Venom Prison
{{Short description|Welsh death metal band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Venom Prison
| image =
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| origin = South Wales, U.K.
| genre = Death metal
| years_active = 2015–2022 (hiatus)
| label = Prosthetic, Century Media
| associated_acts =
| website =
| current_members = Larissa Stupar
- Ash Gray
- Ben Thomas
- Mike Jefferies
- Joe Bills
| past_members = *Richy Unsworth
- Joe Sheehy
- Jay Pipprell
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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". Their lead vocalist Larissa Stupar was described by Kerrang! as "metal's most important - and uncompromising - voice".{{cite journal |last1=Morton |first1=Luke |title=Venom Prison the Remarkable Story of the Rise and Rise of Metal's Most Important - and Uncompromising - Voice |journal=Kerrang! |date=27 May 2019}} The band has released four studio albums.
History
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.
The band released their debut studio album on 14 October 2016, entitled Animus.{{cite web |last1=Bellino |first1=Vince |title=Full Album Stream: Venom Prison – 'Animus' |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2016/10/10/full-album-stream-venom-prison-animus/ |website=Decibel |date=10 October 2016 |access-date=6 July 2019}} The album was released to critical acclaim.{{cite web |title=DREAMS OUT OF NIGHTMARES: REDEFINING FEMININITY IN HEAVY MUSIC |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/culture/dreams-out-nightmares-redefining-femininity-heavy-music |website=Revolver |date=23 January 2019 |access-date=7 July 2019}}
On 7 July 2017, the band released a music video for "Perpetrator Emasculation" from Animus.{{cite web |last1=Bellino |first1=Vince |title=Video Premiere: Venom Prison – 'Perpetrator Emasculation' |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2017/07/06/video-premiere-venom-prison-perpetrator-emasculation/ |website=Decibel |date=6 July 2017 |access-date=7 July 2019}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Munro |first1=Scott |title=Venom Prison cancel shows with Decapitated |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/venom-prison-cancel-shows-with-decapitated |website=Metal Hammer |date=13 September 2017 |access-date=7 July 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Shawgo |first1=Kelsey |title=VENOM PRISON PULL OUT OF TOUR WITH DECAPITATED FOLLOWING SEXUAL ASSAULT ACCUSATIONS |url=https://www.altpress.com/news/venom_prison_pull_out_of_tour_with_decapitated/ |website=Alternative Press |date=13 September 2017 |access-date=7 July 2019}}
In August 2018, the band was set to join Dying Fetus, Toxic Holocaust and Goatwhore on their European tour,{{cite web |last1=Munro |first1=Scott |title=Venom Prison to support Dying Fetus in the UK and Europe |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/venom-prison-to-support-dying-fetus-in-the-uk-and-europe |website=Metal Hammer |date=2 May 2018 |access-date=7 July 2019}} but the tour was canceled because of "personal issues"https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0msp3UsnE3JYQDR8YtyizxiMfMkPH49YeevwLJA9YUA6GuiDoutgBa7MgFU9gprm9l&id=258603759905
In May and June 2019, the band toured Europe, beginning in Germany and ending in the UK,{{cite web |last1=Everley |first1=Dave |title=Venom Prison announce new album Samsara and European tour |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/venom-prison-announce-new-album-samsara-and-european-tour |website=Metal Hammer |date=15 February 2019 |access-date=6 July 2019}} opening for Fit for an Autopsy.{{cite web |title=VENOM PRISON ANNOUNCE UK AND EUROPEAN TOUR SUPPORTING FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/venom-prison-announce-uk-and-european-tour-with-fit-for-an-autopsy/ |website=Kerrang! |date=11 January 2019 |access-date=7 July 2019}}{{cite journal |title=Venom Prison Inside the Welsh Brutalists' Ferocious New Album |journal=Kerrang! |date=16 June 2019}}
Their second studio album, Samsara was released on 15 March 2019.
