Venom Founder Member Dead at 63
Same Number as the Year He Was Born
Conrad Thomas Lant, known professionally as Cronos, is an English musician best known as the founder, bassist, and lead vocalist of the influential heavy metal band Venom. Born on January 15, 1963, he began playing in local bands before joining a group called Guillotine in 1979. When the band's bassist left shortly before a performance, Lant switched to bass and helped transform the group into Venom. He later became the band's vocalist as well, establishing the classic lineup that would make Venom famous.While working at Impulse Studios, Cronos played a key role in helping Venom record and release its early music. He persuaded the studio and its associated label, Neat Records, to support rock and metal acts. By distributing demos and promoting the band, he helped secure attention from the music press, leading to Venom's first releases. His determination and resourcefulness were instrumental in the band's rise during the early 1980s.
Cronos was not only responsible for Venom's music but also much of its visual identity. He designed and refined the band's logo and adapted the Sigil of Baphomet into the band's signature emblem. His artistic contributions helped establish Venom's dark, occult-inspired image, which became one of the defining characteristics of the group.
Under Cronos's leadership, Venom released groundbreaking albums such as Welcome to Hell, Black Metal, and At War with Satan. These recordings became highly influential in the development of extreme metal and inspired later generations of thrash, death, and black metal musicians. The band's raw sound, aggressive style, and controversial imagery made them one of the most important acts in metal history.
After temporarily leaving Venom in the late 1980s, Cronos formed his own band, Cronos, releasing several albums before rejoining Venom. Throughout his career, he remained one of metal's most recognizable and influential figures, known for his distinctive vocals, bass playing, and creative vision
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Coldrain
The title OPTIMIZE = OPTDEMISE functions as a warning, pointing to a world where AI’s growth reflects humanity’s growing uncertainty about what it means to be human. Rather than simply opposing AI or technology, the album calls for a release of spirit in response to a world losing vibrancy and to people who, no longer thinking independently, still cause harm to one another. This is why coldrain continues moving forward, and this record expresses that core feeling in a more youthful, raw, and transparent form than ever, like a fuse of human energy heading toward ignition.
Coldrain, a five-member “loud rock” band formed in Japan in 2007 and now preparing their eighth album, built their early sound on 2000s nu-metal and emo/screamo influences that resonated with US youth culture. At the time, Japan’s rock scene largely associated “loud music” with melodic punk and pop-punk, so the band drew from a wider range of styles. While retaining melodies rooted in Japanese emotional sensibility, they developed a hybrid sound that moves across rock subgenres, with heaviness balanced by strong pop appeal. Watch the Coldrain - OPTDEMISE video HERE.
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We We Came As Romans
Release Brand New Single “BORN FROM NOTHING” Watch the video HERE
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IRON SAVIOR
German power metal band Iron Savior have dropped a new single, “Light In The Dark”, together with an official visualizer, ahead of their upcoming album “Deathbringer”, scheduled for release on November 13,2026.
WATCH THE VISUALIZER HERE
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TEMPLE OF BONES: Sign To Relapse & Announce Debut Album Walk The Winds Out November 13, 2026
In a contemporary era defined by unending wars, technological devastation, and persistent genocide, humanity appears trapped in a continuous downward spiral. In the realm of heavy music, the newly formed TEMPLE OF BONES stands apart from the rest. Put simply, their sound blends black, thrash, and hardcore metal into a fusion that resists straightforward genre labels.
Across Walk the Winds, the consistent foundation is unmistakably heavy metal. Co-produced by Phil Caivano (Monster Magnet) together with the band, Walk the Winds hits with a massive sound right from the start. The lead single "Black Horizon" is propelled by pounding double-kick drums, with razor-edged riffs slicing through like bursts of darkness. Elsewhere, Scott Ruth’s vocals channel the anger and strain of existing in today’s chaotic world. Darker songs such as "Sky is like Ocean" and "Lowly Demon" purge the most depraved human emotions, while "Walk the Winds" recounts stories of hardship, survival, and resilience.
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Black Metal & Blackened Extremes
- ABBATH pulls the plug on performances after an on-stage incident — Abbath Doom Occulta left the stage just two minutes into a festival appearance because of health concerns, and all scheduled 2026 dates are now off.
- Kalt Vindur unveil a mesmerising new track, “Lost In Infinity”, highlighting Polish atmospheric black metal with collaboration from Greece.
- Efflore present their new record Elegies of the Island, merging Taiwanese ghost-story influences with “Oriental Black Metal.”
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Thrash, Speed & Blackened Thrash
- Exumer make a comeback with “Blinding Skies” and fresh material from Death Mask Messiah, marking their first studio release in seven years — a significant moment in thrash.
- Bulletbelt debut “Deathgasm 2”, a blackened power-metal song connected to the sequel of the horror-comedy film.
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Death Metal, Brutal Death, Slam & Death-Sludge
- Medical Negligence debut the disturbing new track “Rey Chivo”, drawing inspiration from a real Mexican true-crime story.
- Sea Sleeper release a full stream of Burden of Antlers, a progressive death-metal album from Portland.
- Noroth / Mörtual tease their upcoming split release with newly premiered tracks.
- Black Royal introduce “Drown the Seaweed”, the first single from their forthcoming death-sludge album Abyssian.
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Grindcore, Hardcore & Extreme Hybrids
- Moisturizer put out their chaotic grind record Second and Mystical, featured in Decibel’s Blast Worship column.
- Terror share a new video for “Erase You From My World”, continuing their hardcore onslaught.
- Killa Bastard debut the beatdown/hardcore track “Busted Up’”.
