It was released on 17 April 1981 as a single with the B-side "Live Like an Angel" by Neat Records and later appeared on the band's first album, Welcome to Hell.
According to vocalist and bassist Conrad "Cronos" Lant, "In League with Satan" is one of the earliest songs the band wrote.
[3] In April 1980, the band recorded a three track demo tape called Demon after Lant managed to convince Impulse Studios engineer Mickey Sweeney to work a short recording session with the band and get half a day in the studio for free.
The tape featured three tracks: "Angel Dust", "Raise The Dead" and "Red Light Fever", and would eventually land on the desk of Geoff Barton, who was the editor of Sounds.
[4][5] Barton ended a review of White Spirit's 1980 debut album by recommending Neat Records release a Venom single.
Although much of the band's early music is known for its fast tempo,[10] "In League with Satan" is a mid-tempo song, heavily influenced by Dunn's love of Kiss.
"[6] In his June 13, 1981 review of the single, Edwin Pouncey of Sounds wrote: "Venom are totally corrupt and while this piece of demon riddled canker pales in comparison to the version they laid down and sent to the king of Kerrang!, it still makes the best listening of this genre since 'Iron Man' by Black Sabbath As for the rest of you, wake up at the front!"