VADER Announces New Drummer, Bassist

Due to "family matters," drummer Pawel "Paul" Jaroszewicz has decided to leave Polish extreme metal veterans VADER. Despite this, he has committed to laying down tracks for the band's new album, "Welcome To The Morbid Reich", and taking part in the group's already confirmed concerts in May, June and July. Jaroszewicz's replacement in VADER is the "very talented" 21-year-old English musician James Stewart, who has previously played with DIVINE CHAOS.

Commented Mariusz Kmiolek of Massive Music Management: "The choice was obvious. We know James from one of the VADER tours, his band supported us on several gigs. We gave him an assignment to do; he prepared some tracks, presented them on the video and became the new member of our crew! He's a very young, talented and disciplined musician. He belongs to the new wave artists — ambitious, exquisite in their technique, keeping track of the technical novelties. At the same time he's a nice guy, drinking his tea with milk (brrrr!) and craving for success. I believe in this guy!"

In other news, VADER guitarist/vocalist Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek has released a statement disputing bassist Tomasz "Reyash" Rejek's February 2010 announcement that he had decided to "quit" VADER "due to personal reasons."

Stated Wiwczarek: "I decided to thank Reyash for over two-year's cooperation in January 2011 and it was solely my decision. The decision was made on his recent behavior only and definitely not due to his 'personal reasons.' Reyash is a great mate BUT this isn't enough to be a part of VADER.

"What's funny is that my expectations are really not that high as it might seem from the personal changes in the band throughout the recent years. VADER is appreciated by YOU just because of us keeping the style, sincerity and quality REGARDLESS the so-called public opinion. Reyash knew that he was to play 'till the end of the season (promotion of [VADER's last album, 'Necropolis') and his staying in the band depended exclusively on his work during the past two years. I can't understand his trying to give a good account of himself in this situation, the more so because it is insincere.

"Nevertheless, me and all people contributing to the presence of VADER Commando wish Reyash success, all the best and satisfaction from his work! One should keep good memories only. We're also glad that after Reyash's official statement appeared, we were contacted by lots of bass players willing to join the band, most of them from abroad. However, the decision about who will replace Tomek was made a few weeks ago. We invited Hal (HERMH, DEAD INFECTION, ABUSED MAJESTY). This lineup will be seen on stage from April."

VADER entered Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland earlier in the month to begin recording its new album, "Welcome To The Morbid Reich". The band is laying down a total of 12 or 13 songs for the CD, which will be mixed and mastered in May for a tentative late 2011 release. Working songtitles set to appear on the effort include "Lords of Thorns", "I Am Who Feast Upon Your Souls", "Only Hell Knows", "Return to the Morbid Reich" and "I Had A Dream".

VADER will debut one or two tracks from "Welcome To The Morbid Reich" during the band's summer festival appearances.

VADER recently celebrated the 15th anniversary of its classic second album, "De Profundis", by performing the LP in its entirety. Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek stated, "[The fans'] response for this idea was more than great so we decided to repeat this in the future with other VADER titles, too."

VADER's latest album, "Necropolis", sold around 1,130 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 19 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.