Venom Frontman Conrad “Cronos” Lant Dies at 63
Conrad “Cronos” Lant, the legendary vocalist and bassist of British heavy metal band Venom, died on October 1, 2026, aged 63. The band confirmed the news in an official statement shared on social media. No cause of death has been disclosed.
Lant was a pivotal figure in the development of extreme metal. Alongside guitarist Jeff “Mantas” Dunn and drummer Tony “Abaddon” Bray, he helped establish Venom’s distinctive sound after the band emerged in Newcastle in the late 1970s.
Venom’s first two albums, Welcome to Hell (1981) and Black Metal (1982), became landmark releases in heavy music. The latter gave its name to an entire metal subgenre and influenced generations of musicians worldwide.
After leaving Venom in 1987 to pursue a solo career, Lant returned to the band in 1995. He remained its central figure through numerous lineup changes and continued recording and performing for decades.
In May 2026, Venom released Into Oblivion, the band’s sixteenth studio album and Lant’s latest recording with the group.
Following the announcement, his son Nathan thanked fans for their longstanding support, saying that his father’s music would live on. Cronos leaves behind a lasting legacy that helped shape the history of extreme metal.
