Venom's original personnel came from three different bands: Guillotine, Oberon and Dwarfstar. The original Guillotine featured Jeffrey Dunn and Dave Rutherford on guitars, Dean Hewitt on bass guitar, Dave Blackman on vocals, and Chris Mercater on drums who replaced Paul Burke, the original drummer when the band was founded. Blackman and Mercater were later also replaced by drummer Anthony Bray and vocalist Clive Archer. Later, Dean Hewitt was replaced by Alan Winston on bass. Around that time a number of personnel changes occurred. Clive Archer, Eric Cook, Tony Bray and Ian Kell formed a band while working at Reyrolles. Ian Kell was replaced in mid-1978. In late 1979, Conrad Lant replaced Dave Rutherford. Lant later switched to bass after the departure of Winston. The band members took on new stage names. Archer became "Jesus Christ", Lant "Cronos", Tony Bray "Abbadon", and Jeff Dunn "Mantas".
Prime influences of the formative band were Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Motörhead, and Kiss. Other musicians that have influenced Venom are Deep Purple, Sex Pistols, the Who, the Tubes, Van Halen, the Rolling Stones, and Elvis Presley.
'Welcome to Hell' influenced several later bands. Venom's music helped shape the development of many thrash metal bands, specifically the "Big Four of Thrash" (who in turn were highly influential): Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth (Metallica opened for Venom on an early 1980s tour, and Venom opened for Metallica and Slayer on the Ride the Lightning tour, and Slayer played with them and Exodus on the Combat Tour in 1985). Venom would also be of extreme importance to the black metal scene and even the early death metal scene, with numerous bands copying styles, themes, and imagery from the band, such as the Swiss band Hellhammer (later to become Celtic Frost), whom also helped pioneer the genres. Music critic Bradley Torreano wrote that Venom "caught the attention of both metalheads and punks, the band was emulated by the former and turned into camp icons by the latter." Henry Rollins once compared the band to Spinal Tap.
Resurrection
Venom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Body languages fight
Feel the rush as you die
Then your soul comes alive
If you open your mind
To avoid all confusion
Carnal insticts unwind
[Cries -]
Pain & pleasure unite
Feel the rush as you die
Then your soul comes alive
All the reasons you find
Will be your contributions
Metabolic distortions
Satanas resurrection
If you open your mind
Resurrection
The lyrics of Venom's song Resurrection are rather complex and may seem ambiguous at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, the song appears to be exploring the themes of life, death, and what happens after we die. The opening lines of the song suggest that our bodies and souls are in a constant state of conflict. Our carnal instincts, represented by our bodies, are constantly fighting with our spiritual side, represented by our souls.
The chorus of the song seems to suggest that the key to achieving some kind of bliss or enlightenment lies in the experience of death. The line "feel the rush as you die" suggests that dying is not necessarily a negative experience, but rather one that can be transcendent or freeing. The phrase "animal resurrection" implies that by embracing our animal or primal instincts, we can achieve some kind of spiritual rebirth or resurrection.
The second half of the song seems to connect these ideas to Satanism, with the lines "metabolic distortions/Satanas resurrection." This could be interpreted in a few different ways, but it seems to suggest that the Satanist view of the world is one that embraces both the physical and spiritual aspects of life, and that by fully experiencing these things, one can achieve some kind of resurrection or enlightenment.
Line by Line Meaning
Lies -
Deceitful thoughts clouding one's perception
Body languages fight
The physical and emotional struggle within oneself
Feel the rush as you die
The adrenaline and fear that overcomes during moments of danger or pain
Then your soul comes alive
A newfound sense of awareness and vitality
If you open your mind
To be receptive and accepting of new ideas and experiences
To avoid all confusion
Clearing the mind of distractions and chaos
Carnal insticts unwind
The primal urges within oneself are released
Animal resurrection
A rebirth of one's wild and untamed nature
Cries -
The sounds of anguish and pain
Pain & pleasure unite
The merging of two powerful sensations
All the reasons you find
The justifications one creates for their actions and beliefs
Will be your contributions
The choices made and actions taken shape one's personal legacy
Metabolic distortions
The physical changes that occur within the body during intense experiences
Satanas resurrection
A revival of the darker side of oneself
Resurrection
The concept of rising again, whether physically or spiritually
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Conrad Lant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
wayne keer
ONE OF BEST VENOM ALBUMS. THANK YOU CRONOS!!!! VENOM BRASIL!!!
Je Fo
Greatly underappreciated album. This is Venom's heaviest album and it seems many fans hated it when it came out because it didn't sound like the old stuff.
Genadij Smradztoiek
One of the best riffs out there.
buttkrieg
Such a truthful song for having so little to say in such a short run time
Jerry C.
Love to play along with this on guitar !!!Wish this album was in iTunes but it’s not .
Jibran Khan
Great song!!! Love it. The guitar on this song is pretty heavy, as are Cronos' vocals.
Scrollkeeper
Super simple yet killer riff!
Douglas Santos. TI
Insano!
Tryf FuerzaDeNoche
My favourite venom song!!!!!!!!!THE BEST!!!!!
Maxuxx
Same here!