Venom’s Conrad “Cronos” Lant Dead At 63

Conrad "Cronos" Lant, the esteemed bassist and vocalist for the legendary English underground metal band Venom, has sadly passed away at the age of 63. The band confirmed his departure through a recent social media post, without specifying the cause of death. Lant, who was 63 years old, played a pivotal role in shaping the band's distinctive sound and image.

As the frontman and longest-serving member, Lant contributed significantly to Venom's raw and theatrical approach to heavy metal. His alter-ego, Cronos, became synonymous with the band's Satanic imagery and garnered attention from notable bands like Metallica and Slayer during their US tours. Lant's presence in Venom's lineup ensured the band's identity remained intact through various lineup changes.

Born in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, Lant began his musical career in his teenage years. In 1979, he co-founded Venom with members from the local band Guillotine. Their debut single, "In League With Satan," was released in 1981, followed by their self-titled album later that year. The band's second studio album, "Black Metal," released in 1982, is often credited with coining the term "black metal."

Although Venom experienced several lineup changes and released five albums before Lant's temporary exit in the late 1980s, he eventually returned to the band in 1995. After a reunion with the original members, Venom continued to tour and release music, with Lant remaining a constant presence in the band's ever-evolving lineup. Their latest album, "Into Oblivion," was released earlier this year.