Richmond metal-punk trio BAT have opened their archives to honour Venom legend Conrad “Cronos” Lant, releasing a previously unheard cover of Live Like an Angel (Die Like a Devil).
The recording dates back to the band’s 2015 Wings of Chains sessions in Richmond, Virginia, when BAT tracked the Venom classic alongside the debut album’s 12 original songs. More than a decade later, the band have brought it out of the vault as a tribute to one of their defining influences.
Bassist and vocalist Ryan Waste says Cronos and Venom had a major impact on both him and BAT. He recalls the band covering Venom and Motörhead in their early live sets, and explains that news of Cronos’s passing prompted them to release the long-dormant recording in his honour.
Listen to the tribute
Live Like an Angel (Die Like a Devil) is available now. Purchase or stream the cover, or visit BAT’s Bandcamp.
Recording credits
The 2015 lineup features Ryan Waste on bass and vocals, Nick Poulos on guitar and original drummer Felix Griffin. Ian Whalen and Yavé Rust engineered the recording, with mixing and mastering by Joel Grind.
The original Venom song was written by Jeffrey Dunn (Mantas), Conrad Lant (Cronos) and Anthony Bray (Abaddon).
More from BAT
BAT’s current lineup pairs Waste and Poulos with drummer Chris Marshall. Their latest studio album, Under the Crooked Claw, brings together 13 tracks of the band’s self-described “primitive heavy speed”, combining heavy metal, punk and rock ’n’ roll with horror storytelling.
Basic tracks were recorded in Philadelphia with Arthur Rizk in June 2021, with lead guitars and vocals later tracked by Yavé Rust in Richmond. Rizk mixed the album and Joel Grind mastered it. Order or stream Under the Crooked Claw.
Source: BAT / Nuclear Blast press release supplied by John Howarth. Press photo credit: Reneé Stramel.
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