In memoriamVenom
Venom confirmed the death of Conrad Lant on 01/10/2026. No cause of death was given.
The story
Conrad Lant, known as Cronos, the singer and bassist of Venom, has died aged 63. The band announced his death on its official social media on 01/10/2026 and did not give a cause.
Lant formed Venom in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1979 with members of a local band called Guillotine. Their 1982 album Black Metal gave the genre its name. He left in 1987 and recorded under the Cronos name before returning in the mid-1990s; the original line-up reunited for Cast in Stone in 1997.
He led Venom to the end. The band’s latest album, Into Oblivion, came out in May on Noise/BMG, and the most recent line-up was Cronos with guitarist Rage and drummer Danté. The band toured through the European festival season this year.
Venom’s statement included a message from his son, Nathan, thanking fans for their support over the years.
Image: Mzansi Metal tribute card
The legend of Cronos will never die.
Venom
Our take
There is no black metal as we know it without Venom. Bathory, Hellhammer, Sarcófago, Mayhem and the whole second wave took their name, their imagery and their attitude from three lads from Newcastle, and Cronos was the voice of it. Thrash owes him almost as much: a young Metallica opened for Venom.
Rest in peace, Cronos.
Bottom line
Put on Welcome to Hell or Black Metal tonight.
Fact sheet
| Name | Conrad Lant (Cronos) |
| Band | Venom (Newcastle upon Tyne, England) |
| Role | Vocals and bass |
| Died | Announced 01/10/2026, aged 63 |
| Last album | Into Oblivion (2026, Noise/BMG) |
The original
VENOM frontman CONRAD ‘CRONOS’ LANT dead at 63
Reported by Blabbermouth from Venom’s official statement
