Venom – ‘Into Oblivion’ Review

Metal

Noise/BMG

Release Date – May 1^st 2026

Review By Smudge Smith

Blimey it’s been six years since Venom released ‘Storm The Gates’ and apparently this new slab of evil blackhearted metal n roll has been worked on prodigiously since then. Cronos has mentioned that they have really pushed the boundaries and paid for it in blood, sweat and tears. He’s not a man to get overly sentimental about things.

They don’t hang about getting to it on the opening title track. Dante just smashes the shit out of anything reach before Rage and Cronos step on the gain pedals and we’re off on a bastard of a groove. Cronos is in fine voice as he spits the lyrics like venom (er, sorry). There’s a real live feel that’s raw, powerful and relentless. ‘Lay Down Your Soul’ is absolutely rabid and rapid with a real punk edge before the galloping metal of ‘Nevermore’ and the crushing ‘Man And Beast’ which you will humming all day with its simple catchy refrain. ‘Death The Leveller’ thrashes its way to the slower and malevolent ‘As Above, So Below’ where Cronos gives it large about Satan himself. Shit gets real on ‘Kicked Outta Hell’ which is pure fuckin’ evil that thrashes like a bastard and kicks like an angry bull. Hopefully nobody was hurt during the recording. Dante gives us a tribal beat on the intro to ‘Legend’ as Rage grinds out a riff with pinched harmonics over Cronos’ roar then ‘Live Loud’ is perfect advice where Cronos growls ..’Turn the fucker up!’ Oh yeah and they’re off on another raucous rockin’ beast that they do so well. ‘Metal Bloody Metal’ brings a massive groove that will be sure to get the heads bangin’ then ‘Dogs Of War’ is a bit of black metal boogie before the nasty, evil ‘Deathwitch’ kicks up all sorts of dust, shit and scum. Final cut ‘Unholy Mother’ is a bit of a departure with a melodic keyboard swirl under the grinding riff and pounding rhythm.

Venom rightly have legendary status but I don’t consider them black metal in today’s terms although you can see where Mayhem, Bathory and all the others got their influence. This is heavy metal rock n roll with a pitch-black soul. It’s loud, raw and heavy as fuck. Thirteen tracks clocking in forty-four minutes there’s definitely no fat on these songs and sonically it is immense. A fabulous addition to the Venom arsenal and one of their best.

Track List

Into Oblivion

Lay Down Your Soul

Nevermore

Man And Beast

Death The Leveller

As Above So Below

Kicked Outta Hell

Legend

Live Loud

Metal Bloody Metal

Dogs Of War

Deathwitch

Unholy Mother