Seminal extreme metal band Venom have a large, confusing and very variable output, but singer/bassist/band leader Cronos attempted to get the group back on track with this, their 2000 comeback album. Initially intended to be a return of the original lineup, problems with drummer Abaddon meant that Cronos and guitarist Mantas are instead joined here by Cronos’ brother Antton. In spite (or perhaps – as Cronos hints in the sleevenotes – because) of this, Resurrection can easily take its place among the best albums of Venom’s career, standing head and shoulders above their confused work of the late 80s and 90s.
The sound here is less chaotic and more clear-cut than in their heyday, and Mantas’ riffing is heavy and precise. The sound is more reminiscent of 80s Metallica and Slayer than the extreme metal of the 21st Century, but the strength of songwriting and energetic performances make this an exhilarating listen. As ever, Cronos’ tongue-in-cheek humour raises a few smiles along the way. The excellent booklet and its very informative sleevenotes are the icing on the cake, making this the essential Venom purchase of the decade so far.
