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Venom Frontman Cronos Dies at 63
Confirmed
In Short: Conrad Cronos Lant, the co-founder and frontman of the pioneering black metal band Venom, has died at the age of 63.
Conrad Cronos Lant, the co-founder and frontman of the pioneering black metal band Venom, died at the age of 63, according to a statement released by the band on Thursday.
Lant, known by his stage name Cronos, was a central figure in the development of extreme metal and one of the musicians most closely associated with the birth of black metal.
Venom, formed in Newcastle in 1978, is widely credited with creating an entire genre of music. Their second album, 'Black Metal,' released in 1982, cemented their status in the rock world.
The band's raw production, aggressive songwriting, and satanic imagery pushed heavy metal into darker territory, influencing thrash metal bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax.
Lant's voice, bass, and vision were at the heart of Venom for almost 50 years. He was the one who brought a lot of the early artwork to the table and created the black metal image that brought the band to the attention of the US government.
Venom's classic lineup trio of Dunn, Lant, and Bray recorded four studio LPs and a live album, which included 'Welcome To Hell,' 'Black Metal,' 'At War With Satan,' and 'Possessed,' among others.
The lawsuit centered on the sale of merchandise featuring Lant's copyrighted VENOM designs, which he testified he had created in late 1979.
Despite lineup changes over the years, Cronos remained a guiding force for Venom, leading the band through its golden era and returning in 1995 to guide them for the last 31 years.
Venom released their 14th studio album, 'Into Oblivion,' earlier this year, marking the band's first new recordings since 2018's 'Storm The Gates' LP.
The band's influence on heavy metal is immeasurable, with their raw sound and aggressive style setting a blueprint for countless extreme-metal musicians to follow.
What's confirmed
- Conrad Cronos Lant and his band Venom are widely credited with creating an entire genre of music The co-founder, frontman and bass player of pioneering heavy metal band Venom has died at the age of 63, it has been announced.
- The Legions have always been an important part of VENOM.
What's still developing
- “VENOM never followed the rules. They forged their own path,” the band wrote in their tribute to Lant.
- Over the years, he also collaborated with Cradle of Filth and appeared on the 2004 one-off album by Foo Fighters leader Dave Grohl’s metal side project, Probot on the opening track “Centuries of Sin.” Venom released their first album in eight years, and final one with Lant, Into Oblivion, earlier this year.
- From the first dark rumblings of W elcome to Hell, through Black Metal, At War With Satan, Possessed and beyond, he created something that changed heavy music forever.” They then highlighted how Venom “never followed the rules”, before adding, “They forged their own path.
- Cronos, who was born in London but raised in Newcastle, founded Venom in the North East in 1979, guiding them through their golden era before departing in 1988 over musical differences.
- Eventually, he returned to the fold in 1995 and guided the influential black metal act for the last 31 years, which has seen them have triumphant success.
- The most recent lineup of VENOM consisted of Cronos alongside guitarist Rage (a.k.a.
- Prior to Cronos 's death, there were three different bands using variations of the VENOM name for their live shows.
- The dispute revolved around the fact that both parties were licensing and selling official VENOM merchandise featuring the contested designs.
- Alongside guitarist Jeff “Mantas” Dunn and drummer Anthony “Abaddon” Bray, he helped establish a sound and aesthetic that would have an enormous impact on the development of extreme metal.
- VENOM demonstrated that heavy metal did not have to operate within established boundaries.
- Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados.
- He initially joined the group that would become Venom as a guitarist in 1979, but when bassist Alan Winston departed, Lant switched to bass rather than allow the band to cancel an upcoming performance.