Conrad Thomas Lant, known worldwide as Cronos, was the singer, bassist, and co-founder of Venom, the English band widely credited with giving black metal its name. His death was announced on October 1, 2026. This article covers what the band and major music outlets have confirmed, his career, and the details that are still unknown.
Latest Update: October 1, 2026
As of October 1, 2026, Cronos’s death is confirmed by Venom’s own statement on social media, and reported by Exclaim!, Vice, Louder, Revolver, Metal Underground, and others. The band said it shared the news with “profound sadness and broken hearts.” Lant’s son, Nathan, also thanked fans, whom the band calls the Legions, for supporting his father over the years.
No cause of death has been reported. The reports I reviewed also did not give the exact date or place of death, only the date of the announcement. Venom’s statement did not say whether the band will continue. Gary Holt of Slayer and Exodus is among the musicians who have paid tribute.
Who Was Cronos?
Cronos was the voice and bass of Venom for more than four decades. He joined as a guitarist, switched to bass, and became the group’s frontman and its main creative force. The band’s 1982 album Black Metal gave the genre its name and influenced later extreme metal acts. He also designed Venom’s logo and many of its record sleeves, according to Wikipedia.
Background / Early Life
He was born on January 15, 1963 in Kensington, London, England. He moved to Newcastle upon Tyne at age eight, according to Louder, and Newcastle became the band’s home. Information about his parents and childhood beyond that is limited in the sources I reviewed. His brother Anthony, known as Antton, played with him in Venom, and his oldest brother, Graham Lant, is a former drummer for Prefab Sprout.
Career Path
Forming Venom
Lant adopted the stage name Cronos in the late 1970s, while playing in Newcastle bands, and Venom took shape around 1978. When the group’s original bassist quit about a week before a church-hall gig, Lant picked up the bass instead of canceling the show, according to Exclaim! and Wikipedia. Sources disagree slightly on the year he joined Guillotine, the band that became Venom, giving 1978 or 1979.
The Classic Albums
Venom’s debut, Welcome to Hell, was followed by Black Metal in November 1982. Louder reports it was recorded in six days and received a five-star review from Sounds journalist Geoff Barton. Next came At War with Satan in 1984 and Possessed in 1985. Wikipedia says he pushed demos to labels and the press himself, and Barton’s coverage helped the band get noticed.
Solo Years and Reunion
After the original lineup came apart, Cronos left Venom in the late 1980s and formed a band under his own name in 1988 with guitarists Mike Hickey and James Clare. He returned in 1995, and the classic lineup headlined the Dynamo Festival in 1996. The reunited band released Cast in Stone in 1997.
Later Years
In 2002 Lant was hurt in a climbing accident that left him unable to sing or play for almost two years, according to Exclaim!. Venom continued to release albums with him as its leader. Louder counts 12 Venom albums with him; Revolver says the band released 16 full-length albums in total, and the latest is 2026’s Into Oblivion. Revolver reports his last show with Venom was in July 2026 at the Luppolo in Rock festival in Cremona, Italy.
Cronos Age
Conrad Lant was born on January 15, 1963 and was 63 when his death was announced on October 1, 2026. Most outlets report 63, which matches that birth date, since he would have turned 64 on January 15, 2027. One outlet, Brave Words, reported 64. I am using 63 because it matches the birth date listed on Wikipedia.
Cronos Family and Parents
His parents’ names are not given in the sources I reviewed. His brothers are Antton and Graham Lant, as noted above. His son is Nathan, who shared a message with Venom’s announcement.
Cronos Wife / Partner and Children
I found no reliable report on a wife or current partner, so I am not naming one. His son Nathan is the only family member quoted in the announcement. Whether he had other children is not stated in the sources I reviewed.
Cronos Education
His schooling is not documented in the sources I checked.
Cronos Religion
His personal religious beliefs are not documented. Venom’s imagery used Satanic themes, but that was a stage and artistic style, and it should not be treated as a statement of his personal faith. Cronos described the band’s approach as mixing Black Sabbath’s dark themes, Alice Cooper’s theatricality, and punk aggression, according to Louder.
Cronos Height
His height is not verified in the sources I checked.
Cronos Net Worth
Cronos’s net worth has not been publicly verified, and I did not find a reliable figure.
Cronos’s Legacy and Major Achievements
Black Metal’s title gave the genre its name, and bands from later waves of black and extreme metal have pointed to Venom’s influence. Cronos told Revolver that hearing bands such as Mayhem and Burzum helped him understand how significant Venom’s legacy had become. He also appeared on the Probot project led by Dave Grohl, according to Exclaim!.
Quick Table
| Full Name | Conrad Thomas Lant |
|---|---|
| Stage Name | Cronos |
| Date of Birth | January 15, 1963 |
| Age at Death | 63 (most reports) |
| Death Announced | October 1, 2026, by Venom |
| Birthplace | Kensington, London, England |
| Raised | Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Singer, bassist, songwriter |
| Known For | Founding and fronting Venom; the album Black Metal |
| Siblings | Anthony “Antton” Lant; Graham Lant |
| Children | Son, Nathan |
| Cause of Death | Not disclosed |
| Current Status | Deceased |
Reader Questions
Did Cronos of Venom die?
Yes. Venom confirmed in a statement on social media that Conrad “Cronos” Lant has died, and major music outlets reported it on October 1, 2026.
How old was Cronos?
Most outlets report that he was 63. He was born on January 15, 1963, and one outlet reported 64.
What was Cronos’s cause of death?
No cause of death has been disclosed. Venom’s statement did not give one, and the outlets I reviewed said none had been reported.
Who was Cronos?
Cronos was the founding vocalist and bassist of the English band Venom, whose 1982 album Black Metal named a genre. His real name was Conrad Lant.
Who are Cronos’s family members?
His son Nathan shared a message with the band’s announcement. His brothers are Anthony “Antton” Lant, who played in Venom, and Graham Lant, a former Prefab Sprout drummer.
Will Venom continue without Cronos?
The band’s statement did not say. As of October 1, 2026, there has been no announcement about its future.
What was Cronos’s last Venom album?
His last Venom album was Into Oblivion, released in 2026.
Wrap-Up
Cronos spent more than four decades shaping a sound that began in a small Newcastle band and spread across extreme metal. He built Venom’s image, wrote much of its early material, and kept the band going through lineup changes, a solo period, and a serious climbing injury. The fan base he called the Legions was a central part of the band’s identity, and the band singled it out in its statement.
Many details about his final days, including the date, place, and cause of death, have not been released. Those should come from his family or the band. As of October 1, 2026, Conrad “Cronos” Lant is deceased, and Venom has not yet announced plans for a memorial or the band’s future.
Disclaimer
This article is based on Venom’s public statement and music-news reports checked on October 1, 2026. Details that are missing, including the cause and date of death, are noted as such, and conflicting reports on his age are explained. Please respect the family’s privacy.
