Storm the Gates

Storm the Gates, released in 2018, represents the fifteenth studio album by the legendary British metal outfit Venom. Following the departure of founding members Mantas and Abaddon, the lineup solidified around Cronos, Rage, and Dante. This record continues the trajectory established on previous releases like From the Very Depths, emphasizing a return to the 'blackened thrash' and 'speed metal' roots that the band pioneered in the early 1980s. Sonically, the album is characterized by a thick, almost muddy production style that eschews modern digital clarity in favor of a gritty, analog-adjacent warmth. Critics generally noted the album's commitment to the band's legacy of 'shambolic' rock and roll, praising its energy while acknowledging its lack of technical refinement as a stylistic choice. It stands as a testament to Cronos's vision of Venom as a bridge between the aggression of punk and the theatricality of heavy metal.