Conrad ‘Cronos’ Lant, frontman of UK heavy metal band Venom, dies aged 63
Conrad “Cronos” Lant, singer and bassist of British heavy metal band Venom, has died aged 63. His theatrical stage persona and the band’s fast, raw sound helped shape thrash and black metal, making his influence far greater than their chart success.
Lant joined the band, then called Guillotine, at 16 and became its frontman after it was renamed Venom. Their 1981 debut, *Welcome to Hell*, and the 1982 album *Black Metal* helped inspire bands including Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax; the latter album gave a name to a major metal subgenre. Venom reached the UK Top 75 once, released their most recent album in 2018 and were still touring in summer 2026. The band announced Lant’s death but gave no cause.
- Venom frontman Conrad “Cronos” Lant has died aged 63.
- His band helped shape thrash and black metal.
- *Black Metal* gave a name to a major subgenre.
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Conrad Lant, known on stage as Cronos, was the frontman and bassist of Venom, a British heavy metal band. Although they never achieved major mainstream commercial success, Venom exerted substantial influence over thrash and black metal, with many major bands drawing heavily from their style.
Lant joined the band at 16 when it was called Guillotine, and remained its driving force after it was renamed Venom. Known for its raw, fast sound and theatrical stage presence, the band released influential early albums including 'Welcome to Hell' (1981) and 'Black Metal' (1982), the latter giving its name to an entire metal subgenre. Major bands including Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax drew heavily from Venom's pioneering work.
Venom remained active for more than four decades, continuing to record and perform through much of the band's history. Their most recent album was released in 2018, demonstrating the band's enduring place in the metal world decades after their formation.