Venom founder Conrad "Cronos" Lant has died at 63. The band confirmed his passing today in a statement; no cause of death has been given.

Cronos took over bass and then lead vocals in Venom in 1980. With Mantas and Abaddon he made Welcome to Hell (1981) and Black Metal (1982), the record that gave an entire genre its name. Metallica and Slayer both opened for Venom in the US. "For more than four decades, Conrad's voice, bass and vision were at the heart of VENOM," the band wrote. His son Nathan added: "He has laid down his soul, and his music will live on. The legend of Cronos will never die." Rest in peace.

Photo: Jonas Rogowski