VENOM - Metal City {Cherry Red} I never went for this Black Metal bollocks and, if I needed a reminder why, this is it. Not too sure why it’s listed as a VENOM DVD either as it’s a compilation of promos from four bands all connected to the Neat Records label of the early 80s.
It actually starts interestingly enough with footage of a bleak, oppressive, industrial urban sprawl that is Newcastle. Not sure if there is some kinda subliminal connection here, but instantly VENOM cut through with something called ‘7 Gates Of Hell’. More Spinal Tap than SLAYER, it’s pedestrian and laced with lasers and flames and crass, vainglorious showmanship to disguise the sound of dinosaur dysentery that’s coming outta the speakers. Newcastle makes frequent reappearances throughout and actually provides the highlight - it typifies the depressed, financially starved towns and cities of North England in the early 80s.
From there you get three SARACEN videos (stunningly lame Pop Rock a’la Bon Jovi or Europe with a Freddie Mercury lookalike on vocals - but they do come over as down-to-earth lads that just like to get boozed and take the piss), three AVENGER videos (totally nondescript Metal - could be Iron Maiden, could be Saxon, could be Whitesnake - musically pretty accomplished but generic and intensely boring) and finally three WARFARE videos which is the nearest thing to a Punk/Metal crossover here. You can hear stuff like ‘You Got it’ era GANG GREEN and even the odd slice of D.O.A. in the mix.
Finally VENOM return with what the DVD has been building up to - the ‘Nightmare’ video and its shooting! Pretentious bollocks I reckon. The singer arrives draped in a black cloak and riding a black horse, the drummer arrives in a gold Rolls Royce slugging out a bottle of Jack Danials and the guitarist arrives in a James Bond car. And to what do they arrive? A massive Gothic Mansion that would have done Hammer Horror proud!! Hahaha!!! The song itself does have an impressive kinda noise about it - but it’s ruined with Metal posturing and the whole Satanic stupidity that the band stood for. It has a neat surprise ending - akin to the end of ‘Friday 13th’.
But that’s the highlight for me - when the whole thing ends.