Venom Prison

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Venom Prison
OriginSouth Wales, U.K.
GenresDeath metal
Years active2015–present
LabelsProsthetic, Century Media
MembersLarissa Stupar
  • Ash Gray
  • Ben Thomas
  • Mike Jefferies
  • Joe Bills
Past members
  • Richy Unsworth
  • Joe Sheehy
  • Jay Pipprell

Venom Prison are a Welsh death metal band. Stephen Hill of Metal Hammer described their second album as "2019’s most anticipated extreme metal albums".[1] Their lead vocalist Larissa Stupar was described by Kerrang! as "metal's most important - and uncompromising - voice".[2] The band has released four studio albums.

History[edit]

In 2015, former Wolf Down vocalist, Larissa Stupar (born in Russia), moved to Wales, where she met Ash Gray of Brutality Will Prevail, with whom she would begin writing music. They coined the name "Venom Prison" as it was "the most metal name they could imagine". The pair released the demo EP Defy the Tyrant in 2015, before recruiting Ben Thomas to play lead guitar and Joe Sheehy to play drums, along with bass guitarist Mike Jeffries. This line-up released the 2015 EP The Primal Chaos.[3]

The band released their debut studio album on 14 October 2016, entitled Animus.[4] The album was released to critical acclaim.[5]

On 7 July 2017, the band released a music video for "Perpetrator Emasculation" from Animus.[6]

The band were set to support Decapitated on their November 2017 European tour. Following the arrest of all four members of Decapitated's line-up for allegations of rape, Venom Prison cancelled their shows with the band.[7][8]

In August 2018, the band was set to join Dying Fetus, Toxic Holocaust and Goatwhore on their European tour,[9] but the tour was canceled because of "personal issues"[10]

In May and June 2019, the band toured Europe, beginning in Germany and ending in the UK,[11] opening for Fit for an Autopsy.[12][13]

Their second studio album, Samsara was released on 15 March 2019.[11]

On 21 March 2019, the band announced a collaboration with American streetwear brand The Hundreds.[14]

Venom Prison's third album Primeval, a collection of re-recorded early material, was released on 9 October 2020.[15]

On 10 December 2020, Venom Prison announced on social media that they had been signed to Century Media Records,[16] and the band had begun recording their next studio album.[17] The album, titled Erebos, was released on 4 February 2022.[18] Venom Prison performed on the Main Stage at Bloodstock 2021.[19]

Musical style and influences[edit]

The band are generally described as death metal,[3][20][21] featuring elements of hardcore punk[3][1] and grindcore.[4] In an article for Metal Hammer by Stephen Hill, they were described as "part-death metal/part-hardcore".[1] Their lyrics are generally based around political and social topics such as misogyny, rape culture, fascism, mental health and organised religion.[3][22][23] The members have cited influences including Carcass,[24][25] Napalm Death[26] and Metallica.[27] Frontwoman Larissa Stupar has described her past involvement in anti-fascist and animal rights activism as inspiring the political content of Venom Prison's music.[28]

Members[edit]

Current line-up

  • Larissa Stupar – lead vocals (2015–present)
  • Ash Gray – guitar (2015–present)
  • Ben Thomas – guitar (2015–present)
  • Mike Jefferies – bass (2015–present)
  • Joe Bills – drums (2019–present)

Past members

  • Joe Sheehy – drums (2015–2017)
  • Jay Pipprell – drums (2017–2019)

Timeline

Discography[edit]

Studio albums

  • Animus (2016)
  • Samsara (2019)
  • Primeval (2020)
  • Erebos (2022)

EPs

  • Defy the Tyrant (2015)
  • The Primal Chaos (2015)

Accolades[edit]

Nominated work Year Award Result
Venom Prison 2017 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards - Best New Band Won[29]
2018 Heavy Music Awards - BEST UK BREAKTHROUGH BAND Nominated[30]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Hill, Stephen (11 October 2018). "In the studio with Venom Prison as they work on album number two". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  2. ^ Morton, Luke (27 May 2019). "Venom Prison the Remarkable Story of the Rise and Rise of Metal's Most Important - and Uncompromising - Voice". Kerrang!.
  3. ^ a b c d APPLEFORD, STEVE (31 August 2017). "VENOM PRISON: DEATH METAL AGAINST RAPE CULTURE AND MISOGYNY". Revolver. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  4. ^ a b Bellino, Vince (10 October 2016). "Full Album Stream: Venom Prison – 'Animus'". Decibel. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  5. ^ "DREAMS OUT OF NIGHTMARES: REDEFINING FEMININITY IN HEAVY MUSIC". Revolver. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  6. ^ Bellino, Vince (6 July 2017). "Video Premiere: Venom Prison – 'Perpetrator Emasculation'". Decibel. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  7. ^ Munro, Scott (13 September 2017). "Venom Prison cancel shows with Decapitated". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  8. ^ Shawgo, Kelsey (13 September 2017). "VENOM PRISON PULL OUT OF TOUR WITH DECAPITATED FOLLOWING SEXUAL ASSAULT ACCUSATIONS". Alternative Press. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  9. ^ Munro, Scott (2 May 2018). "Venom Prison to support Dying Fetus in the UK and Europe". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  10. ^ https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0msp3UsnE3JYQDR8YtyizxiMfMkPH49YeevwLJA9YUA6GuiDoutgBa7MgFU9gprm9l&id=258603759905
  11. ^ a b Everley, Dave (15 February 2019). "Venom Prison announce new album Samsara and European tour". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  12. ^ "VENOM PRISON ANNOUNCE UK AND EUROPEAN TOUR SUPPORTING FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY". Kerrang!. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  13. ^ "Venom Prison Inside the Welsh Brutalists' Ferocious New Album". Kerrang!. 16 June 2019.
  14. ^ "VENOM PRISON REVEAL COLLABORATION WITH THE HUNDREDS". Kerrang!. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Venom Prison Have Re-Recorded Their Early Material For New Outing "Primeval", Hear 2020 Version Of "Defy The Tyrant"". ThePRP. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Instagram".
  17. ^ "Venom Prison Recording New Album". ThePRP. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Venom Prison announce new album Erebos". Kerrang!. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Bloodstock 2021: What happened on the Friday". Kerrang!. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  20. ^ De Gallier, Thea. "Venom Prison Combats Death Metal Misogyny with Brute Force". Vice Media. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  21. ^ Eynon, Jacob (8 February 2019). "NEWS: Venom Prison begin to tease second album!". Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  22. ^ Morton, Luke (29 March 2018). "Venom Prision". Metal Hammer.
  23. ^ De Gallier, Thea. "Venom Prison Combats Death Metal Misogyny with Brute Force". Vice Media. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  24. ^ Morton, Luke (5 May 2019). "The 10 best death metal albums, chosen by Venom Prison". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  25. ^ "Ash Gray of Venom Prison Shows Off His Most Prized Metal T-Shirts". MetalSucks. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  26. ^ ""I DON'T LIKE YOUR BAND BECAUSE YOU'RE A WOMAN" INTERVIEW WITH LARISSA STUPAR OF VENOM PRISON". Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  27. ^ "INTERVIEW: ASH GRAY OF VENOM PRISON". 18 November 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  28. ^ "This Death Metal Band Doesn't Sing About the Devil Because Humans Are Worse". www.vice.com. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  29. ^ "The Golden Gods Awards 2017: Winners in full". Metal Hammer. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  30. ^ Cook, Lottie (27 April 2018). "NEWS: Heavy Music Awards 2018 finalists announced!". Retrieved 7 July 2019.
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