A Ripple Field Trip...Venom Inc!

Venom Inc Blood Stained Earth Tour Exmortus/Homewrecker/Metalfier/Vision Serpent The Kingsland Brooklyn New York May 4 2019
Setlist Metal We Bleed Rip Ride Don't Burn the Witch Time to Die Warhead War Dead of the Night The Evil Dead Leave Me in Hell Live Like an Angel (Die Like a Devil) Lady Lust Black n' Roll Black Metal Witching Hour
Encore: Bloodlust In League With Satan Countess Bathory
Photos by Pj Berlinghof and Tim Winterhalter
Venom Inc tours the US at least once every 18 months or so – and for one reason or another every time they've come around I couldn't make it.This time – with the urging of the fabulous PJ from Ritualizer – I got my butt down to what looks like the new hot-spot for metal shows in the heart of industrial Greenpoint on the Brooklyn/ Queens border - the Kingsland.
I'm embarrassed to say I haven't been to a real metal show in ages.When we walked into the Kingsland it warmed my heart to see a room full of black band t-shirts, battle vests and band hoodies.I got a few compliments on my Saxon shirt and launched into a diatribe about how they should have been bigger than Maiden (don't get me started...)   Right away we found people we knew and started up conversations with new friends – it was such a laid back, friendly atmosphere.One of my friends (who had already been drinking with his wife for 3 hours before we got there) told me Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan, Bass/vocals for Venom Inc. was just walking around hanging out.Indeed only a few minutes later we spotted him just chilling by the merch table.We were friends on Facebook and actually corresponded a few times – he always encouraged my bass playing – but he had thousands of Facebook friends and I didn't want to be an awkward fan girl.As I was explaining this to PJ – she grabbed my arm and pulled me over.I heard myself saying something about Facebook - his eyes lit up, he pointed to my Motörhead, then to his matching necklace and he gave me a big hug and a kiss. If he didn't recognize me – he did a really good job pretending he did!!Even so far as to say I should have told him I was coming, he would have put me on the list!!I asked him how Jeff “Mantas” Dunn (guitars) was doing – as I read that he had suffered a massive heart attack last year and it was nothing short of a miracle that he was still with us.We had a very deep conversation about that and Tony seemed genuinely touched that I was really concerned about his friend's well being.I felt myself getting teary eyed just as I had when I read Jeff's harrowing account online after he was home from the hospital – then in a moment some fans interjected for autographs and pictures and I slipped back to my friends at the bar.  
The way the Kingsland is set up – you can chill at the bar and watch on a TV screen the bands who are performing in the front room.I wasn't in “journalist” mode at the time and chose the opener's sets to knock back a few pints of Brooklyn Lager and catch up on metal talk.
When Metalfier came on we made our way to the front.I had seen them a few years before, opening for Diamond Head at the Studio at Webster hall and really liked them.I was happy they had their own crowd this time.Their set was tight but went by way too fast, include a tribute to late Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman (it was close to the anniversary of his death), and a cover of the Metallica song “Escape” dedicated to Michael Alago from Elektra who signed them all those years ago.Metalfier seem to get on the bill for a lot of the mid profile metal gigs and it's well deserved – they always put on a great show and are true supporters of the metal scene!
It was back to the bar for me for the bands who were direct support for Venom Inc. and touring with them Exmortus and Homewrecker, but they sounded great from where I was and everyone came out of the back room raving about them. At my age I don't have the stamina to be up front for a million bands but I tip my hat to those that do.
10 Minutes before Venom Inc were due to hit the stage I found a good spot against the wall maybe 5 heads back from the stage.The changeover time was pretty quick and when the band hit the stage there was a good size crowd but it wasn't shoulder to shoulder and I wasn't gasping for air and fighting for space which is something I'm always scared of at these shows.   The band launched into “Metal We Bleed” from the new album “Ave” and it was clear from the start this was not a band resting on it's laurels. I had heard the album but live the tracks are even more in your face.Of course – I have to say – I was a little disappointed I wouldn't be catching Tony “Abaddon” Bray behind the drum kit as he left the band a few months ago . Jeramie Kling from Florida metallers “the absence” was behind the kit and he was like a clock.
That's not to say the set wasn't peppered with Venom classics which the band nailed – and truth be told I like Tony's voice more than Conrad “Cronos” Landt's .And...”Lady Lust???” Seriously? That was one for the Die Hards!...Speaking of which...I would have loved to have heard it as it was one of the first songs I taught myself on bass – but I was more than happy with the set list! When I heard the sound effect that was the beginning of “Black Metal” I was taken back over 20 years ago when I first sewed a Venom patch on my messenger bag and it felt like everything was coming full circle. Like another bucket list item was being checked off.
Demolition Man had the Microphone up at higher angle to he resembled a certain other throaty bass player that both love.It was no surprise the song “Black and Roll” from the new album was a tribute to the great man.Venom does Motörhead? Yes please!! Holy shit!!
At various points one jerk off was yelling out that the crowd sucked – and everyone basically told him to fuck off – and we all cheered when security dragged him out.There was a good size pit but everyone was respectable. MY own qualm was the guy who had his arm up in the air FILMING almost the entire show.I can't stand that.It's discourteous to the people around you.One or two songs fine – but the whole set? Get the fuck out of here its fucking rude.
The set ended and we filed out, crunching empty cups of beer on the way out while Motörhead's 1916 album played over the PA.
When this band comes around – go see them!!! They're usually on bigger stages in Europe and deservedly so!! I'm very happy the “old guard' are still around and kicking ass and can teach the kids a thing or two about how its done!!!
Black n' Roll
Venom Inc on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VenomIncOfficial/ Order “Avé“ in several different formats and bundles at http://nuclearblast.com/venominc-ave