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Thrashback Thursday: Venom - Teacher's Pet

What a band Venom are and what an album, "Black Metal" is. It's a classic, pure and simple. It's credited with spawning an entire sub-genre of metal and was one of the most radical releases of its time, comparable only to Venom's first album, "Welcome To Hell." It cemented Venom's place as the band everyone had to hear and as time has passed, it's become even more vital to the collection of every headbanger. The album's title track is perhaps the most well known, a frenzied blast of energy with an unforgettable hook, but there were other staples on display too, such as regular set closer, "Countess Bathory," which has been covered countless times and is arguably one of the best structured songs on the record. "Buried Alive" was another standout track, notable for the sound of dirt being shoveled on to the microphone at the beginning, while "Leave Me In Hell" was another insanity driven slice of mania, but the song that really stood out to my impressionable, fifteen year old self, was the fifth song on the album, "Teacher's Pet."

The song, as the title crudely suggests, was a departure from the usual Satanic themes and ventured into the other territory Venom were partial to discussing; Sex. They'd dealt with this subject on their debut with, "Red Light Fever," but this time turned their attentions to the fantasies many a schoolboy had in their developing years, penning a tribute to that one hot teacher. Musically, the song is fabulous as well, bordering on camp with the guitar interpretation of "I'm the King of the Castle" before building into another fantastic thrill ride with a catchy chourus. It's one of the most fun songs on the album, as clearly evidenced by the mid-song lapse into the classic English anthem, "Get Ya Tits Out for the Lads," and as a teen listener, was a cheeky number that you had to play for your friends. It's still a good laugh today, as well as being a generally great, fast metal song, and a snapshot of what made Venom so loved.