On 21 March 2019, the band announced a collaboration with American streetwear brand The Hundreds.{{cite web |title=VENOM PRISON REVEAL COLLABORATION WITH THE HUNDREDS |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/venom-prison-reveal-collaboration-with-the-hundreds/ |website=Kerrang! |date=21 March 2019 |access-date=7 July 2019}}
Venom Prison's third album Primeval, a collection of re-recorded early material, was released on 9 October 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2020/06/26/news/venom-prison-have-re-recorded-their-early-material-for-new-outing-primeval-hear-2020-version-of-defy-the-tyrant/|title=Venom Prison Have Re-Recorded Their Early Material For New Outing "Primeval", Hear 2020 Version Of "Defy The Tyrant"|date=26 June 2020|publisher=ThePRP|access-date=9 December 2020}}
On 10 December 2020, Venom Prison announced on social media that they had been signed to Century Media Records,{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CInySoJAjWI/ | title=Instagram }} and the band had begun recording their next studio album.{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2020/12/09/news/venom-prison-recording-new-album/|title=Venom Prison Recording New Album|date=9 December 2020|publisher=ThePRP|access-date=December 9, 2020}} The album, titled Erebos, was released on 4 February 2022.{{Cite web|title=Venom Prison announce new album Erebos|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/venom-prison-announce-new-album-erebos/|access-date=2021-11-26|website=Kerrang!|date=19 October 2021 }} Venom Prison performed on the Main Stage at Bloodstock 2021.{{Cite web|title=Bloodstock 2021: What happened on the Friday|url=https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/bloodstock-2021-what-happened-on-the-friday/|access-date=2021-11-26|website=Kerrang!|date=14 August 2021 }}
Musical style and influences
The band are generally described as death metal,{{cite web |last1=APPLEFORD |first1=STEVE |title=VENOM PRISON: DEATH METAL AGAINST RAPE CULTURE AND MISOGYNY |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/venom-prison-death-metal-against-rape-culture-and-misogyny |website=Revolver |date=31 August 2017 |access-date=16 February 2019}}{{cite web |last1=De Gallier |first1=Thea |title=Venom Prison Combats Death Metal Misogyny with Brute Force |url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/article/jm5vdg/venom-prison-combats-death-metal-misogyny-with-brute-force |website=Vice Media |date=2 November 2016 |access-date=16 February 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Eynon |first1=Jacob |title=NEWS: Venom Prison begin to tease second album! |date=8 February 2019 |url=http://www.deadpress.co.uk/news-venom-prison-begin-to-tease-second-album/ |access-date=16 February 2019}} featuring elements of hardcore punk{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Stephen |title=In the studio with Venom Prison as they work on album number two |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/in-the-studio-with-venom-prison-as-they-work-on-album-number-two |website=Metal Hammer |date=11 October 2018 |access-date=16 February 2019}} and grindcore. In an article for Metal Hammer by Stephen Hill, they were described as "part-death metal/part-hardcore". Their lyrics are generally based around political and social topics such as misogyny, rape culture, fascism, mental health and organized religion.{{cite journal |last1=Morton |first1=Luke |title=Venom Prision |journal=Metal Hammer |date=29 March 2018}}{{cite web |last1=De Gallier |first1=Thea |title=Venom Prison Combats Death Metal Misogyny with Brute Force |url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/jm5vdg/venom-prison-combats-death-metal-misogyny-with-brute-force |website=Vice Media |date=2 November 2016 |access-date=7 July 2019}} The members have cited influences including Carcass,{{cite web |last1=Morton |first1=Luke |title=The 10 best death metal albums, chosen by Venom Prison |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-10-best-death-metal-albums-chosen-by-venom-prison |website=Metal Hammer |date=5 May 2019 |access-date=7 July 2019}}{{cite web |title=Ash Gray of Venom Prison Shows Off His Most Prized Metal T-Shirts |url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2019/01/10/ash-grey-of-venom-prison-shows-off-his-most-prized-metal-t-shirts/ |website=MetalSucks |date=10 January 2019 |access-date=7 July 2019}} Napalm Death{{cite web |title="I DON'T LIKE YOUR BAND BECAUSE YOU'RE A WOMAN" INTERVIEW WITH LARISSA STUPAR OF VENOM PRISON |url=https://www.metalchondria.com/i-dont-like-your-band-because-youre-a-woman-interview-with-larissa-stupar-of-venom-prison |access-date=7 July 2019}} and Metallica.{{cite web |title=INTERVIEW: ASH GRAY OF VENOM PRISON |date=18 November 2017 |url=https://www.moshville.co.uk/interview/2017/11/interview-ash-gray-of-venom-prison/ |access-date=7 July 2019}} 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.{{Cite web|title=This Death Metal Band Doesn't Sing About the Devil Because Humans Are Worse|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dyz7aj/venom-prison-samsara-album-interview|access-date=2021-11-25|website=www.vice.com|date=24 June 2020 |language=en}}
Members
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
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Discography
Studio albums
- Animus (2016)
- Samsara (2019)
- Primeval (2020)
- Erebos (2022)
EPs
- Defy the Tyrant (2015)
- The Primal Chaos (2015)
Accolades
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:50%;" |
| Nominated work
! Year ! Award ! Result |
|---|
| rowspan="2" scope="row" | Venom Prison
| rowspan="1" | 2017 | Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards - Best New Band | {{won}}{{cite web |title=The Golden Gods Awards 2017: Winners in full |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-golden-gods-awards-2017-winners-in-full |website=Metal Hammer |date=26 June 2017 |access-date=7 July 2019}} |
| rowspan="1" | 2018
| Heavy Music Awards - BEST UK BREAKTHROUGH BAND |