CoC : Various - In the Sign of the Horns - A Tribute to Venom : Review

Various - _In the Sign of the Horns - A Tribute to Venom_
(Dwell Records, 2000)
by: Aaron McKay (6.5 out of 10)

This compilation is much more to my liking than the tribute to Zeppelin Dwell also put out [also reviewed in this issue]. For starters, this disc is a tribute to a group I hold close to my heart: Venom. Next, we have some pretty awe-inspiring bands anteing up for this effort, like Black Witchery, Diabolic and Mork Gryning. Finally, the song choices put forth here, while somewhat stereotypical, are solid. Coffin Texts displays a brutal rendition of "One Thousand Days in Sodom" right after a nicely done "Black Metal" cover by the Los Angeles band Nokturne. Very good way to start off, I say. There is a little bit of a lag with one of my least favorite groups, Bloodstorm, doing "Satanachist" (snore!), followed by Venereal Disease and Perverseraph putting out "Lady Lust" and "Genocide", respectively. From the Depths brings things back around with an incredible interpretation of "Live Like an Angel" sounding flawlessly close to the original, but with a perfect dose of From the Depths flavor. After Evil Incarnate ("In Nomine Satanas") and Black Witchery adding their two cents worth by pulling off "Warhead" authoritatively (Massacre's version still being my favorite, however), we find Diabolic at track nine. If it wasn't for Osmose recording artists Ritual Carnage ("Welcome to Hell"), Mork Gryning ("Leave Me in Hell") and Acheron ("Countess Bathory") on this collection, Diabolic's effort with "Buried Alive" would be hands down my favorite song. Rounding out the last three unmentioned cuts are respectable renderings by Anal Blast ("Red Light Fever"), Noctuary ("Die Hard") and Morpheus Descends ("Angel Dust"). The last three tracks I mentioned weren't bad at all, but just not my favorite Venom offerings. This compilation isn't quite up to the Cleopatra equivalent in 1998, but still very good. There is a trade-off between the two, I think, where we pick up Diabolic and Ritual Carnage with this one, but lose Voivod, Nuclear Assault and Sodom on the Cleopatra collection. As far as the labels are concerned, Dwell is sporting the vastly more professional organization and I think Cleopatra was just plain lucky with their Venom tribute. RESURRECTION!

Contact: http://www.dwellrecords.com

(article published 20/11/2000)

