Mantas: Winds Of Change, CD

Official re-issue of this solo effort from Venom guitarist and founder member Jeff Dunn aka Mantas.

Originally released in 1988 on Neat Records (home to Venom, as well as Raven, Tygers of Pan Tang, Fist and White Spirit among others) ‘Winds of Change’ came at a time where Mantas had quit Venom and, temporarily, the music business itself.

This pressing of the album comes fully endorsed by Mantas, with an extended booklet featuring many unreleased photos and images from the era, approved and supplied by Mantas himself from his personal archive.

Formed in 1978 in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, Venom blazed a trail for a raw hybrid form of punk and metal, wrapped in an overtly Satanic image that is now credited with starting the Black Metal genre, as well as being an influence on the thrash and speed metal scenes that followed. Derided by the media but beloved of fans wanting a harder and faster fix of metal, Venom released three classic LP’s is quick succession; ‘Welcome To Hell’ (1981), ‘Black Metal’ (1982) and ‘At War With Satan’ (1984).

When Mantas returned with this solo effort, it marked a much more hard rock direction than Venom, and featured one time Venom guitarist Al Barnes alongside Pete Harrison on vocals. The release also features two bonus tracks taken from the rare ‘Deceiver’ 12”, including a Fleetwood Mac cover. The booklet contains an extensive new interview with Mantas conducted by respected writer Darren Sadler, as well as an additional interview with guitarist Al Barnes.

Mantas recently reunited with original Venom drummer Abaddon and announced a series of high-profile festival appearances for 2026.

Lars Ulrich (Metallica) on Venom: “Black Metal, Speed Metal, Death Metal, whatever you want to call it – Venom started it all!”

Jon Bon Jovi on Venom: “This is the sort of shit that gives Heavy Metal a bad name.”

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