CRONOS DECLINES INVITATION TO VENOM’S 45TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION FOR “WELCOME TO HELL” IN 2026
Jeff “Mantas” Dunn and Anthony “Abaddon” Bray, two of the co-founders of the trio that forever changed extreme music, confirmed they will celebrate the 45th anniversary of Welcome to Hell in 2026 with special performances at festivals like Keep It True (Germany). And, for the first time in decades, it has been officially confirmed that Cronos was invited to participate.
The iconic bassist/vocalist’s response, however, was immediate and emphatic.
“Not worth my time.” — Cronos, according to Mantas.
The invitation, Dunn claims, was sent by both him and the lawyers involved in the recent legal case between Cronos and Abaddon. The refusal was categorical.
Think about the most toxic relationship of your life.
Although many fans have fantasized about a reunion of the classic trio Mantas, Cronos, and Abaddon, Dunn admits the idea is untenable:
“Everyone wants to see their favorite members together… But we already tried that. Traveling separately, staying in separate hotels. Think about the most toxic relationship you’ve ever had, and now imagine inviting it back into your life.”
The emotional and personal rift between the musicians is profound.
Dunn puts it bluntly: it’s not something he would willingly relive.
The legal battle between Cronos and Abaddon, along with Plastic Head Music Distribution, escalated in June 2024. Lant accused the company of selling merchandise featuring his designs; Bray countered, claiming to be the original author of some of the artwork.
The court ruled, dividing the authorship:
Bray: owner of the original Venom logo.
Cronos: author of almost all the additional designs (pentagrams, inverted crosses, the distinctive satanic graphic style).
The dispute only deepened wounds that never fully healed.
Mantas: “For me, there is no Venom today.”
In a surprising statement, Dunn asserts:
“There is no Venom out there. There are bands playing Venom material.”
His explanation is based on the absence of two-thirds of the original core members in the current lineups:
Venom (Cronos) → Cronos + later musicians.
Venom Inc. → Dolan + musicians, without Mantas since 2023.
Mantas + Abaddon → the only two founding members together.
Abaddon agrees:
“If you don’t have two of the three original members, you can’t call it Venom.”
Will there be new material? Mantas is clear: Hardly.
Although he doesn’t rule out a single, Dunn rejects the idea of a full album:
“Does the world need a new Venom album? I don’t know. People want to hear ‘Black Metal’ and ‘Welcome to Hell.’”
The 2026 project will focus exclusively on celebrating the legacy of Welcome to Hell.
Special Guests for 2026: A Historic Lineup
For the April 24, 2026 performance at Keep It True, Mantas and Abaddon will be joined by a selection of legendary musicians influenced by Venom:
– Tom Angelripper & Andy Brings (Sodom)
– Tom G. Warrior (Celtic Frost, Hellhammer, Triptykon)
– Schmier (Destruction)
– Attila Csihar (Mayhem)
– Danny Lilker (Nuclear Assault, S.O.D.)
– Diva Satánica (Bloodhunter, Nervosa)
– Blake “Bulldözer” Arendell (Interceptor)
An event that promises to be one of the most significant tributes to the birth of extreme metal.
Tokyo 2025: Venom Classics with Japanese Metal Legends
Ahead of the anniversary, Dunn and Bray will play Venom classics on November 30, 2025, at the legendary Shinjuku Antiknock (Tokyo), accompanied by:
– Gezol (Sabbat)
– Mirai Kawashima (Sigh)
– Samm (Metalucifer)
– Jero (Abigail)
Venom was part of the DNA that gave rise to black metal, thrash, death metal, and modern musical extremism.
Despite internal fractures, the impact of the original trio remains immeasurable.
Dunn and Bray’s project doesn’t aim to dispute names or titles, but rather to celebrate the origin of it all:
“If no one else will, we will celebrate this band.” — Mantas
In 2026, Welcome to Hell will return to the stage with two of the men who made it possible, accompanied by some of the most influential musicians in extreme metal.
A celebration of chaos, history, and the music that changed the world.
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