ALBUMS
12/29/2010	C Drishner	8	Various - Tribute to H.P. Lovecraft - Gate 1: Yogsothery - Chaosmogonic Rituals of Fear
12/14/2010	N Shahpazov	8.5	Various - Whom the Moon a Nightsong Sings
4/2/2010	Q Kalis		Various - Rising of Yog-Sothoth: Tribute to Thergothon
1/8/2009	C Drishner		Various - Anthrosphere Volume 1
9/17/2008	P Azevedo	7.5	Various - My Own Wolf: A New Approach to Ulver
8/9/2008	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Metal Message IV
6/22/2008	Q Kalis	8	Various - ...Where Tattered Clouds Are Stranding
6/17/2008	Q Kalis	5.5	Various - Extreme Metal Inside
6/13/2008	Q Kalis	8	Various - Might Is Right: Nordic Warchants II
6/11/2008	Q Kalis	4.5	Various - Bajo el Signo de la Violencia: Tribute to Masacre
10/7/2007	Q Kalis	7	Various - Rise of the Eastern Blood
7/24/2007	Q Kalis	8	Various - Might Is Right - Nordic Warchants Pt. I
7/4/2007	Q Kalis	7	Various - Aural Holograms Vol. I
4/20/2007	Q Kalis	8.5	Various - Noise.IL
4/15/2007	Q Kalis		Various - Fine-Tuned Disasters
4/5/2007	Q Kalis		Various - Defaced and Split
3/25/2007	Q Kalis	8	Various - Fuck the Modern World
3/8/2007	J Ulrey	7.5	Various - Intoxicated Vol. 4
2/24/2007	K Sarampalis	7	Various - Metal Message Vol III
1/28/2007	Q Kalis	8.5	Various - A Reassuring Voice on the Television
1/9/2007	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Hauautagused Karjed Vol. II: Estonian Extreme Metal Compilation
12/26/2006	Q Kalis	8	Various - All My Dead Friends
11/7/2005	N Shahpazov	7	Various - The Wood Brothers
1/10/2005	T DePalma	7.5	Various - Listen Without Distraction - A Tribute to Kyuss
10/19/2004	P Azevedo	7	Various - Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal
1/17/2004	A McKay	3.5	Various - Defenders of Metal Volume 1 - The Seduction
11/16/2003	X Hoose	7	Various - Japanese Assault
8/31/2003	J Montague	8	Various - Barbaric Onslaught (Australian Metal Attack)
5/29/2003	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Victory Through Total Domination: Compilation No. III
5/27/2003	A Wee	7	Various - The Obsolete View
4/5/2003	P Azevedo	8	Various - Better Undead Than Alive
3/31/2003	P Azevedo	7.5	Various - Svartmetall Compilation 2001
3/26/2003	X Hoose	4	Various - Covered in Blood: A Tribute to Slayer
4/12/2002	B Meloon	6	Various - Czech Assault
4/12/2002	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - The Bells of the Mystical Empire
1/14/2002	A Wee	6	Various - Hellion Promo Vol II
1/14/2002	A McKay	7	Various - Colorado Colossus
10/19/2001	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Beauty in Darkness 5
8/12/2001	A McKay	2	Various - Brazilian Assault
8/12/2001	V Eldefors	7	Various - Triarchy of Vasconia
8/12/2001	A Wee	9	Various - Black Metal Blitzkrieg
5/13/2001	A Wee	8	Various - The Return of Darkness and Hate
5/13/2001	A McKay	8	Various - Requiems of Revulsion: A Tribute to Carcass
3/13/2001	A McKay	4	Various - Chamber Metal: Neo-Classical Metal Guitar
3/13/2001	A McKay	6.5	Various - Overload 2: Tribute to Metallica
1/10/2001	A McKay	6.5	Various - Scream Forth Blasphemy: A Tribute to Morbid Angel
11/20/2000	A McKay	2	Various - Dead Zeppelin - A Metal Tribute to Led Zeppelin
11/20/2000	G Sanchez	7	Various - Economi$ed
11/20/2000	G Sanchez	8	Various - Coalescence
10/25/2000	A McKay	6	Various - Gateway to Hell 2: Tribute to Slayer
10/25/2000	A McKay	7	Various - King Diamond Tribute
10/25/2000	A Cantwell	7.5	Various - World of Pain -- A Tribute to Sepultura
10/25/2000	A Cantwell	7.5	Various - Jump in the Pit -- A Tribute to Testament
10/25/2000	A McKay	9.5	Various - Root of All Evil 2000 2nd Anniversary Sampler
8/12/2000	A McKay	5	Various - Raise the Flag of Hate: A Tribute to Kreator
8/12/2000	A McKay	8	Various - Curse of the Demon: A Tribute to Mercyful Fate
5/25/2000	A Bromley	3	Various - Power From the North
5/25/2000	A Bromley	7.5	Various - Panther: A Tribute to Pantera
3/5/2000	A Bromley	8.5	Various - Holy Dio: Tribute to Ronnie James Dio
1/15/2000	M Noll	2	Various - A Tribute to Accept
