Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the genre-naming album! Originally released in 1982, 'Black Metal' was Venom's second full-length album and remains a major influence on Thrash Metal, Death Metal and Black Metal. Features the classic trio of Cronos, Mantas and Abaddon. Venom are an English extreme metal band formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the new wave of British heavy metal, Venom's first two albums—'Welcome to Hell' (1981) and 'Black Metal' (1982)—are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general. Venom's second album proved influential enough that its title was used as the name of the extreme metal subgenre black metal. The band's classic lineup of Cronos, Mantas, and Abaddon recorded two further studio albums: 'At War with Satan' (1984) and 'Possessed' (1985) and the live album 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' (1986). Often cited by bands such as Metallica, Behemoth, Celtic Frost and Mayhem as major influences, they are one of the most revered bands of their generation. Venom is still fronted by original singer-bassist Cronos and headlines festivals all over the world and continues to release new music.