I am not quite sure regarding my thoughts on that album…you see, it’s not that bad but at the same time is inferior to its predecessor “Wicked Maiden” that was released 6 years ago. And the element that makes it an “inferior” record is exactly the fact that it follows the same path contrary to Chris Impelitteri’s inclination towards experimentation with each single release. This time around, he pushed aside this notion and focused on the compositional aspect which can be both characterized as remarkable yet detrimental. Most definitely, one can easily spot numerous, supersonic guitar riffs, memorable solos, catchy choruses but also nothing groundbreaking or something that will give us chills down our spines. Rob Rock’s voice surely uplifts the level of the album (especially on such sings as “Empire Of Lies”, “We Own The Night” and “Domino Theory”) but again what characterizes “Venom” is its overall generic sound. I’d expected far more things by Impellitteri and the truth is that as I reached the end of the album, I found myself getting bored or tired by the songs; definitely a sign that something was missing from “Venom”…
