Authors: Antony Bray with Andreas Andreou
Publisher: Metal Hammer
Price: $29.05 /€25
Buy it HERE
VENOM have changed Metal in so many ways that it could easily be the topic of a PhD thesis, just to grasp their true impact. I even think that, to some extent, the three names behind those legendary, genre-shaping albums haven’t fully realized what they accomplished 44 years ago with their debut album. A book exploring the ups and downs of VENOM was long overdue, so I was over the moon when I learned the news that Abaddon would be the first to tell the tale. What can one expect from “The View From The Metal Throne - The Story of ABADDON & VENOM”?
The answer to that comes with a note addressing the readers, which I believe captures the essence of this book, even though it states the obvious. The first line reads: “This work is a memoir. It reflects Antony Bray’s present recollections of his experiences over a period of years.” Indeed, there can’t be a single “true story”; even history covering the same events can differ, depending on who writes it. After all, there’s that famous saying: “History is written by the winners.” But who is the winner in VENOM’s case? That’s an easy question to answer: the fans. We’ve been blessed to enjoy VENOM in many forms, and contrary to what some might think, I still love them just as much after reading Abaddon’s memoir. I’m saying this because sometimes it is too easy for outsiders to pick sides, but that’s a different discussion.
First of all, the language is easy to follow, even for non-native English speakers, as the British slang is kept to a minimum. Although I personally love it, some might find it hard to follow. The format reads like you’re listening to Abaddon recount his side of the story, and even though he’s brutally honest, he’s never disrespectful. In fact, in the epilogue he almost brought tears to my eyes, but I’ll get to that later.
The first three chapters cover the most intense period of VENOM, when they shook the Metal scene with those first three albums that spawned more genres than just Black Metal. It’s absurd to learn how royalties were nowhere to be found, especially considering the countless reissues the band’s catalog has received. The history flows beautifully, and as you’d expect from Abaddon, there’s no sugar-coating. Most importantly, there’s no exaggeration to make the story sound cooler or more superstar-esque. Abaddon lays down his story in the straight-to-your-face manner you’d expect if you’ve been following VENOM. If you haven’t, then this book will open the doors to Metal's vault, giving you a front-row seat to how some things started and how certain famous bands came to be.
The photos between chapters give a glimpse into an era this book is determined not to let be forgotten. My heart filled with joy reading about the show in Athens, Greece, when the original lineup performed in 1997, especially because I was there. The story then expands to VENOM INC., showing how that chapter unfolded (and how it has been going), all the way to Abaddon’s recent health scare. Even then, the legendary drummer isn’t dramatic, unlike what we’ve seen in other musicians’ biographies. His epilogue is what I consider the cherry on top, and since I want every metalhead to read the story of what I think is one of the most important bands in Metal history, I’ll only share this: “I still believe that a reunion with Cronos, Mantas and me could be possible.” That would be the best, most proper way to close the circle. The Metal scene needs this to happen.
It goes without saying that “The View From The Metal Throne - The Story of ABADDON & VENOM” is a must-read. If there were a school for Metal history, this would be core material to teach to first-schoolers.
Long live VENOM.
+Pros This is Abaddon's side of the story, told in an honest way, free from exaggerated and sugarcoated narration. VENOM all the way.
-Cons Some more details would have been great, although who remembers what happened some 40 years ago? I don't.