Venom requires little introduction. There are things that you just cannot argue about when it comes to them. They created Black Metal, they set the blueprint, and they are forever influential. Now they are back with their latest album, Into Oblivion. “We decided to write loads of standout tracks,” guitarist Rage told MetalTalk in a soon-to-be-published interview, and believe me, they have succeeded.
Venom: Into Oblivion
Release Date: 1 May 2026
Words: Matty Hunter
The Venom sound is unmistakable, a filthy collision of punk aggression and dark, metallic menace which still hits with the same force whether it is the iconic Welcome To Hell, Black Metal, or later material.
Emerging from industrial unrest in Newcastle in 1979, Venom pushed the boundaries of Extreme Metal and architected a genre which has grown more dominant and fan-reaching in the decades since. As a die-hard Venom legion and someone from the same region that produced these pioneers, there is a tangible sense of pride in approaching Into Oblivion, the band’s sixteenth studio album.
Arriving as their first new material since Storm The Gates in 2018, Into Oblivion sees the 20-year strong trio of Cronos, Rage, and Dante deliver thirteen tracks that blend classic ferocity with a modern, sharpened edge.
Into Oblivion is heavy, evil, and laced with the raw infectious energy that Venom is synonymous with. This is a record which entices you more with each listen across thirteen tracks, and the production is ramped up, but it still has that signature sound.
The album begins with the title track, Into Oblivion. It wastes little time on introductions, and you can tell straight away that it is a track laced with Venom’s DNA. This is the trio, sounding raw as ever, dragging you through whether you like it or not. It feels modern while simultaneously old-school and is an excellent first impression return.
Lay Down Your Soul is next, the lead single on the record. It is a fantastic headbanger which nods to the legacy of their iconic album and song Black Metal, and it is going to be a crowd-pleaser for sure. Cronos has mentioned this will be a future live staple, and I can see why. It has clearly been written with the fans in mind, and I can imagine the chorus being roared back to the band by a festival crowd.
The track is almost quite tongue-in-cheek in a way Venom do best, paying homage to the early days with one foot planted in the modern landscape.
Nevermore is up next. The riffs are particularly technical on this number from Rage, and it has a sense of progression which has you excited for its climax, and it is unmistakably Venom. I could see this one being a live staple too.
Man And Beast follows, and if you told me this was an unreleased bonus track on At War With Satan, I would believe you. Despite the clear, meticulous production, it feels very much like ’80s Venom. The riffs in this track are great again, and overall, the track brings together the whole band well. This lineup is tight-knit, and that reflects across this one.
Death The Leveller has a very catchy chorus and does not let up on the intensity. I am absolutely astonished by the technicality of this song once more. I am very fond of technical riffs in Metal and appreciate the ability to perfect them, and Rage has them down to a tee. The song never feels boring and progresses the record well, placed here in the track list.
My personal favourite track on the record follows in As Above So Below. The lyrics are rooted in Venom’s lifetime no-fear approach to themes, with Satan prevalent through the track’s DNA. The chorus feels like something that Venom have not done in a minute, with an atmospheric, almost gothic chorus with notes of an operatic choir in the background of Cronos’ Latin prayer lyrics.
Notably, around the three-minute mark, the song builds up into a breakdown of mesmerising guitar riffs and lightning-fast drumming from Dante. This close to five-minute-long track is a real album highlight, and I hope it is one that makes the live set.
Kicked Outta Hell is probably the rawest on the record. It is fast as hell and encapsulates that signature Venom sound with their northern humour prevalent. Despite the lyricism, it is a tongue-in-cheek number with a very catchy chorus that you will inevitably have stuck in your head.
Legend is a shift in tone. It is quite melodic but remains heavy. This feels like Venom reflecting on their career, and it acts as a breather for the record. You will find yourself nodding along slowly to this track, and it is a distinguished addition to the album.
Tone is back to fast and unrelenting for Live Loud. The riffs are incredible earworms, and Cronos’ vocals shine through. You can really sense the identity of the band throughout this track as it is unmistakably Venom.
Metal Bloody Metal pays testament to the greatest music genre around. This is a real headbanger with a killer groove that is impossible to ignore. Dante behind the kit shines through on this track, and his drumming is a real highlight.
Dogs Of War begins with a cosmic-sounding introduction before bursting into the instrumentals, and the drumming has you nodding your head along. The main riff feels like something you would hear in a war with a marching army on their way to fight, with a sound akin to a chugging train. Despite clocking in at just over two minutes, it is a memorable moment of the album and sets you up for the closing two songs.
Deathwitch is the penultimate track, and you will find yourself chanting along to the chorus. The song has several interesting Death Metal-like riffs, and again, this is the band coming together well for what is a killer dark song that I feel like many will enjoy.
The final song of the record is Unholy Mother, and it is a fitting closer. It feels like it encapsulates all elements of Venom’s output and is the band’s way of saying farewell.
The song fades with a heavy rain sound before a short skit of Cronos swearing, and you can sense in his delivery that he is saying “phew.” It is akin to the ending of Teacher’s Pet, from Black Metal.
Precision and intent define Venom’s sixteenth record Into Oblivion. The guitars cut with a technical edge that shows the Geordies are not here to coast, while the rhythm section and vocals hit with that familiar, uncompromising force, now elevated by a production job that feels meticulous but still raw.
There is a clear sense of effort and purpose throughout, with the band channelling their signature sound through a sharper, more contemporary lens. The eight-year wait pays off. This stands as one of the strongest entries in their catalogue, with a lineup that sounds locked in and fully committed.
As pioneers of Black Metal, Venom could have leaned on nostalgia and delivered a safe throwback. Instead, they have produced something contemporary and powerful.
Whether you are a long-time fan or a newcomer, this album is a definitive entry point that captures both their legacy and continued evolution. The band still sit firmly on their Heavy Metal throne, and rightly so.
Into Oblivion will be released on May 1st, 2026 via Noise/BMG. 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.
Venom will celebrate the release of their new album Into Oblivion with a special in-store signing at Raven Records in Camden, London on 2 May 2026 at 1pm.
