Venom Frontman Conrad ‘Cronos’ Lant Dies at 63

Conrad “Cronos” Lant, the vocalist and bassist who led the heavy metal band Venom for more than four decades, has died aged 63, the band announced. Venom did not disclose a cause of death in its statement, posted on October 1. The announcement described Lant’s voice, bass playing and creative vision as central to the group’s history, from its early recordings through later releases. His son Nathan also thanked the band’s fans for their support and said his father’s music would continue to be heard. Lant performed under the name Cronos and was part of Venom’s classic lineup with guitarist Jeff “Mantas” Dunn and drummer Tony “Abaddon” Bray. The band emerged from Newcastle and released its debut album, Welcome to Hell, in 1981. Lant joined the group as a teenager, initially playing guitar before switching to bass and taking over as vocalist. Venom’s raw sound, fast pace and use of satanic imagery helped distinguish it from many contemporary heavy metal acts. Its 1982 album Black Metal gave its name to the genre, according to accounts of the band’s influence. Venom’s approach also helped shape later extreme metal and thrash acts, including Metallica and Slayer.