Venom Prison

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]

Venom Prison
OriginSouth Wales, U.K.
GenresDeath metal
Years active2014–present
LabelsProsthetic, Century Media
MembersLarissa Stupar
  • Ash Gray
  • Ben Thomas
  • Mike Jefferies
  • Joe Bills
Past members
  • Richy Unsworth
  • Joe Sheehy
  • Jay Pipprell

History

In 2014, former Wolf Down vocalist, Larissa Stupar (born in Russia), moved to Wales, where she met Ash Gray of Brutality Will Prevail, whom she would begin writing music with. 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 then recruited Ben Thomas to play lead guitar and Joe Sheehy to play drums along with Mike Jeffries who plays bass guitar for the band. 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, however pulled amidst the band's arrests.[7][8]

In August 2018, the band joined Dying Fetus, Toxic Holocaust and Goatwhore on their European tour.[9]

In May and June 2019, the band toured Europe, beginning in Germany and ending in the UK,[10] opening for Fit for an Autopsy.[11][12]

Their second studio album Samsara was released on 15 March 2019.[10]

On 21 March 2019, the band announced a collaboration with American streetwear brand The Hundreds.[13]

Venom Prison's third album Primeval, a collection of re-recorded early material, was released on October 9, 2020.[14]

Venom Prison are currently recording their fourth album.[15]

On December 10th 2020, Venom Prison announced on social media that they got signed to Century Media Records. [16]

Musical style

The band are generally described as playing death metal,[3][17][18] 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][19][20] The members have cited influences including Carcass,[21][22] Napalm Death[23] and Metallica.[24]

Members
Current line-up
  • Larissa Stupar – lead vocals (2014–present)
  • Ash Gray – guitar (2014–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
Studio albums
  • Animus (2016)
  • Samsara (2019)
  • Primeval (2020)
EPs
  • Defy The Tyrant (2015)
  • The Primal Chaos (2015)

Accolades
Nominated work Year Award Result
Venom Prison 2017 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards - Best New Band Won[25]
2018 Heavy Music Awards - BEST UK BREAKTHROUGH BAND Nominated[26]

References
  1. Hill, Stephen. "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. APPLEFORD, STEVE. "VENOM PRISON: DEATH METAL AGAINST RAPE CULTURE AND MISOGYNY". Revolver (magazine). Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  4. Bellino, Vince. "Full Album Stream: Venom Prison – 'Animus'". Decibel. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  5. "DREAMS OUT OF NIGHTMARES: REDEFINING FEMININITY IN HEAVY MUSIC". Revolver. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  6. Bellino, Vince. "Video Premiere: Venom Prison – 'Perpetrator Emasculation'". Decibel. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  7. Munro, Scott. "Venom Prison cancel shows with Decapitated". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  8. Shawgo, Kelsey. "VENOM PRISON PULL OUT OF TOUR WITH DECAPITATED FOLLOWING SEXUAL ASSAULT ACCUSATIONS". Alternative Press. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  9. Munro, Scott. "Venom Prison to support Dying Fetus in the UK and Europe". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  10. Everley, Dave. "Venom Prison announce new album Samsara and European tour". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  11. "VENOM PRISON ANNOUNCE UK AND EUROPEAN TOUR SUPPORTING FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY". Kerrang!. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  12. "Venom Prison Inside the Welsh Brutalists' Ferocious New Album". Kerrang!. 16 June 2019.
  13. "VENOM PRISON REVEAL COLLABORATION WITH THE HUNDREDS". Kerrang!. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  14. "Venom Prison Have Re-Recorded Their Early Material For New Outing "Primeval", Hear 2020 Version Of "Defy The Tyrant"". ThePRP. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  15. "Venom Prison Recording New Album". ThePRP. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  16. https://www.instagram.com/p/CInySoJAjWI/
  17. De Gallier, Thea. "Venom Prison Combats Death Metal Misogyny with Brute Force". Vice Media. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  18. Eynon, Jacob. "NEWS: Venom Prison begin to tease second album!". Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  19. Morton, Luke (29 March 2018). "Venom Prision". Metal Hammer.
  20. De Gallier, Thea. "Venom Prison Combats Death Metal Misogyny with Brute Force". Vice Media. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  21. Morton, Luke. "The 10 best death metal albums, chosen by Venom Prison". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  22. "Ash Gray of Venom Prison Shows Off His Most Prized Metal T-Shirts". MetalSucks. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  23. ""I DON'T LIKE YOUR BAND BECAUSE YOU'RE A WOMAN" INTERVIEW WITH LARISSA STUPAR OF VENOM PRISON". Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  24. "INTERVIEW: ASH GRAY OF VENOM PRISON". Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  25. "The Golden Gods Awards 2017: Winners in full". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  26. Cook, Lottie. "NEWS: Heavy Music Awards 2018 finalists announced!". Retrieved 7 July 2019.
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