Venom is an iconic British metal band widely credited as one of the pioneers of black metal. Formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Venom’s raw and aggressive sound, combined with dark and controversial lyrics, laid the groundwork for the extreme metal genres that followed. Their early albums, Welcome to Hell and Black Metal, are considered revolutionary, influencing countless bands in the thrash, death, and black metal scenes. Venom’s fierce energy, anti-establishment themes, and theatrical stage presence have earned them a legendary status in metal history.