8. září zemřel původní bubeník SODOM - Chris Dudek (a.k.a. Witchhunter). Důvodem bylo selhání orgánů.
Tom "Angelripper" se ke smutné události vyjadřuje takto:
"In the beginning of [last] week, I received the message that Chris Witchhunter had died. I was shocked — and you can believe me… I still am.
"As we recorded 'The Final Sign Of Evil' [2007 LP featuring re-recordings of the material from SODOM's classic first EP, 'In the Sign of Evil', plus bonus tracks], I noticed that Chris was in a very bad condition. It took more than 18 months to finish the recording for this record.
"My God, I don't know what to say about this tragedy and I'm feeling really down.
"After Chris had left the band, we didn't meet very often. If you take a look at the 'Lords Of Depravity' DVD, everybody realizes that Chris was really ill and confused. You can also understand why Chris and I didn't have much contact during the last few years. His sickness was a slow process and everybody saw what happened — but Chris never took a helping hand from anybody else. All of Chris' friends will tell you so. The worst thing was that Chris himself never realized the situation he was in and that it was important to accept help from others.
"I can't write any 'clear' words as I am in South America right now and we are flying from show to show. At first I thought that it might be better to cancel the tour but that wouldn't have been fair to our fans and Chris wouldn't have liked it either.
"I hope that all of Chris' friends will help his lovely mom and support her in these dark times. In the beginning of our friendship, she was like my own mom to me. After my return from South America I will surely support her, too. I hope that we can arrange a big show for Chris with a couple of friends to give him a special farewell and to make some money for his mother!
"Hey, Chris, you created music history. R.I.P.!"
"In the beginning of [last] week, I received the message that Chris Witchhunter had died. I was shocked — and you can believe me… I still am.
"As we recorded 'The Final Sign Of Evil' [2007 LP featuring re-recordings of the material from SODOM's classic first EP, 'In the Sign of Evil', plus bonus tracks], I noticed that Chris was in a very bad condition. It took more than 18 months to finish the recording for this record.
"My God, I don't know what to say about this tragedy and I'm feeling really down.
"After Chris had left the band, we didn't meet very often. If you take a look at the 'Lords Of Depravity' DVD, everybody realizes that Chris was really ill and confused. You can also understand why Chris and I didn't have much contact during the last few years. His sickness was a slow process and everybody saw what happened — but Chris never took a helping hand from anybody else. All of Chris' friends will tell you so. The worst thing was that Chris himself never realized the situation he was in and that it was important to accept help from others.
"I can't write any 'clear' words as I am in South America right now and we are flying from show to show. At first I thought that it might be better to cancel the tour but that wouldn't have been fair to our fans and Chris wouldn't have liked it either.
"I hope that all of Chris' friends will help his lovely mom and support her in these dark times. In the beginning of our friendship, she was like my own mom to me. After my return from South America I will surely support her, too. I hope that we can arrange a big show for Chris with a couple of friends to give him a special farewell and to make some money for his mother!
"Hey, Chris, you created music history. R.I.P.!"
HAVOK - New Eyes
16 minut šťavnatého technického thrashingu a dva covery od kapely, která má řemeslo v paži. Je v tom ta patřičná lehkost, drive i finesa, které člověk od téhle žánrové generace automaticky čeká. Jako drobný příkrm v čase thrashového hladu obstojně zasytí!
ENVY - Eunoia
Trochu rozpačitý počin po čtyřech letech od minulého alba "The Fallen Crimson". Nedotažené, možná zbytečně stručné album stojí na pouhých náznacích síly, kterou skupina v minulosti disponovala. Ale hezké momenty s typickým rukopisem se najdou, to zase jo.
ISBJÖRG - Falter, Endure
Objev na první poslech srovnatelný s Nory MEER, Dánové ISBJÖRG uchvacují podobně hravým a progresí provoněným poprockem. Ty melodie, klavír a vzletné aranže včetně sebevědomých vokálů mě napoprvé prostě dostaly do kolen. Uvidíme, zda první dojem vydrží.
PAGANIZER - Flesh Requiem
Rogga Johansson nepolevuje. PAGANIZER jsou jednou z jeho hlavních kapel a samozřejmě doručují švédskou deathmetalovou klasiku. Rychlejší kousky jsou standardem bez překvapení, osvěžení naopak přinášejí ty pomalejší. Nejlepší skladba je ta úplně poslední.
SENTIENT HORROR - In Service Of The Dead
SENTIENT HORROR narukovali k mrtvým do služby a v novém zaměstnání se jim daří náramně. Lásku k (převážně) švédskému death metalu nezapřou, hlavně pak k prvotnímu chrastění v režii ENTOMBED. Živelná OSDM deska s lehkou thrashovou patinou. Šlape to skvěle.
PRVNÍ HOŘE - Achtung, Sultan!
Urzovci jsou zpět a vyráží do klubů, radujme se! To by asi tak stačilo. Snad jen drobná poznámka. Minulá deska byla a je až příliš dokonalá. Nová je dokonalá poněkud méně, je pouze vynikající. Kdo by to byl čekal?
ONE WITH THE RIVERBED - Succumb
Atmosférický black metal / post-metal. Hodně odlehčená produkce plná vybrnkávaček, náladových pasáží a košatých atmosférických vsuvek. Zuby se moc necení, možná občas mléčné jedničky. Příjemný poslech, vyloženou hitovku však na "Succumb" nenajdete.