Venomous Concept

Venomous Concept
Venomous Concept
	Venomous Concept performing in 2016
Background information
Genres	Hardcore punk; grindcore; extreme metal;
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Ipecac, Hypertension
Members	Shane Embury; Danny Herrera; Danny Lilker; Kevin Sharp; John Cooke;
Past members	Buzz Osborne

Venomous Concept is an American hardcore punk band formed by Kevin Sharp of Brutal Truth and Shane Embury of Napalm Death in 2004. Sharp and Embury were joined by Danny Herrera and Buzz Osborne, who was later replaced by Danny Lilker. They have released three albums: Retroactive Abortion (2004), Poisoned Apple (2008), and Kick Me Silly VCIII (2016). They have also released two split albums: one with Japanese grindcore band 324 (2006),^[2] and the other with Australian extreme metal band Blood Duster (2008).^[3] The band's name is a play on Poison Idea, in the style of name-mangling Japanese hardcore acts.^[4]

History

In February 2004, Kevin Sharp was the tour driver for Napalm Death on The Art of Noise tour with Nile, Strapping Young Lad, Dark Tranquillity and The Berzerker. Shane Embury and Sharp were already acquainted, and "some beers, pizza and old vinyl classics by Poison Idea, Black Flag and Systematic Death" renewed their friendship. They decided to start a band together. Embury remembered:

Napalm were on tour with Nile and when the driver had to leave, Kevin Sharp who sang for Brutal Truth, stood in for him. I ended up going back to Chicago with him and we said, "Hey, how come we've never been in a band together? We both loved mid-80's punk, we both loved Poison Idea and Black Flag", so that was the starting point.^[4]

They recruited Buzz Osborne of the Melvins on guitar and Napalm Death's Danny Herrera on drums, and released their debut Retroactive Abortion (2004) via Mike Patton's Ipecac Recordings.^[1] The band replaced Osborne with Danny Lilker for their second album, Poisoned Apple (2008).^[5] In 2006, Belgian record label Hypertension Records re-issued Retroactive Abortion on vinyl.^[6]