Paula And Dave Lombardo's Venamoris Project Announce Sophomore Album 'To Cross Or To Burn'
Wednesday, 08 January 2025
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Hannah Verbeuren
Venamoris, the collaborative project of married couple Paula and Dave Lombardo, have announced their sophomore album.
'To Cross Or To Burn', the follow-up to 2023's 'Drown In Emotion', will arrive on February 28, marking their debut for Ipecac Recordings.
The duo have also shared a new single, a take on Scorpions' Animal Magnetism that fuses elements of metal, industrial and darkwave.
Paula Lombardo guides the droning track with hypnotic vocals, while the ex-Slayer drummer arranges synths and churning guitars, with Dave's former Slayer bandmate and Exodus songwriter Gary Holt contributing a blistering solo. It follows the record's previously unveiled cuts In The Shadows and Spiderweb. Dave commented:
"My first concert was May 25, 1980. Scorpions opening for Ted Nugent’s ‘Scream Dream’ tour. We (Slayer) had covered a couple Scorpions songs in the early years, but I never would have thought of re-imagining one of their songs at that time. Now it seems like the most natural thing to do.
"The idea to re-create Animal Magnetis’ came to me late one night. I could hear Paula’s sultry voice, the song taking on a slightly industrial feel... and I could fully hear Gary Holt play this insane lead. It’s been really incredible to see this idea come to life.
"We recorded this track without knowing if/when it would ever see the light of day. To release this at the same time this iconic band is celebrating 60 years is a perfect way for me to thank them for an inspiring first show in 1980... and for all they have contributed since."
Paula added: "'To Cross Or To Burn' has taken us down a darker, very different path than our first album. There’s a confidence in this body of work. An overall vibe of heaviness that was unexpected. Verses of hard truths now bound in acceptance. The soul-searching continues."
'To Cross Or To Burn' tracklist:
1. Stay With Me
2. In The Shadows
3. Truth
4. Stain of Pain
5. Spiderweb
6. Burnt Paper
7. Holding on to Nothing
8. Animal Magnetism
9. Numb
10. To Cross or To Burn
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