Here's an interview with Mantas published on issue 154 of the Greek Metal Hammer(the best Greek Metal/Hard Rock magazine)

The interview with Mantas was done from Nikos Anastopoulos,the translation is mine...

Question:Let's start the interview with a tour on Venom's past,and as a first question i would like you to tell me what you had in mind when you first got in the studio to record your first songs.

Mantas: Our purpose was to be the fastest,heaviest,rawest band of the whole planet(laughs...).Our music background featured bands like Black Sabbath,JudasPriest and Motorhead.However i was thinking that something was missing from these groups,despite the fact that they were famous and popular at that time.
Kiss had an awesome stage show and a good image but they weren't heavy enough.Motorhead on the other hand had a very heavy music but their image wasn't the one it should be.
So we went to the studio wanting to ceate the most extreme from both the music and image side ever appeared up to that time in the metal scene.Whatever we did came out naturally,we didn't force anything.We haven't sat down to make a plan on how we should sound or something similar.Most of the things came in the way,something which was caused by our spontaneousness.

Question: As you know you've released countless singles in many editions.Do you think that the release of all these singles was a good move?

Mantas: Our record company was resposible for all these releases.We didn't have any control over what was released.We knew for example when our record company would release our new album,but we never had an idea about all these compilations,the "Assault" series.I feel bad about this and that's why i believe most of of our fans feel the same.But you know what's the funny par about it?Even today,when i go to record shop i see Venom CD's that i've never seen before.It's trully amazing,i don't know what to say!

Question:After your first two albums,which were adored by critics and fans started the first cracks in Venom's structure ,first with "At War With Satan" and then with "Possessed"Although i do like both of the albums why do you believe they spread your fans?

Mantas: Probably cause we moved to a different direction earlier than we should.You know,"Welcome To Hell" and "Black Metal" are the albums that are considered by everyone as super clasics.But it seemed that the fans didn't like these two albums as much as the first two ones believing that they weren't as good,despite the fact that we thought we done the right move.Even now i'm still proud of these two albums!Damn,there are many goods songs both in "At War With Satan" and "Possessed"!(laughs...)

Question:I totally agree with you.Let's talk a bit now about your impressive stage show you had on your concerts.What were the reasons why you wanted to have such a stage show?

Mantas: Because we never were the band that would go to the stage with jeans and t-shirts and play.Many groups,then and now,do this but for us this does not apply.We don't just want to go out to the stage and play.Wanna tell you something else?In the early '80s many bands had impressive effects in their concerts but there came a time where the bands stopped using a big stage show.Now that we returned we want to show the whole world what i true stage show means!!

Question:How does it feel to know that you've influenced hundreds,if not thousands of bands in their start?

Mantas: It's trully an awesome feeling.I was sitting and still remember and read interviews from several groups who say that Venom were their main influece and i feel proud about this.We started a new music wave and our place in history is assured for this.
Since 1986,when the original Venom stopped existing until today there's this huge gap where nothing new seems to exist.Even bands like Pantera,who have a great success at this time,present us as one of their main influences.

Question:I don't know if you watch any of the development of the black metal scene,since most of its bands are the most influenced by your music compared to groups.

Mantas: To be honest i don't see many similarities between these groups and Venom.Something similar happened to my influences;i may been influenced by Kiss or Tipton and Downing but you won't find much in common between Venom and Kiss right?

We created black metal and then it developed.The groups that play black metal take black metal a step further.