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Venom alumni have teamed up for a new project, Mpire Of Evil, and the caliber of the musicians involved does little to help their first release, Creatures Of The Black. Bassist/vocalist Demolition Man, guitarist Mantas, and drummer Antton unite to attract the gaze of classic metal fans. Instead of waiting for a full-length, the band have put together this mini-album. Consisting of four cover tracks and two original numbers, very little good comes out of this EP.


The covers, which include Judas Priest’s “Exciter” and AC/DC’s “Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be,” all stick to the original format. The only difference is the mediocre vocals and a heavier guitar tone. None of these songs seem suitable for Mpire Of Evil, save for the furious rendition of Motorhead’s “Motorhead.” The gritty, low-quality production makes each song sound like it was coated in maple syrup.

“Reptile” and the title track are the first new songs heard from Mpire Of Evil. Those hoping for a Venom-styled direction will be less than satisfied with these songs. The lead guitar work is almost non-existent, and the band seems to aim for a more modern metal audience. “Reptile” is easily the best of the two, a burning rager that excels despite the production. The title track’s slow pace comes across as awkwardly as a baby on roller skates.

“Reptile” and the cover of the classic tune “Motorhead” are the only salvageable music from Creatures Of The Black. The muddy production, hindered by too many by-the-book covers and a boring title track, all hurt the band’s chances to make an all-important first impression.

Mpire Of Evil may initially skid by on reputation and nostalgia, but they need something substantial with their upcoming debut album to compensate for the muck thrown out with Creatures Of The Black.

(released October 25, 2011 on Scarlet Records)

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.