_{“Venom” is the latest album from Californian band Impellitteri and it is released through Frontiers Records in the UK on the 17th April. The band has been releasing albums since the 80s and is of course centred around guitar virtuoso Chris Impellitteri, who is recognised as one of the fastest shredders around. “Venom” is the band’s tenth full studio album since 1988, but it has been six years since the previous release “Wicked Maiden” in 2009. Reading the press release that accompanied the album, it is clear that Impellitteri wanted to make this recording stand out from the others and expand their listening base. Personally, I think they’ve achieved that goal.}

_{Chris Impellitteri founded the band in LA in the mid 80s along with vocalist Rob Rock and they released their first EP in 1987. Their first album in 1988 was “Stand In Line” which actually featured Graham Bonnet on vocals. Bonnet also returned to the band to record “System X” in 2002. Rob Rock was the vocalist on all the other albums and on the latest release “Venom”. James Pulli plays bass on the album and Jon Dette (Slayer, Anthrax etc) is the drummer.}

_{Alice Cooper Band drummer Glen Sobel had been the touring drummer with the band for some time and is still listed as a band member on the Impellitteri Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/ChrisImpellitteri}

_{In their press release the band stated that they wanted “to create a record that would excite and musically satisfy every metal fan, rock fan and musician around the world.”  That’s a commendable, but probably impossible goal to set any band. Ditta Von Teese once said “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be somebody who hates peaches.” The same applies to bands! Having said that, I really enjoyed the album; even though it might generally be something that was outside of my normal listening spectrum.}

_{The band has released a video for title track “Venom”. Other personal favourites are “Empire of Lies”, “We Own The Night” and “Rise”.}

_{About “NI Rocks Recommends”}

_{The simple idea behind “NI Rocks Recommends” is to acknowledge and promote some of the great music being submitted to Rock Radio NI. I'll not be giving marks or ratings or analyzing the tracks in great detail; just telling you something about the artist and the album. It’s a personal recommendation, not a traditional “review”!}

_{My musical tastes cover most things rock; from the not too melodic to the not too heavy. The albums that I’ll be recommending are merely those that I would buy myself and which you’ll be hearing played on my shows on Rock Radio NI.}

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