CONRAD "CHRONOS" LANT, vocalist and bassist of British black metal legends VENOM died at 63 9/29//2026. No cause of "CRONOS"'s death has been given.
VENOM , via SPOTIFY, are streaming the bands anticipated new release "INTO OBLIVION", unleashed 5/1/2026 via NOISE.BMG RECORDS.
VENOM have revealed details for the bands anticipated 40TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET "IN NOMINE SATANAS", unleashed 5/31/2019 via BMG.
VENOM unleashed "STORM THE GATES", 12/14/2018 via SPINEFARM RECORDS.
FROM VENOM:
IN MEMORIAM — CONRAD “CRONOS” LANT
It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we share the news that Conrad “Cronos” Lant has passed away.
For more than four decades, Conrad’s voice, bass and vision were at the heart of VENOM.
From the first dark rumblings of Welcome to Hell, through Black Metal, At War With Satan, Possessed and beyond, he created something that changed heavy music forever.
VENOM never followed the rules.
They forged their own path.
And Conrad was there at the centre of it all — uncompromising, fearless and unmistakable.
The Legions have always been an important part of VENOM. To everyone who stood with the band through the years, bought the records, came to the shows, wore the shirts, shared the music and kept the flame burning — Cronos was always grateful for your loyalty and support.
A message from Nathan, Conrad’s son:
“I want to thank all of the Legions for all of the support you have given my dad over the years. I know he really appreciated you all. He has laid down his soul, and his music will live on. The legend of Cronos will never die.”
His music will never die.
His voice will never fade.
And the legacy of VENOM will live on through the music he created and through the Legions around the world who continue to carry that flame.
Thank you, Conrad.
Thank you, Cronos.
Thank you for the music.
Thank you for the memories.
Our deepest love and condolences go to Nathan & Hel, friends and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
REST IN PEACE, CONRAD
THE LEGEND LIVES ON
VENOM
FROM ATOMIC AGGRESSOR:
A true metal legend has fallen.
It was an honour to have shared the stage with you in 2009.
RIP Cronos of Venom.
Die Hard
FROM ORDER OF THE EBON HAND:
Not a Single thing in Here that has not been Hugely Inspiring to us,
from the Coloration of the Cover to the last Sonic detail.
The Definition of the Word "Pioneers"
with an Unimaginably Enormous, and in Certain Aspects Unparalleled, Impact to the whole of Metal Music
REST IN POWER, GREAT CRONOS
FROM VORPHALAC:
A good chunk of my teenage years are gone with the passing of Cronos.
I must have been around 13 years old when I first heard about Venom, I was 15 when they first play Switzerland on their « 7 Dates of Hell » tour, but I was unable to attend that show.
The question of whether we choose the path we take or whether the path chooses us remains open; however, in the late 70's someone was paving the road I and countless others would later walk on.
For me, as for many, there was a "before" and an "after" Venom, and Cronos has been the pivotal character around whom that revolution took place.
Venom's influence on the metal scene is undeniable, but I would not shy away from affirming that it has extended far beyond it and can be traced in most extreme music releases since their emergence.
Cronos is dead, but he will live on in the DNA of so many bands and individuals that he has earned his place in the pantheon of music history.
Vorphalack - October 2026
S
FROM IN AETERNUM:
Never forgotten
thank you for bringing black metal to all of us back in the 80’s.
thank you for bringing black metal to all of us back in the 80’s.FROM MASSACRE:
Pain, believe it.... One of our greatest influences has died today.
FROM AARON STAINTHORPE:
Sleep well mate, and thanks for that lovely cup of tea you made me.
FROM ADAM NERGAL DARSKI (BEHEMOTH):
owe Venom/Cronos more than u can think… but that’s a story for a book (in works).
GOLDEN GODS AWARDS London 2010 was the first time I met the man himself.
And all of a sudden our tour name IN LEAGUE WITH SATAN gets a whole new meaning …
R.I.P. Cronos
FROM ADORIOR:
We spoke about Kate Bush for hours in a booth at Garlics.
I brought you a suitcase full of bullets & bones for a shoot in a church.
We had bar fights defending your honour, that got us black listed from most London festivals & magazines.
You sealed the pentagram with Black Fucking Metal!
Cronos you lit the fire inside!
Journey well you beautiful bastard!
FROM CASTRATOR:
Cronos was a legend. Venom did not just make metal — they helped lay the groundwork for the extreme music we all love.
