Venom vocalist and bassist Conrad Lant has died at 63.
Performing under the stage name “Cronos,” he was the figure who represented Venom’s raw, fast sound.
The album *Black Metal*, on which he participated, would later remain as the name of a metal subgenre.
3-line summary
1. Cronos of Venom has died at 63.
2. The cause of death was not disclosed.
3. *Black Metal* continued on as a genre name.
Venom Announces Cronos’s Death
Venom announced the death of Conrad “Cronos” Lant through social media. The band said that for more than 40 years, his voice, bass playing, and musical ideas had been at the center of Venom. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Lant was born in Chelsea, London, and moved to Newcastle with his family at age seven. He initially began his band activities as a guitarist, then took on bass before also becoming the vocalist. Venom’s early lineup was built around guitarist Jeff Dunn (Mantas), drummer Tony Bray (Abaddon), and Lant.
Venom released its debut album, *Welcome to Hell*, in 1981. This album and the band’s subsequent work left a distinct impression within the heavy-metal scene of the time through their fast playing, raw sound, and demonic imagery. The Guardian and Rolling Stone reported that their music influenced subsequent thrash, speed, and death-metal musicians.
The Name “Black Metal” Left by the 1982 Album
Venom’s second album, *Black Metal*, was released in 1982. The album’s title later became the term used to refer to an important metal subgenre. This does not mean that Venom completed every musical characteristic of what is now that genre, but reports from the three outlets commonly confirm that the title and sound became major markers in the genre’s formation.
Lant was also a co-producer of the album. During the recording process, he experimented with exaggerated sounds and staging, including the use of metal sheets, chainsaws, and a makeshift coffin. The leather clothing and theatrical declarations onstage were also elements that made Venom’s music appear to be more than mere performance.
Venom stopped performing in 1988 before re-forming, and Lant also released albums in the early 1990s through his solo project Cronos. He continued working with Venom alongside various members, and The Guardian reported that they also appeared on festival stages in the summer of 2026.
Why One Man’s Stage Name Became the Band’s Symbol
Although Lant did not participate in every album, Loudwire described him as Venom’s longest-serving member. Rolling Stone reported that Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and others have mentioned Venom’s influence. His participation in Probot, Dave Grohl’s metal project, was another example of his voice extending beyond the band.
Venom’s statement honored Cronos for creating his own path rather than following rules. This is an expression of remembrance, but there is a clear reason *Welcome to Hell* and *Black Metal* continue to be mentioned repeatedly in metal history. Cronos’s name will remain not only as that of a band frontman, but also as part of the moment when the words “black metal” became a musical genre.
References
Tags #Cronos #ConradLant #Cronos #Venom #Venom #BlackMetal #BlackMetal #HeavyMetal #MetalMusic #WelcomeToHell #NewcastleBand #Metallica #Probot