VENOM “Prime Evil” /CD/

The sixth full-length studio album by legendary British Speed/Black/Heavy Metal band.
"Calm Before The Storm" effectively ended the first of Cronos' eras with Venom. Alternately experimental yet lacking in overall consistency, "Calm Before The Storm" was a direction that Cronos knew could not be advanced any further within the confines of Venom. Cronos decided to take his leave from the group and start his own solo career. "Prive Evil" is the first of the three albums with Atomkraft bassist and vocalist Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan, replacing Conrad "Cronos" Lant, as a band member and composer.
Abaddon was determined to carry on the name. He managed to secure the "band" a contract with a new label using, ironically, "Deadline"-era demo recordings (which featured Cronos and Mantas) despite the fact that he was the only member of the band at the time. Needing to scramble a band together to get back into the studio and record what would become "Prime Evil", Abaddon convinced Mantas (whose own solo career was a worthy but commercially underwhelming experiment) to return to the band. Mantas agreed on two conditions: rhythm guitarist Al Barnes (War Machine), who also played on Mantas' "Winds Of Change" LP, and his friend and former Atomkraft bassist/vocalist Tony Dolan (Demolition Man) had to be allowed to join up. Abaddon agreed.
"Prime Evil", the resulting album, is the great Venom release that no one many knows about. This is a much more lively and rejuvenated Venom, one that had not been heard since the "At War With Satan" days. Everyone fires on all cylinders. The production is probably the best the band ever had, although "Resurrection" comes close. The songs are all over the place and also among the band's best. It's so hard to pick a standout track on this album. Every single one of these tunes is a masterpiece of the highest order. There's a bit of everything here – a little Thrash, some Speed, a bit of Doom, and an f*ck load of confidence and attitude.
The album is a thrilling and ridiculously catchy slab of British Black/Thrash Metal that never loses its ferocity or momentum. Often overlooked, this Heavy Metal gem is a must-have in the collection of every Metal head!
Under One Flag/Maze America Inc./Kraze, 1988/1989 (MCD 1064-2). Made in the USA. Pressed in Canada. Re-press.


Tracklist:
1. Prime Evil 4:41
2. Parasite 3:09
3. Blackened Are The Priests 4:19
4. Carnivorous 2:11
5. Skeletal Dance 3:09
6. Megalomania (Black Sabbath Cover) 5:25
7. Insane 2:57
8. Harder Than Ever 3:11
9. Into The Fire 3:22
10. Skool Daze 4:22
11. Live Like An Angel - Die Like A Devil 3:03
Total playing time: 39:49 min.