Few bands in heavy music cast a shadow as long as Venom<\/strong>. Formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1979, the legendary trio helped ignite the global extreme metal movement and famously coined the term “black metal” with their genre-defining 1982 album.<\/p>\n Now, more than four decades later, the pioneers are back with their sixteenth studio record, Into Oblivion<\/em>, arriving May 1, 2026 via BMG and Noise Records.<\/p>\n The album features Venom’s long-standing lineup of Cronos<\/strong>, Rage<\/strong>, and Dante<\/strong>, marking their first new recordings since 2018’s Storm The Gates<\/em>. Across thirteen tracks, Into Oblivion<\/em> delivers everything fans expect from the band: riffs that are heavy, evil and unmistakably catchy.<\/p>\n The new material blends Venom<\/strong>‘s classic ’80s ferocity with a more progressive modern edge \u2013 without losing the fire-and-brimstone intensity that made them icons of extreme metal.<\/p>\n The album has been years in the making. Pandemic disruptions, recording setbacks and the band’s relentless drive for perfection slowed the process. As Cronos<\/strong> explains, “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.”<\/p>\n Despite the challenges, the band ultimately delivered what guitarist Rage<\/strong> describes as one of their most exciting records yet. “I’m so proud of this album, it’s astounding! It feels so different, yet so familiar,” he says. “The sonics are a step up, no song sounds the same, but they all work together.”<\/p>\n The lead single, “Lay Down Your Soul,” arrives as a thunderous introduction to the album and deliberately echoes the spirit of the band’s early era, including their seminal track “Black Metal.” The song carries a tongue-in-cheek swagger but is built for the stage, with a massive sing-along chorus primed for festival crowds.<\/p>\n “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,” says Cronos<\/strong>. “The fans are going to go mental for it!”<\/p>\n Part of what makes Into Oblivion<\/em> stand out is the chemistry between the trio. The current lineup has now been together for seventeen years \u2013 longer than any previous incarnation of Venom<\/strong>.<\/p>\n “It’s gone like that, seventeen years!” drummer Dante<\/strong> laughs. “It’s all down to friendship and mutual respect.”<\/p>\n With Into Oblivion<\/em>, Venom<\/strong> once again prove that the originators of black metal still have plenty of darkness left to unleash. Pre-orders are available here.<\/p>\n