Conrad “Cronos” Lant, the founding vocalist and bassist of the British band Venom, has died at age 63. Venom’s 1982 album Black Metal gave a name to a whole genre, and Lant was one of its most recognizable figures. This article covers the announcement of his death, his career, his family and what has not been made public.
Latest Update: October 3, 2026
As of October 3, 2026, Exclaim! reports that Venom confirmed Lant’s death on social media, publishing the news on October 1, 2026. The band wrote that it was sharing the news with “profound sadness and broken hearts.” Lant’s son, Nathan, added a message thanking the band’s fans, called the Legions, for their support. Vice also reports the death and says no cause has been disclosed. The exact date and place of death have not been reported in the sources I checked.
No cause of death, date of death or funeral plans have been announced. This page does not guess at any of them.
Who Was Conrad Lant?
Conrad Thomas Lant was an English musician who performed as Cronos. He was the lead vocalist and bassist of Venom, whose early records mixed speed, aggression and Satanic imagery and influenced thrash, death and black metal. Vice calls him the godfather of black metal.
Background / Early Life
Lant was born on January 15, 1963, in Kensington, London, according to Wikipedia. He grew up in the Newcastle upon Tyne area in northeast England. His brothers include drummer Anthony “Antton” Lant, who played in Venom, and Graham Lant, a former drummer for Prefab Sprout. After his high-school band Dwarfstar, he joined Guillotine as a guitarist around 1978 to 1979, according to Exclaim! and Wikipedia. The two sources differ by a year on when he joined.
Career Path
Founding Venom
Through Guillotine, Lant met guitarist Jeffrey “Mantas” Dunn. When the band’s bassist quit a week before a church hall gig, Lant picked up the bass, and in 1979 the group renamed itself Venom on a roadie’s suggestion. After the original vocalist, Clive Archer, left, Lant sang and played bass, with Dunn on guitar and Anthony “Abaddon” Bray on drums. Lant persuaded the label he worked for, Neat Records, to give the band free studio time for a demo, according to Exclaim!. Sounds magazine writer Geoff Barton also played a role by featuring three Venom songs on his playlist, per Wikipedia.
Breakthrough Albums
Neat released Venom’s first single, “In League with Satan,” in 1981, followed by the debut album Welcome to Hell that same year. The 1982 album Black Metal is regarded as an important step in the development of black metal, thrash and death metal, according to Exclaim!.
Leaving, Solo Band and Reunion
Dunn left in 1986. Venom released Calm Before the Storm in 1987 with two new guitarists, but things fell apart. In 1988 Lant formed a band called Cronos with guitarists Mike Hickey and Jim Clare and drummer Chris Patterson. It released Dancing in the Fire (1990), Rock n’ Roll Disease (1991) and a compilation titled Venom (1995). That year, the classic Venom lineup reunited, and the Cronos band went into permanent hiatus.
Accident and Return
Venom paused again after Lant was injured in a climbing accident in 2002 and could not sing or play for almost two years, according to Exclaim!. He brought his brother Antton into the band in 2004, per Wikipedia. Mantas declined to rejoin. Lant also appeared on Dave Grohl’s metal side project, Probot, on its self-titled album.
Final Years
Since reuniting, Venom released seven more albums, for 16 in total. The most recent is Into Oblivion, released in 2026, the band’s first in eight years, according to Exclaim!.
Conrad Lant Age
Lant was born on January 15, 1963, and was 63 when his death was announced. The exact date of death has not been reported, but he would have been 63 at any time since his birthday in January 2026.
Family
His brothers are Anthony “Antton” Lant and Graham Lant. His parents’ names are not covered in the sources I checked.
Wife and Children
His son, Nathan, shared a message with Venom’s statement. I found no reliable information about a wife or partner, or about other children, so none are stated.
Education, Religion, Height and Net Worth
None of these is verified in the sources I reviewed. Cronos’s stage persona and the band’s imagery are artistic choices, and this page does not treat them as statements of his personal beliefs. No reliable net-worth figure exists.
Quick Table
| Full Name | Conrad Thomas Lant (“Cronos”) |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 15, 1963 |
| Death Announced | October 1, 2026, by Venom on social media |
| Age | 63 |
| Birthplace | Kensington, London, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Vocalist and bassist; founder of Venom |
| Known For | Venom albums Welcome to Hell (1981) and Black Metal (1982) |
| Siblings | Anthony “Antton” Lant; Graham Lant |
| Children | Son Nathan (named in the family statement) |
| Latest Album | Into Oblivion (2026) |
| Cause of Death | Not reported |
Reader Questions
Who was Conrad “Cronos” Lant?
He was the founding vocalist and bassist of the English band Venom, and he is widely credited as a pioneer of black metal.
When did Cronos die?
Venom announced his death on October 1, 2026. The exact date of death has not been reported.
How old was Cronos?
He was 63. He was born on January 15, 1963.
What was Cronos’ cause of death?
No cause has been reported by Venom or the news outlets covering the announcement.
What is Cronos famous for?
He is known for founding Venom and for the albums Welcome to Hell and Black Metal, which influenced thrash, death and black metal.
Did Cronos have children?
His son, Nathan, shared a message thanking fans after the announcement. No other children are named in the sources I found.
What was Cronos’ last album?
Venom’s most recent album is Into Oblivion, released in 2026, its first in eight years.
Wrap-Up
Lant spent more than 40 years making and releasing extreme metal, from a church-hall gig in Newcastle to 16 Venom albums. His band’s early records set the template that many later metal bands, in Europe and the US, took further. His brother and son were both part of the story, in the band and in the announcement of his death.
The facts of his death are limited to a statement from the band, and the cause and funeral details have not been made public. Venom’s official channels are the best place to watch for further news.
As of October 3, 2026, his death is confirmed by Venom’s statement and music news outlets, and no cause of death has been reported.
Disclaimer
This article is based on news reports and Wikipedia reviewed on October 3, 2026. Details that could not be verified are identified as such, and the page may need updating as the family or band shares more information.
Thomas Andrew is the founder of Odubio.com, a digital platform sharing inspiring biographies, news, and stories about global icons and achievers.