PATRICIA THOMAS Management has issued the following:

After Norwegian Black Metallers BEASTCRAFT were announced to appear at Oslo’s Bunker 2012 Festival, the sudden and unexpected death of guitarist Trondr Nefas of natural causes on the 10th May this year momentarily raised some doubt as to whether this rare live appearance by the band would actually take place. However, following discussions with his family, close friends and the fellow musicians who have worked with Trondr on his various projects, it was decided that despite the loss of their guitarist BEASTCRAFT would go ahead and play, and that the event would become a tribute to the well-liked and admired musician.

A prolific and hard working musician, and a much-respected member of the Black Metal Underground, Trondr Nefas was at the heart of so many of Norway’s seminal Black Metal bands including BEASTCRAFT, URGEHAL, ENDEZZMA, ANGST SKVADRON, VULTURE LORD and IN LINGUA MORTUA, as well as making guest appearances with bands too numerous to mention. Essentially a two man project featuring Trondr Nefas and Sorath Northgrove, BEASTCRAFT’s live line up at Bunker 2012 is drawn from the ranks of Trondr’s colleagues. Joining Sorath Norgrove on stage for the tribute performance will be Enzifer (URGEHAL) and Malphas (ENDEZZMA, HAGL) on guitars, Desecrator (KRYPT, ex ENDEZZMA) on bass and Ghoul (ENDEZZMA, ANGST SKVADRON, IN LINGUA MORTUA, WOBBLER) on drums. With a festival line up that includes TAAKE, SHINING, CARPATHIAN FOREST, VIRUS, DJEVEL, BOMBERS and BUNKER 66, many of whose members knew Trondr well, it is anticipated that guests may also appear to pay their respects to their friend. DARKTHRONE’s Fenriz is set to DJ the event.

Morten Shax, ENDEZZMA front man and long-time friend and colleague of Trondr’s, who will be making a guest appearance during BEASTCRAFT’s set, had this to say: “As with all the musicians who are taking part, I would give anything for this occasion to be one where we are all together on stage with Trondr having a blast, but sadly we will be there to remember his life instead. Not just his life as a fellow musician, but also of the life of friend who we all miss with a pain that is difficult to express, and who we will remember with deep affection for the rest of our lives. His music will live on as a tribute to him, as it should, but the emptiness of his leaving will long remain with his family and with those who had the privilege to call him friend”.

Bunker 2012 will take place at the Parkteatret in Oslo, Norway, on the 24th and 25th of August, with BEASTCRAFT appearing on Friday 24th. More information about BEASTCRAFT can be found at http://www.deathcibel.com/beastcraft/