Image Source: Louder
Cronos, the influential Venom frontman, singer and bassist who helped define the sound and spirit of black metal, has died at the age of 63. Venom confirmed the news on October 1, 2026. No cause of death has been announced.
Born Conrad Lant in London in 1963, Cronos moved to Newcastle when he was eight years old. He joined Venom in 1978, becoming the central creative force behind one of heavy metal’s most controversial and influential bands.
The powerful legacy of Cronos and Venom
Venom emerged during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, but the trio quickly developed a sound that was far more abrasive and extreme than many of their contemporaries. Alongside guitarist Jeffrey “Mantas” Dunn and drummer Tony “Abaddon” Bray, Cronos combined punk’s raw aggression with the heaviness of Black Sabbath and the theatrical darkness of Alice Cooper.
The band’s 1981 debut album, Welcome To Hell, became a landmark release. Its primitive production, furious performances and openly satanic imagery shocked listeners while inspiring a new generation of musicians. At the time, British music magazine Sounds described it as “possibly the heaviest record ever allowed in the shops for public consumption.”
Cronos later explained that he wanted Venom to sound dangerous and uncompromising. He cited Motörhead as a major influence, while also drawing from Black Sabbath’s dark themes, Alice Cooper’s stagecraft and punk’s confrontational energy.
How Black Metal changed extreme music forever
Venom’s second album, Black Metal, arrived in November 1982 after being recorded in only six days. Although the record was rough around the edges, its intensity and imagery made a lasting impact on heavy music.
The album’s title track ultimately gave the emerging extreme metal movement its name. Decades later, bands including Mayhem, Emperor and Darkthrone would help establish the second wave of black metal, but many of those artists regarded Venom as a crucial starting point.
Cronos was proud of the band’s singular identity. “To this day, there’s never been another Venom,” he said in 2019. “No one has come close to what we did.”
A turbulent career and an enduring comeback
Cronos left Venom in 1987 and began releasing music under his own name. He returned to the band in 1995, later appearing on Cast In Stone, the first Venom album in 12 years to feature the original lineup.
His time in the group was not without conflict. In 1999, Cronos survived an internal attempt to remove him from the band. He argued that Venom was built around his ideas, songs and artistic vision. From then on, he continued leading the group through numerous lineup changes.
The final Venom lineup featured guitarist Stuart “LaRage” Dixon and drummer Danny “Dante” Needham. Cronos ultimately performed on 12 Venom albums, with the most recent being Into Oblivion, released in 2026.
Fans and musicians remember a metal innovator
Following the announcement, Cronos’s son Nathan thanked Venom’s supporters, known within the band’s community as the Legions. He said his father appreciated their support throughout his more than four-decade career and added that “the legend of Cronos will never die.”
Gary Holt of Slayer and Exodus also paid tribute. Holt described Cronos as one of his all-time heroes and recalled touring with Venom during the Bonded era. He said those shows remained among the greatest tours Exodus had ever completed, adding that Cronos helped shape the band’s musical direction.
Venom has not announced whether the group will continue without its longtime frontman. Whatever happens next, Cronos’s influence is already firmly established. His work helped push heavy metal toward darker, faster and more extreme territory, leaving a legacy that continues through black metal, death metal and underground music worldwide.
Frequently asked questions about Cronos
Who was Cronos?
Cronos was the stage name of Conrad Lant, the singer and bassist best known as the frontman and creative leader of Venom.
How did Cronos die?
Venom confirmed Cronos’s death on October 1, 2026, but no cause of death has been disclosed.
Why is Cronos important to black metal?
Venom’s 1982 album Black Metal helped inspire the name and aesthetic of the extreme metal genre. Its sound and imagery influenced later bands including Mayhem, Emperor and Darkthrone.
What was Venom’s most recent album with Cronos?
Cronos performed on Venom’s 2026 album, Into Oblivion, the latest release mentioned in the band’s recorded history.
