VENOM INC. parts ways with drummer Jeramie “War Machine” Kling

VENOM INC. parts ways with drummer Jeramie "War Machine" Kling

08-11-2023

VENOM INC parted ways with their drummer Jeramie “War Machine” Kling. Kling, who is also building up his own band INHUMAN CONDITION, with his best friend Taylor Nordberg and who is the sound technician for DEICIDE, which also features Nordberg, blames logistical difficulties as the reason. He sat out the 2022 summer festival shows at Alcatraz Belgium and Blookdstock in Englands, where the band playes the ‘Black Metal’ album in its entirety. He was replaced by legendary British drummer Nick Barker.

Says Kling on social media:

I have decided to part ways with Venom Inc. due to logistical reasons.

This has been an incredible journey that has taken me around the world! I have seen countries I had never been to, met wonderful friends and had a blas going it!

I am proud of what we created with “There’s Only Black”as well as the countless shows we have played over the years.

Very special thanks to all of the Venom fans that have acepted and welcomed me into the legacy. I will forever cherrish your support.

Influential metal journalist Jeanne E Thomas responded to the post it must have been difficult for an American drummer to play with a European band, saying “yeah was a little far from the rest of the band”. Kling however reacted with “I didn’t mind the traveling.“

As previously reported, guitarist Mantas sat out the last tour through the USA, due to family urgencies, the band then announced that former VENOM, former CRONOS and former CARCASS guitarist and currently Joe Bonamassa’s guitar technician Mike Hickey would step in for Mantas.

VENOM INC announced on their social media:

“LADIES & GENTLEMEN , THEY , THEM & OTHERS….

We are very PROUD to announce MR MIKE HICKEY – Ex Carcass – Ex VENOM – Ex Cronos band & Mr Joe Bonamassa’s personal guitar tech will be stepping in to help with the US tour upcoming!!! He’s representing our brother Jeff Dunn and his current situation and as we all do not wish to let you down or all the bands lined up… we WILL BE THERE!! AVE SATANAS!!!

See YOU in the VERY DEPTHS OF HELL!!“

VENOM INC. released its second album, “There’s Only Black“, last year via Nuclear Blast Records. Watch the previously released lyric videos for ‘There’s Only Black’, ‘Come To Me’, ‘How Many Can Die’ and ‘Don’t Feed Me Your Lies’ below.

Lead singer/bassist Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan comments:
“Following Wacken in 2019, our live season closed giving us time where I could have my hip replacement surgery and we could take the recovery time to work on a new album… Little did anyone know we’d be hit by a pandemic that would pause the whole world. We began our work at a pace, then being locked down with no prospect of live shows, I decided there was no need to rush it along but utilize the time to create without the pressure of live work looming. So we began recording our songs .. and after producing twice the amount required, we began editing, touching, improving, and polishing until we finally had what we decided was THE correct album along with the label and here we can finally present to you .. a pure ball of furious… VENOM INC. power that left us feeling proud and excited at the same time…THIS album is now yours!!! And as the world runs through its evolution of its colors, remember… when the sun goes out…THERE’S ONLY BLACK!!!!! AVE”.

He also stated about how guitarist Mantas’s heart attack in 2019 affected the album:
“Well, Mantas died and saw only a black void that he thought was empty… So if life is just lights… what is there when all the light goes? There’s ONLY BLACK. So in order to disclose wat lies beyond, you must abate all fear and take the journey in. Welcome inside our album. Maybe you’ll discover something inside or perhaps for you, you won’t and there will remain ‘ONLY BLACK’..

Not all see the light“

“There’s Only Black” track listing:
01. How Many Can Die (03:21)
02. Infinitum (03:47)
03. Come To Me (03:46)
04. There’s Only Black (04:49)
05. Tyrant (05:25)
06. Don’t Feed Me Your Lies (05:51)
07. Man As God (03:23)
08. Burn Liar Burn (05:32)
09. Nine (03:34)
10. Rampant (04:06)
11. The Dance (04:54)
12. Inferno (05:19)

The follow-up to 2017’s “Avé”, “There’s Only Black” marks the second recording under the name VENOM INC., while Dunn and Dolan have a long history as recording artists together in VENOM, M:PIRE OF EVIL and Mantas solo projects. It also marks the VENOM INC. recording debut of drummer Jeramie “War Machine” Kling (also of IMHUMAN CONDITION), who joined the band in 2018.

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