VENOM, the Black Metal gods, have announced their brand-new album, Into Oblivion, due out on Noise/BMG on May 1st, 2026. The band, Cronos, Rage and Dante, have today released the first single Lay Down Your Soul.
Venom need no introduction. From their birth in Newcastle in ’79, they helped pave the way for Extreme Metal and created their own genre, Black Metal, a sound that is arguably more popular now than it has ever been globally, with the band’s influence still far-reaching as the originators.
Into Oblivion is Venom’s sixteenth studio album and features the long-standing lineup of Cronos (bass/vocals and founding member), Rage (guitar) and Dante (drums). It also marks their first new recordings since 2018’s Storm The Gates.
Into Oblivion consists of thirteen songs that are signature Venom, heavy, evil and catchy. Expect a combination of their classic ’80s sound alongside a more modern, progressive approach without losing any of their fire and brimstone of old.
The album has been in the works for some years, but a number of factors held back its completion until now. These include the Covid pandemic, recording setbacks and the hunger to nail it to perfection. In the words of Cronos, “This album has really pushed the boundaries, but if you want to make a killer album, you pay for it in blood, sweat and tears.”
Venom, true to form, have overcome adversity to deliver an album worthy of their legacy. “I’m so proud of this album, it’s astounding,” Rage told us. “It feels so different, yet so familiar. The sonics are a step up, no song sounds the same, but they all work together.”
Venom – Lay Down Your Soul
The lead single Lay Down Your Soul is a thunderous first offering that harks back to the band’s formative years and the song Black Metal. Slightly tongue-in-cheek, it still bears all the hallmarks of a soon-to-be live classic, with its rousing sing-along chorus. “I think it’s healthy to recognise things from back in the day and bring them into a new setting that gives it a whole fresh approach,” Cronos says. “The fans are going to go mental for it!”
The chemistry on Into Oblivion is undeniable and serves as a musical testament to the longevity of this lineup, which now eclipses any other, clocking in at seventeen years. As Dante puts it, “It’s gone like that, seventeen years! It’s all down to friendship and mutual respect.”
Into Oblivion will be released on May 1st, 2026 via Noise/BMG and is available for preorder now in the following formats:
– Double, gatefold smoke vinyl
– Double, gatefold clear, black & red splatter vinyl (Limited Edition)
– CD digisleeve with 16-page booklet
– Digital
Preorders of both vinyl and CD will come with a limited photo card, signed by Cronos, Dante and Rage, exclusively from the Noise Records store while stocks last. For more details, visit venomslegions.lnk.to/intooblivionPR.
Into Oblivion – Tracklisting
1. Into Oblivion
2. Lay Down Your Soul
3. Nevermore
4. Man & Beast
5. Death The Leveller
6. As Above So Below
7. Kicked Outta Hell
8. Legend
9. Live Loud
10. Metal Bloody Metal
11. Dogs Of War
12. Deathwitch
13. Unholy Mother
Find Venom online: venomslegions.com | FB @officialvenomband | IG @venom_band_official
Photo credit: Necrohorns
