Cronos

Cronos functions as the sporadic solo outlet for Venom's iconic frontman Conrad Lant, who performs under the same moniker. Following Venom's drawn-out disintegration that hit rock bottom in the late '80s with the disastrous Calm Before the Storm album, the vocalist and bassist opted to begin anew. He assembled a lineup by enlisting Venom's recent guitarists Mike Hickey and James Clare while swapping out drummer Abaddon for newcomer Chris Pattersonn, then launched the project Cronos to record its first effort, the 1990 release Dancing in the Fire. Though rooted in a Venom-like approach, the music incorporated a stronger classic New Wave of British Heavy Metal influence; the group played live only sporadically afterward, owing to Lant's growing commitment to professional bodybuilding. Three years later the band issued its follow-up, Rock 'n' Roll Disease, before reducing to a three-piece with Cronos, Hickey, and new drummer Mark Wharton to deliver one last record in 1995 under the pointed title Venom. Lant has periodically rejoined his former Venom colleagues since then, yet he has produced no further material under the Cronos name.