High-definition, pro-shot footage has been released capturing the reunion of former Venom members Jeff “Mantas” Dunn and Antony “Abaddon” Bray at the legendary Shinjuku Antiknock venue.
The concert, which took place on November 30, saw the founding guitarist and drummer of the black metal pioneers joining forces to tear through a set of Venom classics. However, this was not a standard reunion show. In a unique twist, Dunn and Bray were bolstered by a backing band comprised of Japan’s most respected extreme metal musicians.
The lineup featured Masaki “Gezol” Tachi of Sabbat on bass and vocals, Mirai Kawashima of the avant-garde metal legends Sigh on vocals, Shinji “Samm” Tachi of Metalucifer on drums, and Noboru “Jero” Sakuma of Abigail on guitar. The night also featured support sets from Survive and Hell Freezes Over.
The full concert video has been uploaded to the UPP-tone music YouTube channel, offering fans a front-row seat to the raucous performance. Additionally, a specific clip of the anthem “Welcome To Hell” from the same night has been made available by Roppongi Rocks.
This Tokyo performance serves as a prelude to a significant milestone. Mantas and Abaddon have confirmed plans to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Venom‘s seminal 1981 debut, Welcome To Hell, throughout 2026. The duo is scheduled to bring the celebration to major European festivals, including Germany’s Keep It True and Belgium’s massive Graspop Metal Meeting.
While the return of two-thirds of the classic lineup is cause for celebration, the absence of frontman Conrad “Cronos” Lant remains a point of contention. Speaking to MetalKaoz, Mantas revealed that an olive branch was extended to the bassist to complete the trinity for the anniversary, but it was summarily snapped.
“I’ll tell you right now that for 2026, the 45th anniversary of Welcome To Hell, Cronos has been invited,” Mantas stated. “He was invited by me. He was invited by the lawyers in the [recent] court case. His answer was, ‘It’s not worth my time.’ That was his answer.”
Mantas admitted that the rejection was perhaps for the best, comparing the dynamic of the original trio to a damaging personal relationship.
“What I say to people is this… ‘And, oh, yeah, just travel separate. Just go in separate hotels.’ We’ve done all that. We did it on the first reunion. Okay, think of the most toxic relationship you’ve ever been involved in, how it made you feel. At your age now, invite it back into your life.”
The friction between the camps is not merely personal but legal. In June 2024, Cronos filed a lawsuit against Abaddon and Plastic Head Music Distribution Ltd, alleging copyright infringement regarding the sale of merchandise featuring Venom designs. The dispute highlights the complex business reality that often overshadows the youthful camaraderie of a band’s early days.
Reflecting on the shift from friends to business adversaries, Mantas noted:
“We were three young guys in a band, happy to be in a band and jamming… It was one for all and all for one. And that’s why everything went the three ways for the first two albums. But then, when you get a bit wise at the business and everything like that, it’s, like, you think, ‘Wow. I wrote all that stuff and everybody else is still getting a share.'”
Despite the legal wrangling over logos and imagery, Mantas emphasized that the enduring power of Venom lies in the music itself.
“It doesn’t matter what your logo looks like… A band isn’t about logos and t-shirts and stuff like that — it’s about music. Why do you wear the t-shirt of a band? Because you like their music. It’s as simple as that.”
He also took care to credit Cronos where it was due, specifically regarding his lyrical contributions. “He wrote some phenomenal lyrics… The lyrics to ‘Manitou‘, I think they are stunning. The lyrics to ‘Nightmare‘ — amazing.”
While the reunion tour is moving forward, fans should not expect a new studio album from the Mantas and Abaddon camp. Mantas expressed skepticism about the artistic necessity of new material, citing Paul Stanley of KISS as a reference point for legacy acts focusing on their classic catalog.
“Does the world need a new Venom album? …Comparatively, like Judas Priest — Firepower, great album; Invincible Shield, great album; but if I go to see Priest now and they kick into ‘The Ripper‘, game over. It’s, like, I’m happy… All I’m saying is it’s a celebration of the music that we wrote 45 years ago; that’s all it is.”
He left the door slightly ajar—”I’m not adverse to maybe getting one song together”—but reiterated that the focus remains on the anniversary.
This collaboration adds yet another layer to the current Venom family tree. The metal world now plays host to three distinct entities: the Cronos-fronted version of Venom; Venom Inc., led by Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan; and now this specialized reunion project between Mantas and Abaddon.
