Welcome to Hell
Welcome to Hell is the debut studio album by Venom, the English heavy metal band. It came out in 1981, following several line-up changes and a run of demo tapes recorded at Impulse Studios. The single "In League with Satan" had already brought them attention, helped by a dark, Satanic image and a fast, raw sound. For the album, the band re-recorded the songs from those demos.
It arrived at the height of the new wave of British heavy metal, and critics at first panned it. Time has been kinder: it is now recognised as a seminal record in the growth of the young extreme metal scene, and one of the most influential metal albums ever made. Sanctuary Records reissued it in 2002. Black Metal followed in 1982, so this is where the story begins for anyone tracing the band's path.
Welcome to Hell: tracklist and credits
11 tracks · 39:18Tracklist
- 1Sons of SatanBray, Dunn, Lant3:37
- 2Welcome to HellBray, Dunn, Lant3:12
- 3SchizoBray, Dunn, Lant3:30
- 4Mayhem With MercyBray, Dunn, Lant0:58
- 5PoisonBray, Dunn, Lant4:29
- 6Live Like an Angel (Die Like a Devil)Bray, Dunn, Lant3:55
- 7Witching HourBray, Dunn, Lant3:41
- 8One Thousand Days in SodomBray, Dunn, Lant4:33
- 9Angel DustBray, Dunn, Lant2:40
- 10In League With SatanBray, Dunn, Lant3:32
- 11Red Light FeverBray, Dunn, Lant5:10
- Produced by
- Keith Nichol, Venom, Mickey Sweeney, Steve Thompson, Keith Nichol and Venom
- Recorded at
- Impulse Studios (Newcastle)
- Recorded
- August 1981
- Labels
- Bernett Records, Neat
- Length
- 39:18
Line-up
- Abaddon · drums (drum set)
- Cronos · bass guitar, vocals
- Mantas · guitar
Singles
- “In League with Satan” · 17 April 1981
From MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Only what the sources record is shown.
More from Venom
Full discography →
The best of 1981
All of 1981 →
Releases and pressings
How we know the release date only month precision available
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 1981 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | December 1981 | |
| Wikidata | 1981 | |
| UK / Europe release | 1981 | earliest UK or European date |
13 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | FR | Bernett Records | original | |
| 1981 | GB | Neat Records | original | |
| 1984 | CA | Banzai Records | other | |
| 1990 | XE | Roadracer Records | 016861970727 | other |
| 1 July 1991 | US | Relativity Records | 088561803223 | other |
| 1992 | GB | Castle Classics | 5017615625523 | other |
| 1992 | IT | Castle Classics | 5017615625523 | other |
| 2002 | XW | Sanctuary Records | remaster | |
| 2002 | US | Sanctuary Records | 823107300329 | other |
| 11 March 2002 | GB | Castle Music | 5050159147120 | other |
| 2003 | IT | Earmark | 8013252490026 | other |
| 31 March 2009 | XW | Noise Records | 5414939528378 | other |
| 2025 | DE | BMG | 4099964126518 | other |
Cover art sources
deezer · upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| deezer ✓ | 1200×1200 | upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25) |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |
| coverartarchive | 820×820 | upscaled |