant=data&rws=%2Fvenom%2Ftop-tracks.rss