The last time I saw Venom Inc. was back in 2017 on their World Painted Blood tour. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world, everything stopped dead in its tracks, and we weren’t sure what would happen. On the other hand, Venom Inc. relentlessly continued to charge on bringing the classic black metal of Venom by doing virtual shows and even managed to write, record, and release the stellar There’s Only Black.
2022 was the year that Venom Inc. would return to Atlanta, but as life is, logistics got in the way and put a squash on it. Again, as always, Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan and company charged forward, and in 2022, North America saw the long-awaited return of Venom Inc for their “It’s Better to Reign In Hell” tour.
For those of you in the dark, Venom Inc. is the Demolition Man era that existed from 1989-1992 and featured classic Venom members Jeff “Mantas” Dunn (guitar) and Anthony “Abaddon” Bray (drums). This lineup released three stellar albums and disbanded in 1992. This lineup of Venom reunited in 2015 for a set at the Keep It True Metal Festival in Germany, and the result was a huge demand from fans for this lineup to hit the road. Since then, Demolition Man has been at the helm to steer this juggernaut of a metal machine, but this time around, things are a little different.
Since the last time I saw Venom Inc., drummer Abaddon exited the band and has been replaced by the appropriately named American death metal drummer Jeramie “War Machine” Kling. This didn’t make me hesitant because, honestly, Abaddon was a pretty crappy drummer, and while I am not a death metal fan, I was aware of Kling’s work, so I knew Venom Inc would go to a whole other level. The most significant change was when it was announced that guitarist Jeff “Mantas” Dunn would be sitting out the tour due to family issues and would be replaced by another former Venom member, the legendary Mike Hickey. Initially, this made me a little weary, but I knew Venom Inc. would not slouch on this. Well, on this Friday night in Atlanta, I was proven correct.
The energy in the Masquerade was electrifying as people poured into Hell (appropriate, innit?) and awaited a night of non-stop metal. When the house lights went down, the place erupted so loud that I could feel the crowd’s intensity even with my earplugs in. The band took the stage and opened with “Witching Hour,” then, without much of a breath, the sound of grinding steel filled the room, and the crowd got even louder as the band launched into the Venom classic “Black Metal.” This was only the second song in the set, and I was already exhausted for the band, but they were clearly just getting started as the spark had just been ignited.
Vocalist/Bassist Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan was a fucking beast. The veins in his head and arms were nearly popping out of his body as he threw every ounce of air from his body to the microphone, singing every word and playing every note like it was the last time he’d ever do so. Kling was an absolute machine and lived up to his moniker “War Machine” as he pummeled his drums with a strong sense of swing and intensity. As for guitarist Mike Hickey? Well, he was the secret sauce that I never knew this band needed. Honestly, I felt a bit guilty that I loved his style of playing and stage presence as much as I did. Hickey tore through all those songs with all the style and class of someone who would’ve written every one of those songs, and his love for the songs was loud and clear with every passing note and chord.
Venom Inc.’s powerhouse performance included classic Venom songs like “Live Like An Angel,” “Don’t Burn the Witch,” and “Welcome to Hell.” At the same time, current Venom Inc. cuts such as “There’s Only Black,” “Come to Me,” and “Inferno” sounded completely at home alongside the classics. This is a real testament to how timeless the classic Venom songs are and how incredibly Venom Inc has captured the spirit, energy, and true essence of what Venom was all about. Cronos’ Venom can’t even do that even when they try.
Without pulling the cheesy “leave the stage and come back” encore, Venom Inc. charged straight through and closed their marathon set with the Venom track “Countess Bathory.” As they exited the stage without fanfare or egotistical showboating, the audience loudly chanted, “Venom! Venom! Venom!” Yeah, not VENOM INC, but VENOM. This right here speaks volumes. As the crowd wandered the room in disbelief and utter exhaustion, I heard many things that I wish the band could’ve heard.
“I waited all my life to hear these songs live, and this was the most amazing show I have ever seen.” One person declared that Venom Inc was lightyears better than the Cronos-led Venom and that, “As far as I am concerned, THIS is Venom and always will be.” I didn’t hear people talking about missing Abaddon on drums or even Mantas on guitar. Nobody. Not one single person. This proved to me that Venom’s music is so important to so many people; the songs themselves are bigger than any of the people playing them. It just so happens that these three guys are the single best combination of artists to play these songs.
Venom Inc. is the heart, the soul, the blood, and the sweat that is Venom. This show was easily one of the most outstanding displays of heavy metal I have seen in my fifty years on this giant fucking mudball, and I would go to the mat any day for that statement. On a Friday night in Atlanta, kids aged 17 to 60 or so were treated to a show like none other and a collection of songs spanning at least five decades. Venom Inc. is a band beyond description, and I can only say to go see this band live. Venom Inc. may take no prisoners, but they’re more than happy to take you into their world and show you the true power of Venom in a way nobody else can or will ever be able to do.
Venom Inc only has four dates left of this tour so if you are in one of the following cities, GO SEE THEM! You can thank me later.
10.12. US Wilmington, DE – The Queen
10.13. US Clifton, NJ – Dingbatz
10.14. US Portland, ME – Genos Rock Club
10.15. US Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
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