Marginal - The Venom

There is a little country, splitted in two languages, a population, not more than 12 million but nevertheless there are some cool bands like Agathocles and ähhhhmmmm - hehehe. But now there is another band active in Belgium (Antwerp) called Marginal, founded in January 2013 and now they had released their debut album “The Venom”.  5 Belgiums (Rui/bass, Johann/voice, Martin/guitar, Timmy/guitar, Steven/drums) play a sound like there is no morning. In best death-crust quality like Extreme Noise Terror or Doom. A quite dark sound because very bassy. The sound and the arrangement aren’t new, already heard a thousand times but it’s funny. There is no complex songwriting or something else, Johann voice is no mallet and the guitars aren't difficult to play but the 13 songs in 19 minutes guarantee varied extreme noise par exellance especially because every song has its own charm.

My favorites are “The Headless Chicken” and “Legalized Genocide”. At “The Headless Chicken” I like the beat at the beginning, a great beat to spring through the mosh-pit and after a while the beat drives to a sprint. And “Legalized Genocide” for me, is a fantastic grind-song. But the really best song for me on this output is “Fuck This Shit” cause there is a perfect earworm in this guitar-riff.

The sound of this album is ok. Everything is in perfect balance. Voice, drums and guitars - perfect working. A little bit bassy but this should be and is more of a trademark than disturbing.

Overall this debut album isn’t a revelation but cool enough for 20 minutes of fun even if I think that the album could be a little bit longer. Some songs would be cooler if they were worked-out. For example “Morbid Computer” or “Fuck This Shit”. For this - shame on Marginal and so only 4 of 5 stars. But for everybody who likes Doom or Extreme Noise Terror certainly a welcome variety and live quite sure nice for a damn bloody mosh-pit! Therefore, from here a complete recommendation.


1. Work/Die 
2. Freedom 
3. Modern Terrorist Hobby Set 
4. 6000 Feet Under 
5. The Headless Chicken 
6. Legalized Genocide 
7. Fuck This Shit 
8. Reversed Evolution 
9. March Of The Big Fat Rat 
10. Animal#1 
11. The Bacon Tree 
12. Morbid Computer 
13. Marginal


Reviewer: Rolf
Mar 3, 2014

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