Cronos's solo debut, Dancing in the Fire, ignites a blackened brew of heavy metal, thrash, and industrial fury #vinylrecords

Cronos – Dancing in the Fire: Venom Frontman Unleashes a Solo Beast

Album Description:

The year is 1990, and the metal world is still reeling from the sonic assault of Venom's "Black Metal." Now, their demonic frontman, Cronos, is back with his self-titled debut solo album, "Dancing in the Fire." This 12" vinyl LP promises a wild ride through a blackened landscape of heavy metal fury.

A New Era for the Evil One

Cronos is no stranger to pushing boundaries. As the bassist and vocalist for Venom, he helped define the extreme metal sound. But with "Dancing in the Fire," he's stepping out on his own, exploring a darker, more personal vision.

A Hellish Brew of Metal Styles

"Dancing in the Fire" is a sonic cauldron, bubbling with elements of heavy metal, thrash, and even hints of industrial. The album is a testament to Cronos's musical versatility, showcasing his ability to create a sound that is both familiar and innovative.

Lyrics from the Abyss

Cronos's lyrics have always been controversial, and "Dancing in the Fire" is no exception. The album delves into themes of occultism, violence, and social commentary, all delivered with Cronos's signature snarling vocals.

Forged in the Fires of Metal

The album was produced by Cronos himself, along with engineer Tony Taverner. This unholy alliance ensures that the album captures the raw energy and intensity of Cronos's live performances.

Collectors information / Album Description:

The 1990 Cronos "Dancing in the Fire" 12" Vinyl LP Album is a captivating release that showcases the talent of the band. With its infectious rhythms, melodic hooks, and powerful vocals, the album seamlessly blends elements of hard rock and heavy metal.

Cronos, also known as Conrad Lant, is a British musician and the founder/frontman of the influential heavy metal band Venom. He is primarily known as the vocalist and bassist for the band, which played a significant role in shaping the black metal and extreme metal genres. Cronos has been an influential figure in the metal scene since the late 1970s and continues to create music both as a solo artist and with Venom.

Music Genre:

British Thrash Metal

Album Production Information:

The album: "CRONOS - Dancing in the Fire" was produced by: C. Lant

Record Label & Catalognr:

NEAT Records RO 9403

Album Packaging:

This album "CRONOS - Dancing in the Fire" includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by and photos for

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record

Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram

Year & Country:

1990 Made in Holland

Band Members and Musicians on: CRONOS - Dancing in the Fire

Conrad "Cronos" Lant - Bass/Vocals
Conrad "Cronos" Lant, born on 15 January 1963, is the bassist and vocalist most people picture when Venom comes crashing into the room. Not polished. Not polite. Not one of those tidy heavy metal frontmen who sounded as if they had read the manual first. Cronos came out of the Newcastle metal racket with bass, voice, leather, distortion and enough bad attitude to make the NWOBHM scene feel less like a movement and more like a pub fight behind a rehearsal room.

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Venom formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1978, but the version that really burned itself into metal memory was the classic three-piece: Cronos on bass and vocals, Mantas on guitar, and Abaddon on drums. By the time "Welcome to Hell" arrived in 1981, they were already rougher, faster and nastier than most of the neat little NWOBHM hopefuls trying to look dangerous under decent stage lights. Venom sounded like the lights had blown out altogether.

Then came "Black Metal" in 1982, and there it was: a title that stopped being just an album name and started crawling across the underground as a whole ugly idea. Cronos did not sing so much as bark, spit and drag the words across broken glass. His bass was not there for tasteful support either. It shoved. It snarled. It made the records feel overloaded, as if the speakers were being asked to do something frankly unreasonable.

That is why the old Venom records still matter to collectors. Not because they are perfect. Good grief, no. The charm is partly that they are not perfect. They have the smell of cheap rehearsal rooms, Neat Records vinyl, imported sleeves, tape hiss, bad decisions and teenage volume. In the early eighties, while plenty of bands were polishing their boots for the next Kerrang! photo, Venom seemed busy kicking the door off its hinges.

Cronos left Venom in late 1986 and took Mike Hickey and Jim Clare with him to form his own Cronos project. His solo debut, "Dancing in the Fire", appeared in 1990, not 1986 as lazy copy sometimes claims. Useful correction, that. Metal history is already noisy enough without adding bad dates to the amplifier hum.

The original Venom trio returned in the mid-1990s, which gave collectors another reason to pull the early LPs from the shelf and argue over which period really mattered. For me, the essential Cronos is still the one trapped in those early records: "Welcome to Hell", "Black Metal", "At War With Satan", "Possessed". That run has the grubby magic. The sound of British metal losing its manners.

On "At War With Satan", especially, Cronos is less a traditional frontman and more a warning label with boots. The long title track, the gatefold theatre, the whole exaggerated satanic pantomime: it should have collapsed under its own nonsense. Somehow it does not. It lumbers forward, ridiculous and magnificent, and that is very Venom. Half menace, half cartoon thunderstorm, fully collectible.

References and Further Reading
James Clare - Guitar
Mike "Mykus" Hickey - Guitar
Chris Patterson - Drums