Conrad “Cronos” Lant, founder, vocalist and bassist of Venom, has died. The band confirmed the news in a statement issued under the VENOM name, accompanied by a message from Nathan, Lant’s son. No cause of death was disclosed.
For more than four decades, Cronos stood at the centre of one of the most abrasive and influential identities to emerge from British heavy metal. His scorched vocals, distorted bass and confrontational presence were already firmly established on Welcome to Hell in 1981 before being pushed further on Black Metal the following year.
That second album did more than establish Venom. Its title became the name of an entire genre, while the record’s rawness would echo through generations of black, thrash, death and extreme metal musicians. At War with Satan and Possessed followed, expanding a catalogue whose influence reached far beyond conventional ideas of how technically polished heavy music was supposed to sound in the early 1980s.
Venom’s power never depended on precision or pristine production. It came from speed, distortion, provocation and a constant sense that the music might collapse under its own violence. At the centre was Cronos, whose voice was unmistakable and whose bass functioned as part of the assault rather than simply holding the songs together.
The statement announcing his death also acknowledged “The Legions,” the name long associated with Venom’s followers, thanking those who bought the records, attended the shows and kept the band’s music alive across decades.
“I want to thank all of the Legions for all of the support you have given my dad over the years. 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.”
Rest in peace, Conrad “Cronos” Lant.
