Venom — Resurrection

This is a reissue of Venoms second album after their comeback with the original line-up in 1997, sadly they'd lost one original member by this album stick man Abaddon, but that seemed to have made little impression as this is a very rewarding and memorable mix of Venoms old school sound. With heavy as led riffing that nods towards more melodic trash, black metal elements & all topped off with genral British metallic elements.

From the titles tracks opening discordant riff attack that could have well come from either Thorns or more recent Satyricon,to  the slow heavy atmospheric  chug opener of the end track Leviathan. This is such slick well oiled metallic beast  of an album that mangers to be both heavy, inventive, but never taking it's self too serious .They just sound so refreshed and reinvigorated compared with some of the dire stuff that had appeared under the name in the past.  Whether this has been remixed is unclear- but it certainly sounds both brutal, tuneful and clear production-you can hear every element from Cronos vocals and bass, making out his every demonic chuckle and Mantas flesh slicing guitar craft.

The only real extra is the fold out sleeve where Malcolm Dome discusses the album and its merits. Pity they couldn’t stretch to anything else, as I cant really see sleeve notes attracting those who already have this. But if you don’t own this it’s  really  aworthwhile purchase as it shows how one of Britain's great band of metallic warriors climbed back to hellish form.