Conrad “Cronos” Lant, the founding vocalist and bassist of Venom, has died at the age of 63.
The band confirmed his death on October 1, 2026, in a memorial statement shared through its official channels.
No cause of death was disclosed.
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Cronos was at the centre of Venom
Cronos, born Conrad Thomas Lant, was the central figure in Venom for more than four decades.
He joined the group that became Venom in 1979 and eventually took on lead vocals and bass, helping define the band’s aggressive sound and dark stage identity.
Venom emerged from Newcastle upon Tyne during the closing years of the new wave of British heavy metal.
The group’s early lineup included guitarist Jeffrey “Mantas” Dunn and drummer Anthony “Abaddon” Bray, alongside Lant.
That lineup became one of the most influential combinations in extreme metal history.
Albums that shaped extreme metal
Venom’s first major records included Welcome to Hell in 1981 and Black Metal in 1982.
The title of the second album later became the name of an entire musical movement, even though Venom’s own sound drew from heavy metal, punk, speed metal and hard rock.
The band followed with albums including At War with Satan in 1983 and Possessed in 1985.
Venom’s recordings influenced musicians across the emerging black metal scene, as well as later thrash, death metal and other forms of extreme music.
The band’s deliberately provocative imagery and occult-themed presentation also helped establish a visual language that became common in parts of underground metal.
Cronos remained the only constant original member during Venom’s later eras and continued performing with the group after multiple lineup changes and periods of inactivity.
What Venom said about his death
In its statement, Venom described Cronos’s voice, bass playing and creative direction as being at the heart of the band’s identity.
The message also thanked the group’s supporters and said his music would continue through the fans who preserved Venom’s work.
A message from Lant’s son, Nathan, was included in the tribute.
The family thanked fans for their support and remembered Cronos as a musician whose work would continue after his death.
The band’s statement referred to family members Nathan and Hel, along with friends and others who knew Lant.
Cronos’s influence on black metal
Cronos was not the sole creator of black metal, but Venom played a major role in giving the genre its name and early mythology.
The band’s raw production, fast riffs, theatrical lyrics and confrontational performances influenced musicians in Europe and beyond.
Groups associated with the Norwegian black metal scene later adopted the term and pushed the music in a colder and more atmospheric direction.
Venom’s impact also reached musicians who developed thrash metal and death metal in the 1980s and 1990s.
For many listeners, Cronos represented the link between traditional heavy metal and the more extreme styles that followed.
A career beyond the original Venom era
Venom went through several changes after its original period, including a break in the late 1980s.
Lant also led a separate band called Cronos during that period before returning to Venom.
He later continued releasing music and touring with Venom as the group maintained a presence on the international metal circuit.
In recent years, the band’s lineup included guitarist Stuart “Rage” Dixon and drummer Danny “Dante” Needham.
Lant’s death leaves Venom’s future unclear.
The band had not announced a replacement, a tribute concert or any plans for further performances by the time the death announcement was issued.
What happens next
Further information about funeral arrangements, memorial events and the band’s plans may come from Venom or Lant’s family in the days ahead.
For now, the confirmed details are that Cronos died at 63, the announcement was made on October 1, 2026, and no cause of death has been made public.
His legacy rests on a catalogue that helped push heavy music into darker, faster and more confrontational territory.
More than four decades after Venom began, the name Cronos remains closely tied to the origins of black metal and the global rise of extreme metal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Cronos from Venom?
Cronos was the stage name of Conrad Thomas Lant, the founding vocalist and bassist of the English heavy metal band Venom.
How old was Cronos when he died?
Cronos was 63 years old when Venom announced his death on October 1, 2026.
What was Venom’s most influential album?
Venom’s 1982 album Black Metal is widely regarded as one of the band’s most influential releases and gave the black metal genre its name.
What was the cause of Cronos’s death?
Venom and the family statement did not disclose a cause of death.
Will Venom continue after Cronos’s death?
The band had not announced its plans for future performances or recordings when his death was confirmed.
Fact-Checked: Key details were checked against Venom’s official memorial statement and current biographical information about Conrad “Cronos” Lant.
Disclaimer: This report will be updated if Venom or Cronos’s family releases further information about his death or memorial arrangements.