By: Venom

Date: May 1, 2026

Format used: Digital

Rating: 3/5

As can be expected for a long delayed comeback by a classic band, Venom’s return Into Oblivion is marked by their trademark sound, more nostalgia than is good, and surprisingly, more fresh and creative ideas than you would expect for the men who wrote the textbook for the first wave black metal movement. But that was then, this is now, the old is new, and the dead are stirring in their graves. Seriously, I nearly cancelled my Order’s Beltane sacrifice just to listen to this album. Luckily. after the second century of death you tend to realize your impulses are just as futile as everything else.

Futility does not, however, describe this album. Futility would be creative stagnation. And we do have some new lyrical territory equally evil and sometimes even as dark as their usual forays into devil worship. With songs of dragons, myths, and folklore, there is yet some poetic codices to be unearthed at the temple of Venom. And I will say, as somebody who have heard every single minstrel tread this territory back in the olden days – and having impaled the worst of them as public spectacle – Venom will be honored guests at Orcus the Vile’s feasts for years to come. But do not expect any Power Metal leaning bardic shams from Venom, there is nothing but raw aggressive Metal here – and curiously, without the punk sensibilities this time. Now make no mistake – Venom was always a Metal band first – but in my undead opinion, their early music would be inseparable from punk both in ethos and in terms of musical approach. And while in the past they have been criticized for simplicity, it must be said all the robes and incense in my compound makes a fiend yearn for just that simplicity. What we have found instead is, merely well tested and battle hardened classic Metal riffs. Unfortunately, due to the simplicity and raw attack of the music, Venom have failed to make the riffs take on a life of their own. I don’t mind those riffs, and at a certain point all Metal riffs have their backbones in something that came before, but we need to consider how we lend voice to these foundational Metal licks. It has a classic sound, but Venom needs to either add a little complexity and layering just to give it their own voice, or bring in some of that hardcore punk sound and lean more fully in the direction of something resembling the Thrash Metal they helped influence (without losing their own identity of course).

It was a dangerous tightrope and Venom navigated it well enough considering how easy it could have been to just recycle old music and lyrical tropes specific to their brand (you’re a band of musicians not a company right oh champions of the old guard?). Well – strictly speaking, they do recycle their most impactful song culturally, “Black Metal”, with the very derivative “Lay Down Your Soul” which is a nice song to be true, but if it were not for greater tracks, it would not exist on its own virtue. Luckily, that is about the extent of the pandering, the problem is just how Venom struggle to find a voice, and how they lean too heavily on pre-existing Metal riffs without innovation. Lyrically, in terms of ideas, and in terms of translating their no-frills aggression into a modern album – this is quite the well executed release. There are just a few hiccups technically speaking that hold this album back from being the enduring classic the rest of their catalogue was upon release.

Who are we kidding though? Venom is grunt music. Can you expect the salt of the Earth hellraisers who wrote songs entitled “Aaaaaarrghh” or “Women, Leather and Hell” to care about criticism any more than notoriously critic-proof footballers and part-time musicians Iron Maiden? I think not. But I have said my piece and I will now offer a benediction unto Venom. Carry on Venom. Keep showing that you only need a few good ideas, passion, instruments, and some friends to make something the legions of hell can march to war to.

This is a good return for Venom, but I hope not the end of the line for them. Even if there may have been murmurings of the sort. Murmur is a lesser demon anyway, abjure him with all the names of the godhead says I! If you enjoyed this review be sure to return in two days for my next review.