Venamoris : To Cross or To Burn
If Brazilian Girls hadn’t been so esoteric, or if Jarboe had gone even darker, or Cult of Luna with Julie Christmas had turned down the volume knob from 11 back down to 10, they might have made a record like this. Venamoris’ To Cross or To Burn, whether intentionally or not, is an apt album title implying we have two diametrically opposed in our politically polarized country right now: Go with the mainstream (churches, shopping malls etc.) to survive these horrifying times in exchange for losing your rights and dignity, only to be crucified (to ensure maximum embarrassment)—or stand up for what you believe and get burned alive for it for sticking by your principles and refuse to obey. Sounds a lot like what’s tearing America apart right now—rampant suspicion, mental health struggles, and distrust among neighbors in cities in and small towns alike—doesn’t it?
Venamoris’ To Cross or To Burn, available today, is an album with lyrics that attempt to bridge the gap between such divides—at least that’s how it sounds. When recently asked about the main thrust of the album, singer/songwriter Paula Lombardo described one of their sophomore LP’s key messages as “pain is a gift, if we allow it to be.” Drummer Dave Lombardo applied the word “simplicity” to the record, and its nine songs and 33 minutes of new material.
Metalheads surely recognize the name “Lombardo.” Paula is the wife of Dave, the longest-serving drummer for Slayer and widely regarded in heavy music circles as one of metal’s masters of rhythm. The husband-and-wife duo formed Venamoris in 2021 and have released a handful of releases since then. But none of them hold a candle to the gripping To Cross or To Burn.
It’s true: The band’s moniker and album title sound awfully scary, with its numerous evil connotations. But to grasp a group’s character and integrity—noble personality traits rarely spoken in America’s newly repressive public spaces these days, even by conservatives—one must, at least in part, turn to the album’s lyrics. Paula wrote all the tracks on her own except—and this’ll bring a smile to your face—“Animal Magnetism,” written by Rudolf Schenker, founding guitarist/frontman for Scorpions. Other guests include Suicidal Tendencies bassist Ra Diaz; Testament lead guitarist Alex Skolnick; Exodus frontman Gary Holt and Dave’s Fantômas bandmate Trevor Dunn. So there’s that.
But best of all, Paula delivers her robust vocals while hushed, John Tesh-ish soundscapes crafted together by the Lombardos pleasantly and patiently let her assume the pilot’s seats. That decision gave what Venamoris has sought since its formation: leadership, strength and even a brand. Like Venamoris, a rapidly increasing number of their fans favor a wide range of music genres that are foreign to many: dark jazz, dark pop, fusion, exotica and more. Dave is to thank for that, having engineered, produced and mixed the record by himself.
“Now you face the mirror/ Let the teardrops fall/ Don’t leave this space/ Till you love them all,” Paula imparts on the opening track, “Stay With Me.” “Hate filled emotions/ Now lines across your face/ Demonstrates the demons/ Keeping you awake.”
Do those observations apply to tensions between a married couple or to roughly half the country concerned that America is quickly reshaping itself from democracy to authoritarianism? That’s the beauty of music: Great lyrics almost always inspire the listener’s imagination and interpretation—and don’t undermine the intelligence of the listener either.
Label: Ipecac
Year: 2025
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