Standing Up and Being Counted

"Are you with us, right until the end?"

So sang Cronos on the legendary Venom track Stand Up (and Be Counted), a song that's been exciting Legions like you and I for over thirty years now. Today, I'd like to share my thoughts on that question and how I personally answer it, and the reasons why; all of which are very connected to the reasons I'm taking part in this blog in the first place.

I first got into Venom quite some time ago, so I can't quite remember the details of how and when it happened; however, I do remember when I fell in love with Venom. I was attempting to listen to a podcast of an interview with two members of other bands; this podcast also played songs by the bands who the interviewees were speaking about, one of which was the wonderful Bloodlust. As soon as I heard that killer song, I just wanted to hear it again and again, so I ended up listening to it on repeat for a while rather than the actual interview... and when I did actually finish the interview, I hopped onto youtube to listen to Bloodlust some more! After that, I listened to the rest of the band's glorious catalogue - Black Metal, which I was already familiar with and knew I enjoyed, Welcome to Hell and At War with Satan, Fallen Angels, Calm Before the Storm, Possessed... clearly, I didn't do it in order - and I've been a proud member of the Legions ever since. <3

However, as I got deeper and deeper into Venom, I also got deeper and deeper into the conflict surrounding Venom. It didn't take long to discover the whole 'Venom vs Venom Inc' situation, and to learn about all the fallings out and arguments between Cronos, Mantas and Abaddon that took place over the years. And no, despite what Tony Dolan keeps trying to say these days, it really isn't as easy as having both bands and being able to enjoy them both; Venom Inc's other two members keep saying outright inflammatory things - talking smack, a subject you'll see us broach a lot on this blog - and as such, it does get to the point where fans do feel the need to choose a side and stand on it.

The fact is, though, that my side was chosen well before I even waded into the murky depths of the argument. I didn't know it at the time, since I was blissfully unaware of the divide between the three members of the original line-up when I first got into the band, but my side was chosen from the very moment I finished reading the very first interview I ever saw with Cronos.

"...But it is humbling when you meet fans. You realize you have the most fantastic job in the world, but you’re responsible for that position when you meet fans who cry and shake with excitement and such awe that they’re finally meeting you. Because I know what it’s like to be a superfan. I’ve slept outside of concert halls for Van Halen and Status Quo tickets. I know what it’s like to really, really look up to another artist. I know what it’s like to see a band in a concert hall and look up on that stage and think, “Fuck, I wish that was me.” So to meet these fans who get so emotional, it’s hard sometimes. You get a lump in your throat. That’s when you know it’s not a game; it’s not a joke. But I don’t get these rock stars who hang out in bars with drumsticks in their back pockets going, “Hey, baby…” or whatever. You’re not that important, you know? You’re not a brain surgeon. You’re not a rocket scientist. You’ve haven’t changed the world. Wake up, you fuckin’ idiot." - Cronos, November 2014

I'd heard tell that Cronos was a nice bloke before, from members of other bands who idolize and hold him as an inspiration, but it was during that exact paragraph that it dawned on me for myself; this one's not just talented and imaginative and handsome... This one's special. In a world full of people who take their fans for granted, who sneer down at their adoring masses as if they're nothing, or who use their position as nothing more than a platform for picking up loose partners for a night's fun, the man who inspired a countless number of bands and several genres across metal music is still getting a lump in his throat when his Legions get emotional as they meet him. He still recalls what it's like to be in the fans' position. He still gets humbled when he meets fans. That was, and still is, a beautiful thing in my eyes.

Time marched on and I fell ever deeper in love with Venom. I sought out more and more interviews, live shows, pictures, anything I could find in the deep and dark reaches of... well, a web search. I learned of Venom Inc and the less-than-friendly words spoken from every party about every other party. And as time marched on, I began to notice some patterns going on.

For every time I heard Abaddon refer to providing Venom's famous stage show as 'our job' in a flat tone, I heard Cronos excitedly ramble on about how the fans would never forget the previous day's show and how Venom would be the first band to play on the moon.

For every time that I've seen Mantas and Abaddon try to distance themselves from Venom musically by playing drastically different styles because their hearts were clearly not with the black metal genre that they had a hand in developing (as evidenced by Abaddon's self-titled solo album of industrial-ish dance-ish metal-ish music, and Mantas's nu-metal and Foreigner wannabe efforts,) I've seen Cronos talk enthusiastically and passionately about how proud he is for starting it.

For every year that the Venom Inc who do everything for their fans and always put them first and love them so much were taking part in other musical projects without even thinking about the disappointed Venom fans they left behind, Cronos was flying the flag for Venom's sake, and for the sake of we Legions.

And more than anything, I began to notice that there was a difference between the way in which the bands presented their love for the fans. On one hand, you got Venom Inc blabbering on about how it's the fans' band and how they wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the fans and etc., while Abaddon's arguing with interviewers to such an embarrassing extent that the Demolition Man has to come back into the room and try to calmly undo the damage his drummer's done. On the other, you got Cronos informing us of how determined he is not to let his fans down, how much he appreciates our support, even how much he outright couldn't bear it if he disappointed us; and he shows it, by being his enthusiastic and passionate and sparkling self in every interview... oh yeah, and not getting outright argumentative with the fans he claims to love so much. (C'mon, Abaddon, you're in your fifties now. Surely you gotta see that kinda behaviour was A) wrong, and B) contradictory to the image you're trying to portray.)

So, now that I've waded through those murky depths and educated myself fully on both sides of the war, all that's happened is that I've become more aware than ever of the thing I knew from the beginning. In a particularly passionate and touching few paragraphs, Cronos has stated that he believes "you have to be brave and selfless to achieve greatness," that "Venom's Legions deserve only the best of the best at all times," and he ended this particular talk by saying that he would "get the right people to create the greatest line up, who play amazing shows and create killer albums if it's the last thing I do, its my mission and I'm not ready to quit any time soon, yes Venom will be everything I wanted it to be and the Legions will be proud to support this amazing band"; and that right there encapsulates, in my opinion, a truly special and admirable individual with determination, respect for the fans, and integrity that is rivalled by none.

The man is brave and selfless, someone who'll fight for his own vision and for the sake of his Legions; and more than anything, I'm proud to support him.

So after giving my reasons why, I'll happily give my answer to that thirty-odd year old question now.

I'm with Cronos, right until the end.

~ Ouranos