VENOM Kicks Off Scandinavian Tour; Setlist Revealed

British black metal pioneers VENOM kicked off their "Scandinavian 7 Dates Tour" last night (Wednesday, May 23) at Pumpehuset in Copenhagen, Denmark. The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Black Metal
02. Welcome to Hell
03. Die Hard
04. Antechrist
05. Countess Bathory
06. The 7 Gates of Hell
07. Medley: Possessed / Schizo / Angel Dust / Possessed
08. Burn in Hell
09. At War with Satan
10. 1000 Days in Sodom
11. Warhead
12. Metal Black
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13. In League with Satan
14. Witching Hour

Remaining "Scandinavian 7 Dates Tour" dates:

May 24 - Stockholm, Sweden @ Klubben
May 26 - Oulu, Finland @ Teatria
May 27 - Helsinki, Finland @ Nosturi
May 29 - Oslo, Norway @ Betong
May 30 - Goteborg, Sweden @ Karen
May 31 - Malmö, Sweden @ KB

VENOM will take part in a signing session today (Thursday, May 24) at Sound Pollution in Stockholm, Sweden between 18.00 and 19.00.

Sound Pollution is located at Stora Nygatan 18. More information is available at www.soundpollution.se.

VENOM and its management are currently discussing other live plans with their agents for later this year. An American tour and some dates in Australia are on the cards, and there is talk of some shows in Japan and across Europe.

The recording schedule for the new VENOM album is well underway. The band has already laid the majority of the backing tracks and "everyone is very excited by the results," according to a posting on the band's web site. "It's a very dark-sounding album following on in the footsteps of last year's release, 'Metal Black'."

VENOM recently parted ways with guitarist Mykvs (a.k.a. Mike Hickey; ex-CARCASS, CATHEDRAL). "Personal unavoidable commitments in the U.S. have forced Mykvs to announce that he cannot commit 100% to VENOM's 2007 schedule," the band previously wrote in a statement. A new guitarist by the name of Rage has already been drafted in to replace Mykvs.

Check out photos of the new VENOM lineup at this location.

With regards to the direction of the band's next album, VENOM frontman Cronos previously said, "VENOM will be even darker and heavier for the next release. The new song ideas that Antton and I have been composing over the last year will be exactly what the 'legions' expect from us, and will really test the abilities of the band members. There's going to be a lot of blood spilled making the next album. This band belongs to the fans and I'm going to stay true to the spirit of VENOM no matter what sacrifices have to be made."

(Thanks: Mathias Nielsen)