1/15/2000	P Azevedo	8	Various - To Magic...
12/9/1999	P Schwarz	8	Various - 21st Century Media Blitz Vol. 2
12/9/1999	A Bromley	8.5	Various - Never Give In: A Tribute to Bad Brains
8/12/1999	A McKay	3	Various - A Tribute to Hell: Satanic Rites
8/12/1999	P Schwarz	3	Various - ECW Extreme Music
8/12/1999	G Sanchez	6	Various - Lobot Manual
8/12/1999	G Sanchez	7.5	Various - Needlepoint
8/12/1999	A McKay	9	Various - White: Nightmares in the End
7/7/1999	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Death... Is Just the Beginning 5
6/15/1999	P Azevedo	5	Various - Psyclone Sinphonies
6/15/1999	A Wasylyk	6.5	Various - Beauty in Darkness Vol. 3
6/15/1999	A McKay	8.5	Various - Smells Like Team Spirit III
5/19/1999	G Sanchez	6.5	Various - Extreme America 3
5/19/1999	A McKay	7	Various - Straight to Hell -- A Tribute to Slayer
5/19/1999	G Sanchez	7.5	Various - Freak Animal Zine #11 CD
5/19/1999	P Azevedo	8	Various - Where We Go, Others Can Only Follow...
5/19/1999	A Cantwell	8.5	Various - Chords of the Grave
5/19/1999	A McKay	8.5	Various - To Live Is Ever to Be in Danger
3/14/1999	A Bromley	7	Various - Black Mark Tribute II
3/14/1999	A McKay	7	Various - In Conspiracy With Satan
3/14/1999	G Sanchez	8	Various - WWF - The Music Vol. 3
2/13/1999	A Cantwell	8.5	Various - Full Moon Productions Sampler CD
1/16/1999	P Schwarz	5	Various - Roadkill
1/16/1999	P Schwarz	7	Various - Feuersturm Vol. II: The Ultimate Storm
1/16/1999	P Schwarz	8	Various - Wardance
1/16/1999	A Cantwell	8	Various - From Kaamos to Midnight Sun -- Finnish Metal Compilation
11/19/1998	A Bromley	8	Various - GRRRR!!: Extreme Music From Vancouver
10/1/1998	P Schwarz	7	Various - Cry Now, Cry Later -- Vols. 3 & 4
10/1/1998	A Cantwell	7	Various - Songs From the Penalty Box: Volume 2
10/1/1998	P Schwarz	8	Various - Amduscias
9/1/1998	P Azevedo	6	Various - High Radiation 4
9/1/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Call on the Dark II
9/1/1998	B Meloon	7	Various - Bestial Sampler: 1997-1998
9/1/1998	A Wasylyk	8	Various - Fiesta Comes Alive!
9/1/1998	P Schwarz	9	Various - Statements of Intent
7/8/1998	A Wasylyk	6	Various - Blackened III
7/8/1998	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Statements of Intent
7/8/1998	A Wasylyk	8	Various - Sepultural Feast: A Tribute to Sepultura
6/7/1998	P Azevedo		Various - Peaceville X
6/7/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Call To Irons: A Tribute to Iron Maiden
6/7/1998	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Voyager: 10 Years Nuclear Blast
6/7/1998	B Meloon	8	Various - Until the End of Time
1/1/1998	A Wasylyk	5	Various - A Declaration of Independence
1/1/1998	A Gaudrault	7	Various - Masters of Misery - Black Sabbath: The Earache Tribute
1/1/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Untitled (ten)
11/17/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - Earache Unplugged 2
7/14/1997	A Wasylyk	3	Various - The Kanada Compilation
7/14/1997	Z Tsarfin	7	Various - Awakenings: Females in Extreme Music
7/14/1997	A Bromley	9	Various - A Black Mark Tribute
6/7/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - The Ozz-Fest: Live
5/13/1997	P Azevedo	8	Various - Out of the Dark Live Compilation
5/13/1997	S Hoeltzel	9	Various - World Domination II
2/5/1997	A Bromley	5	Various - Frozen Dawn III
2/5/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - The Absolute Supper
1/2/1997	A Wasylyk	9	Various - Beneath the Icy Floe: A Projekt Sampler V.4
8/12/1996	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Black Mark Attack
8/12/1996	G Filicetti	9	Various - ...And Even Wolves Hid Their Teeth
7/17/1996	A Bromley	9	Various - Beauty In Darkness
6/9/1996	S Hoeltzel	7	Various - Nordic Metal: A Tribute to Euronymous
4/18/1996	N Bassett	7	Various - In Memory of Celtic Frost
3/14/1996	A Bromley	7	Various - Identity II
3/14/1996	N Bassett	8	Various - With Us Or Against Us
1/17/1996	G Filicetti	9	Various - Four Ways To Misery