Live Review: Venom Inc – Corporation, Sheffield
5th June 2026
Support: Devastator, Imperium
Words & Photos: Martin Hingley
Black and thrash metal descend upon Sheffield on Friday as Venom Inc make a stop at Corporation before heading out to Europe for their summer run of shows.
It’s early doors this evening, but the venue is already filling nicely as Imperium take to the stage with a dose of old-school thrash metal. The London outfit do an excellent job of revving things up, delivering crushing riffs reminiscent of early Metallica. Frontman Ben Porter leans over the barrier, growling with a commanding presence that immediately captures the audience’s attention. His energy feeds through the rest of the band, creating plenty of movement on stage and head-banging in the crowd.
Imperium are clearly a force to be reckoned with. Hardip Sagoo unleashes blistering thrash riffs that bring both urgency and precision to the band’s sound, while Chris Lomas’ rhythm work complements this perfectly. With their debut release arriving later this summer and a slot at Bloodstock in August, they’re well worth checking out.
The lights dim and shadowy figures emerge. A scythe appears across the stage as Devastator arrive to do exactly what their name suggests. Their Motörhead-inspired bass lines and relentless speed-metal assault quickly whip the venue into a frenzy, to the point where guitarist Richard Amun appears to be running out of strings by the end of the set.
As the pits grow larger and come thick and fast, Devastator remain relentless. Frontman Tom Nachtghul’s snarling vocals cut through a barrage of speed-metal riffs while band members swap microphones and tear around the stage. Already well established on the circuit, they deliver everything you’d want from a black/thrash metal show and further cement their reputation as one of the scene’s most exciting live acts.
Formed from members of Venom, Venom Inc have spent the last decade carrying the torch for one of metal’s most influential names, and tonight shows exactly why. Mixing their own material with selections from the classic Venom catalogue, they waste little time getting the crowd onside. As the sinister opening of Ave Satanas rings out, heads begin to bang across the venue. Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan screams down the microphone like a man possessed, while Curran Murphy provides the razor-sharp guitar work.
A few songs in, the band delve into the Venom back catalogue, much to the crowd’s delight. Blackened Are the Priests is the first to appear, drawing a huge response. Murphy’s guitar work is consistently impressive, delivering intricate riffs while effortlessly looking the part. Meanwhile, Dolan takes time to share his bottle of Jack Daniel’s with the audience, passing it into the crowd between songs before eventually getting it returned.
As the evening reaches its conclusion, Tom Nachtghul returns to the stage for Bloodlust, paying tribute to the influence Venom have had on the scene. The band then dedicate their penultimate song to the late Phil Campbell of Motörhead, performing The Hammer before briefly leaving the stage. They return for a fitting encore of Black Metal, giving fans one final hit before the lights come up and they all head home happy.
Tonight is a reminder of just how strong the UK’s black and thrash metal scene remains, from established veterans to the newer generation carrying the torch. A night packed with quality performances, tonight’s gig showed exactly why this corner of the metal world continues to thrive.
Photo credits: Martin Hingley
For all the latest news, reviews, interviews across the heavy metal spectrum follow THE RAZORS’S EDGE on facebook, twitter and instagram.
The post Live Review: Venom Inc – Sheffield appeared first on The Razor's Edge.
