03/10/2026
VENOM - Welcome to Hell
Obituary: Cronos (Conrad Lant) — The Titan Who Forged Extreme Metal
It is with heavy hearts and profound reverence that the world of heavy music bids farewell to Conrad “Cronos” Lant, the iconic frontman, bassist, and driving force behind Venom. Cronos was more than a musician; he was an unstoppable catalyst who forever shattered the boundaries of what heavy metal could—and dared to—be.
Emerging at the dawn of the 1980s, Venom unleashed a raw, uncompromising, and sonic assault upon the world. With landmark releases such as Welcome to Hell (1981) and the legendary Black Metal (1982)—an album that not only coined the name of an entire subgenre, but laid the foundational blueprint for Thrash, Death, and Black Metal—Cronos reshaped the DNA of heavy music for generations of headbangers across the globe.
His thunderous, heavily distorted bass, menacing signature vocals, and unapologetic stage presence defined the very spirit of extreme music. Countless pioneers—from Metallica and Slayer to Sepultura and Mayhem—trace their roots directly to the fearless path Cronos carved open when others hesitated to push the envelope.
For the international metal community, the loss of Cronos leaves an irreplaceable void, yet his legacy remains immortal. His music has echoed through more than four decades and will continue to roar through every amplifier, every arena, and in the heart of every true metalhead.
Cronos has passed into legend, but his voice, vision, and rebellious spirit will burn forever at the altar of heavy metal.
Rest in Noise, Cronos…
This picture was taken in 2014!!!!
We miss you 🙏🙏🙏🙏…