In the late 1970s, as heavy metal was navigating its formative years, Newcastle upon Tyne was home to the formidable sounds of Venom. With Black Sabbath and Deep Purple fading from the charts and disbanding, and emerging acts like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest still years away from their peak, frontman Conrad “Cronos” Lant felt the genre had lost its edge.
Reflecting on this period in a 2008 interview with Guitar World, Lant expressed his belief that a new approach was needed. “There could only be one new way to do this,” he stated. “For metal bands to get some fucking balls again.”
It didn’t take long for Lant and his bandmates to revive the raw energy that he felt was lacking. They infused the rebellious, do-it-yourself ethos of punk into heavier music, combining raspy vocals with simple but powerful riffs, disregarding traditional harmonies. Their lyrics transformed the occult themes of Black Sabbath into something more confrontational. In their 1981 single, “In League With Satan,” Lant boldly proclaimed, “I’m in league with Satan! I was raised in hell!” supported by a growling bass line and aggressive delivery.
Critics were not kind; Kerrang! labeled “In League With Satan” as “a pompous piece of horrifying power plod.” However, the backlash only intensified Venom’s fierce reputation, paving the way for the emergence of the black metal subgenre and inspiring a generation of musicians eager to emulate their sound and image.
Born in Chelsea, London in 1963, Lant relocated to the north at the age of eight. His distinct London accent made him a target among peers, but he quickly learned to defend himself. “We used to beat the shit out of each other as part of the curriculum!” he recounted to Metal Hammer. “You learn to stand up for yourself, and I think that’s something I carried into Venom with the attitude: if you don’t like it, fuck you!”
By the time he joined Venom at 16, Lant’s stage presence was already striking. With his tongue out reminiscent of Gene Simmons and bass in hand while he snarled into an overhead mic like Lemmy, he embodied an amalgamation of rock’s most fearsome personas. His gritty performance style, along with his leather attire and gauntlets, made him a unique figure in the music scene, influencing vocalists like Slayer’s Tom Araya and Kreator’s Mille Petrozza.
The impact of Venom extended beyond its frontman; the infamous Norwegian black metal scene derived its name from the band’s 1982 album and sought to push boundaries even further, with some members engaging in acts of arson and violence. Lant distanced himself from this behavior, lamenting to the Quietus, “What a fucking shame that those guys are known for that and not for their music.”
On the other side of the Atlantic, Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine, formerly of Metallica, proudly donned a T-shirt featuring the artwork from Venom’s 1981 debut album, “Welcome to Hell.” Anthrax’s Scott Ian described this album as “a new kind of insanity,” highlighting its raw and aggressive nature, as the recordings were initially intended as demos but released in their original form. Lant often expressed pride in how his music set itself apart from the polished sounds of other early-80s UK metal bands. “I would never, ever have wanted to be in a band like Iron Maiden or Saxon, and I didn’t want to be commercial or sound like anyone else,” he shared with Classic Rock. “We wanted to create music that scared people. And we succeeded.”
However, Lant’s public persona was just one facet of his character. As noted in a recent Classic Rock profile, “there are two versions of Cronos.” At home, his musical tastes encompassed not only rock legends like Led Zeppelin and Status Quo but also artists such as Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush. He even enjoyed birdwatching during his leisure time. After a hiatus from Venom between 1987 and 1995 due to declining record sales, he transitioned into a fitness instructor.
Upon his return to Venom, Lant navigated numerous lineup changes while remaining dedicated to the distinct sound that defined the band’s early work. Although some elements became less shocking over time, he gained respect as a veteran figure in the metal community, taking part in various collaborations, including a guest appearance on Dave Grohl’s metal tribute project, Probot. Mark Tremonti, guitarist for the band Creed and an aficionado of extreme metal, noted in 2022 that Venom’s influence was comparable to that of Black Sabbath in shaping the genre. Lant’s relentless pursuit of authenticity and his refusal to let metal become soft nearly half a century ago have cemented his legacy in the music world.
