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Death of Venom founder Conrad Lant

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2026-10-05 20:11 UTC → 2026-10-11 18:06 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Conrad ‘Cronos’ Lant, the founder, vocalist, and bassist of the British heavy metal band Venom, died at the age of 63. His death occurred on September 29, with the news confirmed by the band on October 1. Lant was a foundational figure in extreme metal, particularly credited with helping to shape the black metal genre through seminal works such as the 1982 album ‘Black Metal’, as well as ‘Welcome to Hell’ and ‘At War with Satan’. His influence extended to thrash, death, and speed metal subgenres. Beyond his musical role, he was a visual architect for the group, having designed the iconic Venom logo. The band described Lant as an ‘uncompromising and fearless presence’ whose voice and vision were at the heart of the group. Following the announcement, the global metal community offered widespread tributes. Phil Anselmo of Pantera referred to him as the ‘King of Black Metal’, while Peter Tägtgren of Pain and Hypocrisy noted his profound influence on extreme music. Lant’s son, Nathan Lant, commented on his father’s legacy, stating, ‘His music will never die. His voice will never fade.’ In the wake of his passing, the Swedish death metal band Unleashed performed a tribute during a concert in Athens, Greece, on October 7. At the Gagarin 205 venue, the band covered the Venom classic ‘Countess Bathory’ to honor Lant. Unleashed vocalist Johnny Hedlund expressed via social media that Lant’s aggression and stage presence had a profound influence on his own musical journey. No specific cause of death has been released.

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