German Thrashers DESPAIR Reunite, Prepare To Record New Album

DESPAIR, the long-defunct German thrash outfit featuring current GRIP INC. guitarist Waldemar Sorychta and Century Media Records founder Robert Kampf (vocals),have reunited and are planning on recording a new album next spring for a tentative summer/fall 2005 release via Century Media.

Joining Sorychta and Kampf in the group's current formation is the group's original drummer, Markus "Makka" Freiwald (VOODOOCULT).

With regards to how the reformation came about, Kampf told BLABBERMOUTH.NET, "We had the idea of recording three new songs for a re-release of the 'History of Hate' album [1989], which, in addition to being the first DESPAIR LP, was also the the starting point of Century Media. 15 years later, it seemed likea good idea to re-release it with the [pre-album] demo as a bonus as well as three new songs in a limited edition of 1,000 copies.

"After discussing the idea further, we warmed up to the whole idea of playing together again and decided to go ahead and record a brand new full-lengh studio album in May, which will be released on Century Media in Europe in the early summer of 2005."

Asked what direction fans can expect the new material to take, Kampf said, "Expect DESPAIR 2005 to go back to its roots in early hardcore and thrash.

"It's inspiring for us to see how the metal and hardcore scenes have evolved over the years," he continued. " Back in the mid-to-late '80s, it was difficult for U.S. bands like C.O.C., D.R.I., ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT and us on the European end to unite the scenes.

"It's great to see bands like SHADOWS FALL, GOD FORBID, LAMB OF GOD, UNEARTH, DIECAST and BLEEDING THROUGH bringing in both metalheads and hardcore kids alike and sharing the stages with bands like THE HAUNTED, SLIPKNOT, SOILWORK, IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILITY and MACHINE HEAD. It is especially great to see a strong European scene, with such bands as HEAVEN SHALL BURN, CALIBAN, CATARACT, MAROON and U.K. bands like BEECHER and STAMPIN' GROUND leading the way."