Venom frontman Conrad ‘Cronos’ Lant dies at 63

Conrad “Cronos” Lant, the singer and bassist who fronted British heavy metal band Venom for more than four decades, has died at 63.

Venom announced his death on October 1. No cause of death was given. Lant’s son Nathan also paid tribute to his father and thanked fans for their support.

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“For more than four decades, Conrad’s voice, bass and vision were at the heart of Venom,” the band said in a statement. “He created something that changed heavy music forever. Venom never followed the rules. They forged their own path. And Conrad was there at the centre of it all – uncompromising, fearless and unmistakable.”

Born in Chelsea, London, Lant moved with his family to Newcastle when he was seven. He joined the band Guillotine at 16, initially as a guitarist, before moving to bass and later taking over as vocalist. After the group became Venom, he formed its core lineup with guitarist Jeff Dunn, known as Mantas, and drummer Tony Bray, known as Abaddon.

Venom released its debut album, “Welcome to Hell”, in 1981, establishing a fast, abrasive sound and a provocative visual style built around satanic imagery. Lant, performing as Cronos, became central to that identity, appearing on stage in leather and drawing on imagery involving Satan, witches and the underworld.

The band’s influence far exceeded its commercial success. Its 1982 album “Black Metal” gave its name to one of metal’s major subgenres and influenced a generation of musicians, while Venom’s aggressive sound also helped shape the development of thrash metal. Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax were among the bands influenced by the group.

“The Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne was singing about the devil. I wanted to be the devil,” Lant once said of his approach to Venom.

In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, he recalled wanting to restore a rawness to heavy metal. “I had that snot and piss and shit element, which I wanted to put back into metal. I saw more and more bands shoving socks down their pants and putting lipstick on, and I just was disgusted by that, to tell you the truth. Fucking hell, if heavy metal was anything it had to be raw and dangerous and in your face.”

Venom went on hiatus in 1988, and Lant subsequently pursued a solo career as Cronos, releasing two albums in the early 1990s. The band later reunited and continued to record and tour, releasing seven further studio albums, including “Storm the Gates” in 2018. Venom remained active on the live circuit, performing at festivals in 2026.

Lant also worked outside music as a fitness instructor, computer engineer and graphic designer. In 2004, he collaborated with Dave Grohl on Probot, Grohl’s metal project.

His influence was acknowledged by musicians from the generation that followed Venom. Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian described “Welcome to Hell” as “so, so evil” and “a new kind of insanity”.

Nathan Lant said his father valued the support of Venom’s fans.

“I know he really appreciated you all. He has laid down his soul, and his music will live on. The legend of Cronos will never die,” he said.