The influence is undeniable, and the music will live on forever!
Cronos was a true original!
Gone way too soon. Rest in power, Conrad Thomas Lant!
We Love You 
FROM IMPALED NAZARENE:
o put it very simply: Without Venom we wouldn´t be here and be what we are. They are the one and only original gods of black metal and Cronos is its true pioneer. Hail Cronos, thank you for everything! Hell has gained a new king!
FROM LORD AHRIMAN (DARK FUNERAL):
est in Power, Cronos.
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing VENOM live several times over the years, and later sharing the road with them.
A true pioneer whose work helped shape the foundations of black metal and inspired generations of musicians, myself included.
Your music and legacy will live on forever.
Hail Cronos! 
FROM NECROPHOBIC:
One of our heroes and an early inspiration has sadly passed away today. Hail Cronos and R.I.P.
FROM ANCIENT:
We are truly sad and shocked by the news of Cronos' passing.
Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
We met Cronos backstage at the Wacken festival in Germany in August 2000 and had a great, though brief, chat with him. He was an awesome person and a truly one-of-a-kind character.
Cronos was, by far, one of our biggest influences. May he rest in peace....
@top fans
FROM POSSESSED:
In memory of Conrad “Cronos” Lant
1963–2026
I’m very sad to hear that Cronos has passed away. It’s hard to find the words.
I’ll always remember sharing the bill with Venom and Slayer at the Kabuki in San Francisco in April 1985. Looking back on that night today means more than I can put into words.
Cronos gave so much to heavy music, and his voice will always be part of our lives. My heart goes out to his son Nathan, his family, friends, bandmates, and everyone grieving this loss.
Rest in peace, Conrad. Thank you for the music and the memories.
Jeff Becerra / Possessed
RIP Cronos of Venom
We are deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Cronos.
A rebel, an innovator and a frontman in a league of his own.
What we do and what we celebrate with this festival would never have been possible without his music and vision of Cronos and Venom. 'Black Metal' changed the lives of generations of metal fans, and its impact will live forever.
It was an immense honour to welcome Cronos to Beyond the Gates in 2024.
Thank you for everything. Rest in power
It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my cousin, Conrad “Cronos” Thomas Lant.
He layed down his soul to the God of rock n'roll!
At this deeply painful time, I ask everyone to respect the privacy and discretion of his family and loved ones. We ask that you allow us the time and space to grieve privately.
Further information will be shared when, and if, the family feels it is appropriate.
RIP Conrad.
FROM WARLORD PROMOTIONS:
Wow it's definitely a sad day today..
The world lost a true pioneer in metal!!
Valhalla's Gates have opened
R.I.P. Cronos
FROM MALEVOLENT CREATION:
If i had $1 for everytime i spun a Venom record since 1981 i would be a wealthy man Rest In Power Cronos!
Your legacy will live forever!
FROM ASPHYX:
Sincerely shocked we heard about the way too early passing away of Cronos from Venom, being only 63 years of age.
We don't have to tell you old Asphyx fans that Venom was (and has always remained) an enormous influence of Asphyx. And not only for us. Without Cronos and Venom, there probably would not have been bands like Hellhammer/Frost, Bathory and most likely the entire genre of Death Metal and more extreme metal. Cronos and Venom did set major new standards back in those days.
Their first albums are absolute classics and game-changers. And the creators of Black Metal.
We thank you Cronos, for inspiring us with the fantastic metal you delivered, influencing thousands of bands and metalheads around the world.
Your songs will live on forever, you and your legacy will never be forgotten.
Lay down your souls to the gods rock 'n' roll!
Paul, Alwin, Husky and Martin
Venom were one of the first extreme bands I ever listened to to. Their power, presence and Satanic imagery pushed the boundaries of what was possible. They always had a different aura about them. Cronos especially. 14 year old me will always be in awe of them. Lay down your soul to the God’s rock and roll! Rest in peace Cronos
FROM MICHAEL AMOTT (ARCH ENEMY):
Thank you, Cronos. It was awesome growing up with Venom’s music, and a privilege to have a few hangs with you later in life. So many great memories and an undeniable legacy.
REST IN POWER!
BLACK METAL!
FROM ARSAMES:
Today, as I heard about the passing of Conrad "Cronos" Lant , I found myself going back to one of the memories that has stayed with me for decades.
