Venom (Wargasm album)

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Venom
Two colourful semi-robotic creatures, with one surrounded by a pink chain with a spiked ball on the end
Studio album by
Wargasm
Released27 October 2023 (2023-10-27)
Genre
Length40:35
Label
ProducerCharlie Russell
Wargasm chronology
Explicit: The Mixxxtape
(2022) 		Venom
(2023)
Singles from Venom
  1. "Do It So Good"
    Released: 14 July 2023
  2. "Bang Ya Head"
    Released: 8 September 2023[1]
  3. "Modern Love"
    Released: 13 October 2023[2]

Venom is the debut album by English electronic rock duo Wargasm, released through Slowplay and Republic Records on 27 October 2023. The album includes a collaboration with Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. It was announced alongside the release of the single "Do It So Good".[3] The album is produced by Charlie Russell, with additional production by Wargasm and Kieron Pepper.

Background[edit]

The duo announced in July 2023 that they had spent the "last 16 months [...] perfecting" the album during downtime from touring.[4]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic81/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash7/10[6]
Dork[7]
Kerrang!4/5[8]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[9]
Metal Hammer[10]
NME[11]

Venom received a score of 81 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on four critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[5] Metal Hammer's Merlin Alderslade wrote that "bashing together elements of punk, metal, EDM and hip hop [...] Venom is a relentlessly entertaining ride, driven by sheer energy", calling it "one of 2023's essential debut albums".[10] Ali Shutler of Dork called the album "pure, screaming catharsis" as well as the band "the spiritual successor to Limp Bizkit", summarising that it "build[s] on everything that's come before, while amping up the carnage, the energy and the emotion, Wargasm's debut album is a lesson in excess".[7]

NME's Rishi Shah called it "a consistent album [...] with a significantly raw feel" that "cements Wargasm's position as one of UK heavy music's leading forces".[11] Lana Williams of The Line of Best Fit described it as "a rip-roaring effort from Wargasm", also finding that "where it stands apart from typical Wargasm-feats is in its objectively quieter, more indulgent breaks" as on "Death Rattle" and "Ride the Thunder".[9] Reviewing the album for Clash, Caitlin Chatterton felt that "despite the odd lapse in power, Venom is a super-charged and dramatic record characteristic of Wargasm’s spirit".[6] Emma Wilkes of Kerrang! concluded that it is "a satisfying, feisty record made for blasting loud enough to annoy the neighbours, and for partying the existential dread away. This band's not cooling down anytime soon."[8]

Track listing[edit]

Venom track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Introduction"
0:57
2."Venom"
  • Hastings
  • Matlock
3:35
3."Minigun"
  • Hastings
  • Matlock
2:20
4."Death Rattle"
3:12
5."Ride the Thunder"
  • Hastings
  • Matlock
  • Kieron Pepper
  • Russell
3:01
6."Do It So Good"
  • Hastings
  • Matlock
  • Pepper
  • Russell
3:22
7."Bang Ya Head" (featuring Fred Durst)
3:36
8."Feral"
  • Hastings
  • Matlock
  • Pepper
  • Russell
3:16
9."Sonic Dog Tag"
  • Hastings
  • Matlock
  • Pepper
4:26
10."Modern Love"
  • Hastings
  • Matlock
  • Dana Dentata
  • Ben Havok
  • Pepper
  • Russell
  • Michael Taylor
3:28
11."S.A.D."
  • Hastings
  • Matlock
  • Pepper
  • Tyler Smith
3:30
12."Outrage"
  • Hastings
  • Matlock
  • Pepper
3:28
13."Sombre Goodbye"
  • Hastings
  • Matlock
  • Pepper
  • Russell
2:19
Total length:40:30

Personnel[edit]

Wargasm

  • Sam Matlock – vocals, guitar, programming, additional production (all tracks); drums (track 4)
  • Milkie Way – vocals, bass guitar, programming, additional production; drums (track 4)

Additional contributors

  • Charlie Russell – production, mixing, engineering, recording, keyboards, programming
  • Kieron Pepper – additional production, keyboards, programming
  • Chris Allgood – mastering
  • Emily Lazar – mastering
  • Pieter Rietkerk – recording
  • Adam Breeze – drums (tracks 1–3, 5–9, 11–13)
  • Jonny Solway – immersive mix engineering (track 6)
  • Fred Durst – vocals (track 7)
  • Zach Jones – additional production (track 7)
  • Ben Havok – guitar (track 10)
  • Michael Taylor – programming (track 10)

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Venom
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] 30
UK Albums (OCC)[13] 88
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[14] 3

References[edit]

  1. ^ "See Wargasm's fun new video for "Bang Ya Head" featuring Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst". Revolver. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  2. ^ Taylor, Sam (13 October 2023). "Wargasm's new single is "a true Britney moment with a Nine Inch Nails backbone" – check out 'Modern Love'". Dork. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  3. ^ Carter, Emily (14 July 2023). "Wargasm announce "heavy, melodic, disgusting, honest, sexy" debut album, Venom". Kerrang!. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  4. ^ England, Adam (19 July 2023). "Wargasm announce long-awaited debut album, Venom". Guitar.com. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Venom by Wargasm Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b Chatterton, Caitlin (27 October 2023). "Wargasm – Venom | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  7. ^ a b Shutler, Ali (25 October 2023). "Wargasm – Venom". Dork. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b Wilkes, Emma (26 October 2023). "Album review: Wargasm – Venom". Kerrang!. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b Williams, Lana (26 October 2023). "Wargasm wield wrath and vengeance on snarling debut Venom". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  10. ^ a b Alderslade, Merlin (23 October 2023). "Wargasm's Venom: a fun as hell, genre-splicing, relentlessly entertaining ride, and one of 2023's essential debut albums". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 26 October 2023 – via Loudersound.
  11. ^ a b Shah, Rishi (26 October 2023). "Wargasm – Venom review: London duo continue to light up the UK heavy scene". NME. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
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