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Cronos on Venom's ComebackVenom Interview on Cronos' Climbing Accident and Venom's Return
Black metal legends Venom return next month with new album Hell. Here, Venom frontman Conrad 'Cronos' Lant talks about the climbing accident that nearly ended his career.
The release of Venom's new album Hell next month completes a remarkable comeback for the black metal legends that started with their 2006 release Metal Black. After releasing a number of mediocre albums through the early late 80s and early 90s in an incarnation that didn't include Cronos, the band seemed to be back on track with their 10th album Ressurection. Then disaster struck, as the frontman was badly injured in a climbing accident that left him unable to sing, play bass or, for a time, even to walk. Venom's Cronos in Climbing AccidentSuite 101: The aftermath of you accident must have been a bleak time for you... Cronos: “Absolutely. I would never say I was suicidal because I'm not that kind of a person but to actually think that my career had been taken away from me, was a pretty low time. When you realise that you're getting better and that you can actually do this, it just makes you go at it with more vigour. And I think what I've been doing with Venom over the past few years, it's getting back into the mainstream, people are talking about Venom again. I'm really fortunate that a lot of people who are now my friends, people like Phil Anselmo and the guys from Slayer have flown Venom's flag a lot while we've been doing other things. They've been walking onstage with Venom T-shirts on, doing covers of Venom songs. They've kept the legacy alive for a long time, which is great. No one's gonna be able to bury the name of Venom because there'll be someone wanting to carry it on.” “But yeah, you get into that frame of mind where you're thinking 'how did this happen?' and 'why on earth didn't I stay in bed that day?'. But...shit happens and you've just got to get over it. I'm just fortunate that I am a very physical person and I do keep fit so the motivation to get my arse in gear was there. You've got to look at everything as a positive thing and everything's done for a reason. Perhaps I just needed a break.” New Venom Guitarist RageSuite 101: Do you think this incarnation of Venom will be a stable one? Cronos: “Well, you never know but we spent the best part of a year putting it (the new album) together and it's been a great laugh. It also helps with the bonding of the band, getting Rage in and seeing how he works. We did the Scandinavian tour in May so we know how the guy works live, we've got a good relationship, we didn't have arguments on the road so that's a good sign." Venom Tour and FestivalsWhat of the future - can we expect to see you on an extensive tour on the back of this release? Cronos: “Oh yeah, this is what we're talking to an agency about now. We definitely wanna get some festivals going on around Europe. We're still dying to get on Download. I've been dying to get on that festival ever since I was fan going to Monsters Of Rock – it'd be f***ing great to have Venom play a big gig in England. As soon as we put the Metal Black album out we went out and we headlined Sweden Rock, we headlined the Tuska festival in Finland, the Earthshaker festival in Germany so let's get a f***ing English gig in, y' know. I don't give a f**k where they put us on the bill or whatever, just let's do a f***ing good show in front of a British crowd – we're a f***ing British band, y'know. I don't know what's happening with Download and the organisers, I haven't a clue but we always put ourselves forward. We're ready, let's do it but they choose whoever so maybe one day they'll wake up and see what the Europeans already see and that is that Venom put on a hell of a show. That's one thing we've always been very proud of. We can go and play club gigs, that's no problem, we can be in your face at a thousand seater venue or you can put us on a monster big stage and we'll f***ing cover it. That's what Venom do.” Since this interview took place, Venom have been confirmed for the Hellfest Festival in Clisson, France. Click here for more details on Hellfest. Click here for more from Cronos on Venom's influences and the black metal scene.
The copyright of the article Cronos on Venom's Comeback in Death/Black Metal is owned by Paul Travers. Permission to republish Cronos on Venom's Comeback in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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