In Iran in 1987, there were no original metal cassettes, CDs, or official releases available to us. Almost everything we listened to was copied, smuggled, or illegally obtained.
Then, somehow, a bootleg VHS tape reached me. It contained several metal videos, including a live concert by Venom recorded in London in 1985.
For a die-hard, blood-and-soul Venom fan like me, discovering that tape was an unforgettable moment. I lived with that video for years, in a country under a religious dictatorship where access to the music we loved was extremely limited.
That VHS became much more than just a recording. It gave me a connection to the world of metal when I was living inside a closed system.
Rest in power legend
You were one of the people who gave me the inspiration to hold on to metal and experience those powerful and beautiful moments despite the restrictions around me.
And somewhere along that journey, those feelings eventually became part of the fire that gave birth to my own band, Arsames.
Thank you for the music, the inspiration, and the memories that will never leave me.
FROM SHAXUL MANZER:
VENOM have always been, and will forever remain, an essential influence on Manzer. I created this band in 2008 to return to the roots, because VENOM created Black Metal. If, in 2026, you still disagree, you're simply an ignorant fool. 
Tonight, let's blast some of their eternal hymns.
Rest in Hell, Cronos.
Today, one era sadly came to an end, and we pay our deepest respects to Conrad “Cronos” Lant.
My first encounter with Black Metal came in 1985, when I got to hear Venom’s Possessed. That album became the starting point of my entire journey into the Darkness and Black Metal.
Venom were the pioneers who sowed the seeds of this genre — and of the DIY attitude that came with it. Those seeds opened the Gates for us to form Archgoat four years later.
For that, and for everything that followed, the respect will always remain.
Rest in peace, Cronos.
Yesterday, we were saddened by the passing of Cronos and took a moment of silence to honor him.
Today, I want to honor him in a way that I believe would suit him better: with a good beer and the music of Venom.
My story of discovering Venom goes back to 1984.
I happened to sit next to a kid around my age on an airplane, and he gave me my first chance to hear Venom — 10,000 metres up in the air, through his Walkman. My first thought was, “What the f**k is this chaos?” But that beat stayed in my head and simply wouldn’t go away. It haunted me until I found a copy of my own. After a difficult search, I finally managed to find and buy Possessed on cassette in 1985.
For me, this is one of the most influential releases ever — not only because of the music itself, but because of where opening that door led me, and where it continues to lead me today.
Venom was the very foundation of my musical journey. Their DIY spirit inspired me to pick up a guitar, start writing my own music, and eventually perform it on stage. I never saw myself wanting to be anything other than a metal musician. Venom became one of the foundations of everything that followed.
In 2014, at Faust Extreme Metal Fest V in Pisa, Italy, I finally got the chance to share the stage with Venom, with Archgoat as their direct support. Standing on that stage was one of those moments when everything came full circle. The band that had opened the gates for me in 1985 was now standing there in front of us, 29 years later.
Rest in peace, Cronos. Thank you for the gift you gave me — the music, the inspiration, and the path that began with that first listen back in 1984.
Raise your glass to Cronos.
Now I’d like to hear your stories. How did you discover Venom? What was the first record you heard? And if you have an old photo or memory from those days, share it here.
Hail Venom.
FROM CHAQ MOL (DARK FUNERAL):
Great Memory! R.i.p Cronos 
we did the Lucifer Rising tour together. Venom forever
we did the Lucifer Rising tour together. Venom foreverFROM INTO THE NECROSPHERE:
In a year where we have already said goodbye to far too many, this nevertheless cuts especially deep. Cronos’ influence on the music we love was virtually without peer and, while I never had the chance to meet him in person, I have never encountered anyone who had a bad word to say about him.
“The 7 Gates of Hell” was the track that made me fall in love with Venom’s music, and so that is what I shall listen to this evening as I raise a glass to one of the greatest to ever do it.
Rest in peace, Cronos. Your legend will outlast your time on this earth for generations to come.
FROM ENFORCER:
Absolutely gutted to hear about the passing of Cronos yesterday. What an insanely influential band Venom was for everything metal. And they surely had a lot of impact on me personally when it comes to aesthetics, attitude and music. So play some VENOM loud this weekend will you!
We covered Countess Bathory live for ages and we recorded a version of Bursting Out in 2012 - I’ll put the link in the comments if anyone’s interested. The influence is obviously huge!
