Venom Inc. – There’s Only Black
Release Date: 23rd September 2022
Label: Nuclear Blast
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Genre: Thrash Metal
FFO: Hatebreed, Power Trip, Nuclear Holocaust.
Review By: Liam True
Since forming Venom Inc. in 2015 at Keep It True festival, releasing a debut album, touring non-stop and a few singles to boot, the time has come for the band to release their sophomore album, in a way that is. I mean, one of the members founded Venom and another is from a classic era of the same band. To call it their sophomore album would be insulting, but in the case of Venom Inc. it is as such.
The build-up to this album has been one of the most anticipated of 2022. And you can see why.
Starting off with the break neck speed of lead single How Many Can Die, it’s a brutal thrash metal assault with the gruff vocals of Tony ‘Demolition Man’ Dolan paired with the fretwork of Jeffery ‘Mantas’ Dunn & immense drumming from Jeramie ‘War Machine’ Kling. Infinitum continues the speed and features a blistering solo from Mantas which makes you question how he can keep this up in his 60’s.
Come To Me is the backdrop soundtrack to the journey to hell that you’ll end up taking after absorbing this album. Demolition Man’s vocals really pierce through the band on this track, especially with the backing vocals adding depth and a meatier bite to the song. Title track There’s Only Black proves there’s not only black, there’s only back breaking thrash metal to be found here as it kicks off with a solo from Mantas as War Machine keeps pace with his machine gun like kicks compliment Demolition Man’s death metal growls
Tyrant is a slower change of pace, but make no mistake, it’s still as heavy as the last few songs and keeps the same sound that they’ve been punching you in the face with.
Around the time that Man As God kicks into your speakers, you begin to realise that this is the bastard son of Slayer & Kreator. Intentional or not, it’s a phenomenal sound that not many could make work, but Venom Inc. have congealed both bands to create a sound that makes a thrash paradise. The ending five songs are heavy, thrashy and full of riffs that make you air guitar along. That is, if you’re not air drumming along with Rampant or Inferno.
The entire album as a whole is brilliant. The last couple of songs do miss the mark for me, but even they’re still balls out thrash from the Newcastle/Michigan wrecking crew. If you want to experience the album, I implore you to listen to it front to back, no pauses, no skips and no stops. It’s break speed head banging thrash of the highest degree. And they wouldn’t have it any other way.
(4 / 5)
