The original masters of black metal are back. Newcastle’s own Venom have officially announced that their sixteenth studio album, Into Oblivion, will be unleashed upon the world on 1st May 2026 via Noise/BMG. It’s been a fair old wait since 2018’s Storm The Gates, but from the sounds of things, Cronos and the boys haven’t spent that time sitting around.
The current lineup – featuring founding member Cronos on bass and vocals, alongside Rage on guitar and Dante on drums – has now been together for a staggering seventeen years. That’s longer than any other iteration of the band, and that chemistry is reportedly all over the new record. Into Oblivion packs thirteen tracks that promise to mix that classic, filthy 80s vibe with a bit of a modern, progressive edge, all without losing the “fire and brimstone” that made them legends in the first place.
To get us in the mood, they’ve dropped the first single, “Lay Down Your Soul”. If that title sounds a bit familiar, it’s a deliberate nod to their 1982 landmark “Black Metal”. Cronos reckons it’s a bit of a tongue-in-cheek look back, but with a massive chorus that’s destined to be a live favourite. We’ve taken a look back at their early legacy ourselves in our review of the In Nomine Satanas boxset, which really highlights why this band still matters forty years on.
Getting the album finished wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. Between the pandemic and various recording setbacks, Cronos says they “paid for it in blood, sweat and tears” to make sure it was perfect. Rage is equally chuffed, promising that while it feels familiar, the production is a massive step up.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
Into Oblivion Tracklist:
- Into Oblivion
- Lay Down Your Soul
- Nevermore
- Man & Beast
- Death The Leveller
- As Above So Below
- Kicked Outta Hell
- Legend
- Live Loud
- Metal Bloody Metal
- Dogs Of War
- Deathwitch
- Unholy Mother
The album is available for pre-order now in various formats, including a smoke vinyl gatefold and a limited clear, black, and red splatter version. If you nip over to the Noise Records store quickly, you can even snag a signed photo card with your copy while stocks last.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
Header image by Necroshorns
Venom: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify | youtube
