their name is a pretty straight-ahead tale - it's the last syllables
of the first and last name of the group's singer, Steven Berez. But
how they met was anything but ordinary. "The band formed while helping
me with some work on my house," explains Berez. "Several of the guys
working, including Jason Womack, were musicians and the building
sessions quickly turned to jams, then the formation of the band."
Fans of modern day rock music should be familiar with the musicians
who back Berez in Venrez - both guitarist Womack and drummer Ed Davis
played with Juliette Lewis and the Licks, while guitarist Alex Kane is
a former member of both Life Sex and Death (LSD) and Marky Ramones
Blitzkrieg. Bassist Michael Bradford (a childhood friend of Womack's)
rounds out the group.
As evidenced by the group's debut full-length, 'Sell the
Lie,' it didn't take long for the group's chemistry to kick into gear,
as the album's sound/approach brings to mind the classic rock of the
1970's and the grunge movement of the 1990's both genres that
stressed the importance of keeping studio recordings live-sounding and
not over-produced.
"My deep vocal has some comparisons to Audioslave," says Berez, "And
the two part harmonies with me and Jason to Alice in Chains. But I get
some comments of slight comparisons to Jim Morrison of the Doors.
Jason writes the music, and grew up in the 70's. He is influenced by
Jesus and Mary Chain,along with all the bands influenced by them. I
consider our music to be a 70's beat that has been made 2012 fresh. It
sounds like something you have heard
but then it's clear you have not. Sick, in your face, dark rock music,
combined with powerful lyrics."
And according to the singer, it is no accident that 'Sell
the Lie' has a very live and raw sound to it. "The album was recorded
live, as we wanted to give it that raw sound. I sang the vocals to the
music, as if performing in concert. Therefore, we accomplished that
'on-stage sound' and feeling, which was exactly what we intended and
wanted to do."
Heavy and rocking from front to back, 'Sell the Lie'
proves to be an impressively consistent listen, although Berez does
have a few standout tracks of the bunch. "I am passionate about all
the songs I write, but my favorite songs would be 'Karma,' which was
written about a former business partner who tried to hurt me. Also,
'Insanity,' which is my tribute to the goddesses of this world, and
the title track, which allows me to release my pain of senseless
killing."
And Venrez plans on backing up 'Sell the Lie' with kick-
ass live performances, which should see the band touring from coast to
coast throughout 2012. "Venrez live is a very special rock show. All
the members are amazing players and showmen. We go on feel a lot, and
every live show is slightly different than the other - much like a
Rolling Stones or Aerosmith concert. It's big, in your face,
captivating, and sexy as fuck!"
Lastly, Venrez plan on sticking around for quite some
time. "We are already in pre-production on the next record. We plan to
tour as much as possible, and continue to put out quality albums for
our fans, for years to come." As proven by 'Sell the Lie,' Venrez is
off to one heck of a start.