FROM MORTIIS:
RIP Cronos. This one sucks. We saw Venom at Sweden Rock Festival earlier this summer, and he seemed to be in great shape
FROM AVULSED:
FROM SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL:
Rest in peace, Cronos
FROM NECRO RITUAL:
We raise a fist high to the passing of the great Cronos tonight.
English maniacs who helped forge the blueprint of what binds us in blood.
Riding hell's stallions bareback and free!
Taking our chances with raw energy.
A.M.V.W
FROM JOHNNY KELLY (TYPE O NEGATIVE):
Heartbroken to hear about the passing of one of the true originals. This 15 year old was never the same after hearing Black Metal for the first time. Thank you Cronos
Shocked to hear this… last time we saw him was about 10 years ago and he was in fine spirits…
FROM ONSLAUGHT:
We are devastated to hear of the passing of our friend Conrad “Cronos” Lant of Venom.
Cronos was one of the true pioneers of extreme metal. Through Venom’s music, attitude and uncompromising vision, he helped change the face of heavy music and inspire generations of bands and musicians around the world.
For Onslaught, as for so many others, Venom were a huge influence. Their impact on the underground metal scene cannot be overstated, and their legacy will live on through the music they created.
Our deepest condolences go to Conrad’s family, his friends, and his Venom brothers Danny and Rage at this incredibly sad time.
As Sy says: “Cronos will never be forgotten. I was a Venom Legions member back in the day — and I never cancelled my membership, so I guess I still am.”
RIP CRONOS. RAISE SOME HELL
FROM MILLE PETROZZA (KREATOR):
Thank you, Chronos. Without you Kreator wouldn’t exist.
Rest in absolute power.
FROM DEATH TO ALL AND DEATH ANGEL:
Cronos, a Godfather to us all. An influence on generations. Without Cronos, or Venom, our entire musical landscape would be vastly different. DARK ANGEL and DEATH TO ALL honor the legacy of our fallen comrade. RIP on your RIDE, Cronos…
FROM CULT NEVER DIES (BOOK PUBLISHER):
One more. I interviewed Cronos multiple times over the years but the interviews he did for Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult were the most interesting and appreciated. Needless to say that Venom are arguably the most important band in extreme metal history. RIP
FROM EXODUS:
All of Exodus are simply crushed by the news that our hero Cronos of the mighty Venom has passed. Venom shaped who we are. We love them, loved touring with them, and Baloff and the rest of us worshipped them. He will be missed. Thrash metal would not be what it is without you. And so much more.
FROM MANTAS (VENOM):
I would like to thank you all for the huge expressions of appreciation and condolences.
A recognition that, in my opinion, is more than deserved.
I speak on my behalf and on behalf of Abaddon —with whom I spoke today— when I say that, despite the turbulent history of this band, in the end it was us three who started something so special and changed the course, the movement and the history of Metal.
We found out about the news two days ago, but obviously, without the consent or authorization of Conrad's family, we couldn't say anything to anyone.
In moments like this, what I remember is the friendship we shared in those early times: that mentality of "one for all and all for one", that rebellious spirit and the absolute desire to be something different, regardless of whether it was accepted or not.
I still have many video recordings from our beginnings in which the three of us appear laughing, sometimes for no reason other than the simple fact of doing silly things; our sense of humor was something peculiar, one that requires time to appreciate.
I thank you all for the countless messages; as I have already said, despite the history, the discussions, the insults, the ups and downs and all the dysfunctional aspects of the band, this blow has been very hard.
Rest in strength, Conrad Cronos Lant.
FROM NOISE RECORDS:
RIP Conrad ‘Cronos’ Lant. It was an honour and privilege to work with him on what was his final album, Into Oblivion. The man, the legend and the trailblazer. He will be sorely missed.
FROM SURVIVING MEMBERS OF VENOM:
This is something we never thought we would have to say or even how to start…but we will by thanking all the legions for their condolences, thoughts and love after this tragic loss.
Conrad touched so many lives through the music and his very being..we are so grateful we were part of that….
He was Venom through and through, and with all you behind him it felt eternal….and you all must keep the black flame burning for him….you are all Venom now.
Our hearts go out to Nathan and Hels, while time will move for us it’s frozen in loss for them.
When you celebrate Conrad, celebrate them
When you think of him, think of them
When you feel his loss, feel for them
Play your songs and raise a glass….
He’d tell you all the same….
Turn that fucker up!!
Danny and Stuart
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