PRIMEVIL Changes Name To MPIRE OF EVIL

PRIMEVIL- the new band featuring formerVENOMmembersJeff "Mantas" Dunn(guitar),Antony "Antton" Lant(drums; brother ofVENOMfrontmanConrad "Cronos" Lant) andTony […]

By Steinmetal

• June 14, 2011

PRIMEVIL- the new band featuring formerVENOMmembersJeff "Mantas" Dunn(guitar),Antony "Antton" Lant(drums; brother ofVENOMfrontmanConrad "Cronos" Lant) andTony "The Demolition Man" Dolan(bass, vocals) - has changed its name toMPIRE OF EVIL.

Commented the group: "It was brought to our attention that a band who named themselves after our sixthVENOMalbum,'Prime Evil', had decided to get back together after we had announced our intentions. We had already signed our deal withScarletand had appearances booked but we have decide to cancel those shows as our belief is that EVERY band should have a chance and we do not wish to exclude anyone so we have made this change. We apologize to the Venoms Legions and fans who chose our name but we hope you support this/our decision.., and so! welcome to theMPIRE OF EVIL!"

In 1979 a dark formation occurred, a black ripple that would soon become a wave: one which made a huge impact on the metal world. Taking the name ofMantas, the legendary guitaristJeff Dunnformed an outfit that rivaled the stage shows of bands such asKISSand challenged the occult themes thatBLACK SABBATHhad pioneered. He took the knife edge that had madeJUDAS PRIESTdangerous and the volume that had madeMOTÖRHEADso intense, and rolled it into a big, black dirtball called VENOM.

With renewed hunger and inspiration,Mantasjoined up with theDemolition Man, bassist/vocalistTony Dolan, in 1988. The duo penned"Prime Evil", an album hailed as a return to form with its cleaner sound and the mighty vocal attack ofDolan. AfterDemolition Man's exit in 1992, drummerAnttontook up the sticks for the powerful"Resurrection"album, after whichMantasdeparted fromVENOM.

In 2010Mantas's work with his own band,DRYLL, seemed to be paying dividends, and following his drummer's departure,Antton- who played in his own outfit,DEF-CON-ONE- joinedDRYLL. It didn't take long before the mutterings began. What ifMantasandAnttoncould coax theDemolition Manback? The call went out - and in cameDolanonce more!

The trio decided that they needed to produce something befitting of their musical prowess. Something unashamedly heavy and without restraint; free of ego, deception and unreasonable behavior - and fulfilling for them as musicians.

The band's die-hard fans were left to choose a name for the new group, as it was they who had pushed for the new group to form. Naturally, in hindsight,PRIME EVILwas the name they chose - and so the band were free to make the music that they had always wanted to make, without pretending that it was 1982 all over again. After announcing themselves to the world the band were asked to reconsider the chosen name out of respect for another act who had named themselves afterVENOMalbum title. Without hesitation and with understanding and the respect to be expected by this honorable trio, they changed their name.

MPIRE OF EVIL's debut mini-album,"The Creatures Of The Black", will be released this summer. The CD will feature cover versions of four songs that influenced the members ofPRIMEVIL("Exciter"byJUDAS PRIEST,"God Of Thunder"byKISS,"Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be"byAC/DCand"Motörhead"byMOTÖRHEAD) plus two brand new original tracks,"The Creatures Of The Black"and"Reptile". A full-length effort will follow sometime in September/October, with a full tour planned for 2012.

In a recent interview withMetality,Dolanstated about the formation ofMPIRE OF EVIL,"Well, I think it came about asMantasandAnttonwho were both doing separate music projects (DRYLLandDEF-CON-ONE) came together inDRYLL.Mantasneeded a drummer andAnttonoffered his services. People kept wondering what it would be like ifMantasandAnttonplayed with me and it was kind of, 'Oh, yeah that would be fun perhaps,' but thenDRYLLplayed a show and performed theVENOMtrack'Black Metal'[with Antton] and that was kind of it. People started saying I had to come in and play, too. So I got a phone call and had a few chats withMantasand that was that; we decided we'd see if it worked. It does, very well, but then again myself andMantashave always been friends and played well together. The addition of a drummer as good asAnttonwas something too cool to pass up! [MPIRE OF EVIL] is old school, I guess, melodic, heavy, powerful. [As to howMPIRE OF EVILis] different fromVENOM, [I'm]not sure. We will inevitably be compared, as we are all ex-VENOM[members] and, of course,Mantaswas the main songwriter forVENOM, so! But I feel we are more like classic metal.MOTÖRHEAD,BLACK SABBATH!.PRIESTandVENOM."