Conrad “Cronos” Lant, the iconic lead vocalist and bassist for the pioneering British extreme metal band Venom, has passed away at the age of 63. His death was announced on Thursday, October 1, 2026, through an official statement shared on the band’s social media channels. No cause of death has been disclosed by his family or representatives.
For more than four decades, Lant served as the driving force behind Venom, a group that fundamentally reshaped the landscape of heavy music. Emerging during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Lant-alongside guitarist Jeffrey “Mantas” Dunn and drummer Antony “Abaddon” Bray-infused traditional heavy metal with the raw aggression of punk rock, occult imagery, and blistering speed.
A Legacy That Defined Extreme Metal
Born in Kensington, London, in 1963 and moving to Newcastle at age eight, Lant joined Venom in 1978. His heavy, distorted bass lines and scorched, uncompromising vocals became central to the band’s abrasive sound. The group’s 1981 debut album, Welcome To Hell, provided a blueprint for extreme music, but it was their sophomore 1982 release, Black Metal, that truly made history.
The title of that 1982 album single-handedly gave birth to an entire subgenre. Bands like Mayhem, Emperor, Darkthrone, and countless other thrash and death metal acts cited Venom’s unpolished, Satanic, and theatrical approach as a primary inspiration. Throughout his career with Venom, Lant contributed to landmark records such as At War With Satan and Possessed, cementing a defiant legacy that rejected mainstream music industry rules.
“It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we share the news that Conrad ‘Cronos’ Lant has passed away… From the first dark rumblings of Welcome to Hell, through Black Metal, At War With Satan, Possessed and beyond, he created something that changed heavy music forever.” – Venom Official Statement
Family and Band Tributes
Following the announcement, tributes poured in from across the global heavy metal community. Lant’s son, Nathan, shared a heartfelt message addressing Venom’s fiercely loyal fanbase, known worldwide as “The Legions.”
“I want to thank all of the Legions for all of the support you have given my dad over the years,” Nathan wrote. “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.”
Lant left Venom temporarily in 1987 to launch a solo career under the moniker Cronos, before permanently returning to the fold in 1995. Over subsequent decades, he steered the band through various lineup changes, culminating in the release of Venom’s 16th studio album, Into Oblivion, in May 2026.
The remaining members of Venom-guitarist Stuart “LaRage” Dixon and drummer Danny “Dante” Needham-joined in honoring their fallen bandmate, noting that his voice and music will never fade.
Venom’s Landmark Discography Under Cronos
- Welcome To Hell (1981)
- Black Metal (1982)
- At War With Satan (1984)
- Possessed (1985)
- Into Oblivion (2026)
As the metal community mourns the loss of a true visionary, the influence of Conrad “Cronos” Lant remains immortalized in the DNA of extreme music worldwide. Rest in peace, Conrad. The legend lives on.
