Image Source: The Guardian
Cronos Venom Band frontman Conrad Lant, the influential British musician better known by his stage name Cronos, has died aged 63. Venom confirmed his death in a statement published on October 1, 2026. The band did not disclose a cause of death.
For more than four decades, Lant served as the voice, bassist and creative force behind Venom. His theatrical performances, abrasive sound and fascination with Satanic imagery helped transform the Newcastle-based group into one of the most influential acts in extreme metal.
The powerful legacy of the Cronos Venom Band
“For more than four decades, Conrad’s voice, bass and vision were at the heart of Venom,” the band said. “He created something that changed heavy music for ever.” The statement described Lant as uncompromising, fearless and unmistakable.
Although Venom never achieved the mainstream sales of Black Sabbath or later thrash giants, the group’s impact was enormous. Its 1982 album Black Metal helped give one of metal’s most important subgenres its name, while the band’s speed and raw production influenced musicians across Europe and North America.
Lant was born in Chelsea, London, and moved with his family to Newcastle when he was seven. He joined a group called Guillotine at 16, initially playing guitar before moving to bass and eventually taking over vocal duties. The band later became Venom, with guitarist Jeff Dunn, known as Mantas, and drummer Tony Bray, known as Abaddon.
How Venom changed heavy metal forever
Venom released its debut album, Welcome to Hell, in 1981. The record immediately established the band’s confrontational identity, combining punk energy with the speed and heaviness of early British metal. Songs such as “In League with Satan” provoked controversy and brought demonic themes to the center of the group’s image.
Lant’s performance style was equally important. Appearing as Cronos, he delivered lyrics about witches, the underworld and Satan while wearing dramatic leather outfits and using an exaggerated stage persona. He once summarized his ambition by saying that while Ozzy Osbourne was singing about the devil, he wanted to be the devil.
That approach helped distinguish Venom from more polished hard-rock acts of the era. The band embraced chaos, distortion and theatrical danger. Its 1982 release Black Metal pushed those ideas further, with a harsh sound and imagery that historians later linked directly to the development of black metal.
Influence on thrash and black metal
The Cronos Venom Band became a powerful influence on a new generation of musicians during the 1980s. Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax were among the thrash metal groups that admired Venom’s speed and intensity. Anthrax’s Scott Ian praised Welcome to Hell as a completely new kind of musical insanity.
Venom’s influence also extended beyond its core genre. In 2004, Lant collaborated with Dave Grohl on Probot, Grohl’s metal-focused project featuring musicians from across the heavy music world. The collaboration reflected the respect Lant had earned among artists who grew up with Venom’s records.
A career marked by reinvention
Venom went on hiatus in 1988, allowing Lant to pursue a solo career under the Cronos name. He released two albums in the early 1990s before Venom reunited. The group later issued seven more studio albums, including 2018’s Storm the Gates.
Lant also trained as a fitness instructor and worked in computer engineering and graphic design. Despite those parallel careers, music remained central to his life. Venom continued touring, including festival appearances during the summer of 2026.
The musician had previously taken time away from the band after suffering a climbing injury in the early 2000s. His return reinforced his reputation for persistence and helped keep the group active across multiple generations of metal fans.
Fans remember an unmistakable metal pioneer
Lant’s son Nathan thanked Venom supporters following his father’s death. He said Lant appreciated the fans and that he had “laid down his soul” through his music. He added that the legend of Cronos would never die.
For many listeners, that legacy is already secure. Venom’s records helped establish the vocabulary of extreme metal: faster tempos, darker imagery, rougher production and a willingness to challenge convention. The Cronos Venom Band may never have dominated the commercial charts, but its influence continues to echo through thrash, black metal and modern heavy music.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Cronos from Venom?
Cronos was the stage name of Conrad Lant, the singer and bassist who fronted the British heavy metal band Venom.
How old was Cronos when he died?
Conrad Lant, known as Cronos, was 63 years old when his death was announced on October 1, 2026.
What was Venom’s most influential album?
Black Metal, released in 1982, is widely regarded as one of Venom’s most influential albums and helped name the black metal subgenre.
Did Venom influence Metallica?
Yes. Venom influenced Metallica and other thrash metal bands through its speed, aggressive sound and dark theatrical style.
