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Venom - Cast In Stone

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Venom - Cast In StoneSanctuary Records
This is the expanded edition of the CD that was originally released in 1997. After releasing several seminal black metal albums in the early '80s there had been a lot of lineup changes. This CD marked the reunion of the original lineup of Cronos, Mantas and Abaddon.

This 2 CD edition includes the original album and bonus disc of re-recorded classics. In addition, it has the limited edition mini album that was recorded at the Dynamo Festival in 1996. The 1997 edition of Venom wasn't just a nostalgia trip. Their sound was different, with more mid-tempo songs that showcased the band's power and brutality. There were a few filler songs out of the 14, but it was a worthwhile reunion.

The second disc consists of early material that was re-recorded. They generally remained faithful to the original songs, but of course the production values are better. I'm not sure if it was necessary to go back and do that. The rawness and shaky production were part of the charm of the original music. Including the Dynamo Festival mini album was a great choice, though. It has some classics like "Black Metal" and "Welcome To Hell."

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