Do you think Venom are the Godfathers of black metal? Or do you think they're a second-rate NWOBHM band, who couldn't sing or play to save their lives?

i can tell where you are going with this just by the tone of the post. i must say, it's rather underhanded to start a poll on account of you not liking them & wanting people to back you in your opinion (as if that makes it overrule all others...it doesn't).

i don't really consider Venom the "godfathers of black metal", but i do enjoy the first 3 albums alot for what they were. old school punk-influenced metal. if you don't like them, don't listen to them. why would it bother you if they continued to please those that do?

I'm just tryin' to see what people think. It seems that everyone I know who has heard Venom either really likes 'em or really doesn't like 'em. That's all.

I'm with MC.

Well Venom weren't excellent musicians and they didn't have a lot of talent. However, they put a lot into what they did and sparked influence to a lot of bands to follow. I have always liked Venom though! The only one I did not care for is the latest "Metal Black" album. I think its retarded!

Not a big fan, but I like some Venom. The first three albums are NWOBHM classics, although the lyrical direction doesn't appeal to me at all.

Yes, i AM a big VENOM fan. I love most of their albums but their last album METAL BLACK was a big disapointment in my opinion.
I also love CRONOS solo albums and one that MANTAS did (very melodic but cool). I also liked TONY DOLAN in the band but thats just because i am also a ATOMKRAFT maniac lol.

I have a compilation album of theirs which I listen to from time to time, but it's never inspired me to seek out any of their other material. I think they were pioneers in the black metal realm and decent at what they do, but not really my thing.

My brother was the big Venom fan in our house, I thought some of their early stuff was fun but never went out of my way to collect much of their stuff (so I guess that puts me in the "don't really care" column)...
I did recently pick up the "extended version" reissue of the CAST IN STONE album from 1998, which comes with a bonus disc of re-recorded old songs, all of which sound great, so I think this is the only Venom I'll ever really need.

Welcome to Hell & Black Metal are essentials!

I voted "Don't Care".

I like Venom ok, but I can take 'em or leave 'em. Some of their songs were good, but I found all their Satan imagery rather amusing.

LOVE EM!!!

Don't care for their lyrically direction - but musically speaking this is actually one of my favorite bands.

Haven't heard a whole lot of their music but from what I have heard I wasn't very impressed with so I'm going to have to take the middle road with this. Although I can't deny the fact that they were the forerunners of black metal.

I'm not a diehard Venom fan but I do like some of their stuff.

Since none of the poll options can voice my choice, I am opting to cast the vote on the last option just for the heck of it!

I like some of Venom's materials, and I don;t hate them, but that doesn't mean I consider them to be the greatest or "Godfathers" of black metal. They are good, that is it.

I always liked them a lot. I don't listen to them anymore due to their lyrics but they were a good band.

i quite like venom but i do not have any albums so thats puts me in the dont care option

I acquired Cast In Stone from Eyesore recently and purchased Resurrection. I must say, both of those albums are quality discs. Metal Black is just bad. I don't know what happened with that one.

But in general I have been a Venom freak since I was a tot and the lyrics are just that, lyrics. I don't take any lyrics to heart even from most Christian bands.

They were a horrible live band in the 80's since Abaddon couldn't keep a steady drum beat and Mantas played about as well as one of my dogs jumping on guitar strings. But Cronos has always been what has kept the band afloat.

However, you can't beat Welcome to Hell, Black Metal, At War With Satan, and Possessed on intensity. I recommend all of their albums except Metal Black.

Since spectrefate bumped this thread,whatever happened to ole TH Joe?

Venom was such a camp band.

Love 'em. "Lay down your soul to the God's rock and roll!"