Venom "Black Metal" LP

Venom's magnum opus Black Metal – the prime mover behind what would become heavy metal's most evil progeny.

Although Venom's music and image would seem to have more in common with the nascent thrash and death metal scenes that were only beginning to form in 1982, the connection between the band and the musical movement they inspired can't be denied. Beyond simply coining the term "black metal," Venom also pioneered the common black metal practice of adopting evil and alien sounding stage names. Additionally, Venom are the reason second wave black metal musicians frequently appeared clad in leather and spiked gauntlets and brandished ancient weaponry in promotional photos. Venom's influence on True Norwegian Black Metal can't be overstated, and Black Metal is the most important offering in the band's discography.