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Slam & Brutal Death Highlights
- NECRO MUTATION release the single and video “GEORGE BUSH SLAMATHON”, a new slam/brutal death offering.
- Mirrors US debut “Endless Oblivion”, a deathcore track included in Slam Worldwide’s weekly roundup.
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Doom, Stoner & Extreme Doom
- Materializer unveil “Unwind”, a noisy fusion of doom and stoner sounds.
- Bite To Break release “In Between”, combining elements of slam, hardcore, and death metal.
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Legacy & Major Announcements
- Gates of Ishtar reveal their first new album in 29 years, Murder the Light, set for release on January 21, 2027 — a major event for melodic death-metal listeners.
- Brutal Assault Festival 2027 confirms Master’s Hammer performing their cult album Ritual during the festival’s 30th anniversary, marking a historic black-metal moment.
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Andy Williams — guitarist for Every Time I Die and Atomic Rule, and known to AEW fans as The Butcher — died Saturday after collapsing mid‑match. He was 48. Williams went down suddenly during a tag‑team bout on September 5 and was rushed from the arena to a nearby hospital, where he passed away shortly after. His death sent shockwaves through both the metalcore community and the pro‑wrestling world, with tributes pouring in from bands, fans, and AEW talent.
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Hell in the Club - Italian/Swedish hard rock/heavy metal band have released their new single and official video, “Call Me At 666,” through Frontiers Music Srl. Founded by Andrea “Andy” Buratto, Dave “Damna” Moras, and Andrea “Picco” Piccardi, the band blends classic ‘80s rock with a modern touch. They have built a strong reputation with six studio albums, European tours alongside Crashdïet and others, and performances at major festivals like Sonisphere and Heineken Jammin’ Festival.
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Fear Factory - trailblazers of industrial metal, usher in a daring new chapter with their single "Roboticist." This release is the first recording to feature the band's current members: vocalist Milo Silvestro, drummer Pete Webber, and bassist Tony Campos. Combining intense mechanical force with an eerie, melodic refrain, the song delves into a dystopian world where the body deteriorates but consciousness persists.
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Darkest Hour - TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM SUFFER DIVINE ON OCTOBER 30, 2026
Suffer DevieRenowned metal giants Darkest Hour have announced their 11th studio album, Suffer Divine, set to be released on October 30, 2026. For this project, the band collaborated with producer Mark Lewis, known for his work with Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Cannibal Corpse. Spanning 11 intense tracks, Suffer Divine encapsulates everything Darkest Hour cherishes about heavy music, from its power to its spirit.Darkest Hour’s sound blends the passion, intensity, and purpose of hardcore with a strong appreciation for melodic riffs, death metal rhythms, speed, and twin-guitar harmonies. Their upcoming album, Suffer Divine, delivers an unrestrained, revitalised burst of aggression, where the urgency of hardcore and the emotional depth behind every note continue to fuel their metal passions through tone, attack, and riffs.
The album’s concept revolves around the notion that self-worth and meaning can be found through one’s own suffering. Indeed, the making of this album embodies that very process. It channels immense rage, anger, and pain, yet simultaneously contains a great deal of hope. It balances hope, fury, and empathy in equal measure.
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Triosphere - New Single "Monster's Ball" - Official Lyric Video
Norwegian heavy metal band Triosphere is thrilled to release their new single and official lyric video, “Monster’s Ball,” their first with Frontiers Music Srl. Formed in 2004 by guitarist Marius Silver Bergesen and singer/bassist Ida Haukland, the band later added guitarist Tor Ole Byberg and replaced drummer Ørjan Aare Jørgensen with Kenneth Tårneby in 2014. Their music blends hard rock, power prog, and thrash metal with strong melodies and guitar work. Their debut album “Onwards” won “Best Metal Album” at the 2009 JPF Awards. Despite delays, Triosphere has maintained a loyal global fanbase and focused on completing their fourth album after the pandemic.
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Shakra - Swiss hard rock veterans are excited to reveal their latest album, “Just Live Loud!”, which is now available through Frontiers Music Srl.
The song’s lyrics capture the special moment before a concert starts: lights dimming, the crowd growing louder, and the charged atmosphere, like before a storm. These memories recall warm summer nights, first concerts, and youthful, fearless presence. Yet, “Let The Show Begin” isn’t just nostalgia; once the music starts, that feeling comes back instantly. Vocalist Mark Fox still feels the same powerful emotion performing on stage as he did standing before it._____________________________________________________
Featured Monthly Artists
Clutch - Wasted Lands Official Music Video TEMPLE OF BONES - Black Horizon Audio Video Spider Rockets Vocalist Helena Cos Metal Riffs TV Interview and "The Storm" video Wolves in the Throne Room - Ghosts Among The Obelisks - Fear Factory - Roboticist
- Darkest Hour - The title track "Suffer Divine" is intense and filled with a sense of retribution.
- Hell in the Club - "Call Me at 666" unleash today their new single and official video.
Shakra - "Let The Show Begin"
News Bits & Pieces
Week of September 7th, 2026
- Slipknot dropped a surprise new single titled "Arsenal," marking their first new track in three years.
- Neurosis announced a fresh run of US tour dates for 2026–2027.
- Soul Glo announced a new album and released their single "February Theory".
- Amon Amarth is officially ramping up for their highly anticipated next record, The Allfather Awakens, coming via Metal Blade Records.
- Dying Fetus & Sanguisugabogg are hitting the road together for a massive brutal death metal tour, alongside heavy support from Crowbar and Left to Suffer.
- Pentagram is taking the underground by storm on their 2026 'Last Rites' Tour, bringing classic, traditional doom down upon New England and major US stops.