Legendary Dutch death metallers PESTILENCE have joined forces with Dario Rudić as the band’s new full-time bass player, following their split with Roel Käller in September.
“Hello, I’m Dario Rudić from Zadar, Croatia. I’m 44 years old and I’ve been playing music since I was 15,” the new PESTILENCE bassist comments. “I’ve been listening to metal my whole life and of course one of the first death metal bands was Pestilence, who were my role models then and now. Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that one day I would get the chance to play with these greats. I’m looking forward to sharing the stage with the masters from Pestilence and opening new musical Portals with them.”
Rudić steps in as the band is about to embark on a string of tour dates that starts in late November with a one-off show in Italy, and continues through December with a three-date run in Spain (together with Cancer) and eight headlining shows in the UK — the “Echoes of Horror” tour — including stops in Manchester, Glasgow, and London.
PESTILENCE was established in the Netherlands in 1986 and is considered a genre-defying, progressive death metal phenom, who paved the way alongside Death, Cynic, and Atheist. The group is led by founder, guitarist, and mastermind Patrick Mameli, who has been the band’s guiding force through two breakups and reunions. Both a reinvention and a reaffirmation of everything the band has stood for since 1986, PESTILENCE is more than ever breaking new ground and exploring the further outposts of extreme metal on “Exitivm” (2021) — their latest album, which charted on several Billboard charts, most notably the Billboard 200. In recent years, the band has remastered and reissued its classic catalog (including “Mallevs Maleficarvm,”“Consvming Impvlse,”“Testimony of the Ancients,” oraz “Spheres”), released a best-of album titled “Levels of Perception,” and announced “Portals” as the title of its upcoming studio album. The latter is expected to be released in 2026.
Tour dates: 11/29 @ Alchemica Music Club, Bologna (IT) 5/12 @ Portugalete (ES) 6/12 @ Wolf, Barcelona (ES) 7/12 @ Revi Live, Madrid (ES) 8/12 @ The Fleece, Bristol (UK) 9/12 @ Rebellion, Manchester (UK) 10/12 @ Ivory Blacks, Glasgow (UK) 11/12 @ The Groove, Newcastle upon Tyne (UK) 12/12 @ Bannerman’s Bar, Edynburg (UK) 13/12 @ Corporation, Sheffield (UK) 14/12 @ Camden Underworld, London (UK)
Line-up: Patrick Mameli – vocals and lead guitars Michiel van der Plicht – drums Max Blok – lead guitars Dario Rudić – bass
This May, iconic dutch death metallers PESTILENCE will kick off a headlining tour of Asia. The band will take a break from working on their tenth studio album, “Portals”, to play select venues in Turkey, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, China, Thailand, Taiwan and Japan.
PESTILENCE comments: “We’re truely blessed to be able announce and share the following information with all you metalheads out there in… Asia. Pestilence will be infecting your eardrums. Make sure to get your ticket and go to this epic event. Come and say hi or take a sefie with us, showing us some Death Metal love. Pestilence Can´t wait to see you all!”
PESTILENCE was established in the Netherlands in 1986 and is considered to be a genre-defying, progressive death metal phenom, who paved the way alongside Death, Cynic and Atheist. The group is led by founder, guitarist and mastermind Patrick Mameli, who’s been the band’s binding factor through two breakups and reunions. Both a reinvention and a confirmation of everything the band has been standing for since 1986, PESTILENCE is more than ever breaking new grounds and exploring the further outposts of extreme metal on “Exitivm” (2021) – their last album, which landed on several Billboard charts, most notably including Billboard 200. In recent years, the band remastered & reissued its classic catalog (feat. “Mallevs Maleficarvm”, “Consvming Impvlse”, “Testimony Of The Ancients” and “Spheres”), released a re-recorded best-of album “Levels Of Perception”, and announced “Portals” to be the title of its next studio album, which is presently nearing its completion.
Tour dates: 19.04.25. BA – Sarajevo, Eternal Flame Festival — Asia Tour 2025 07.05.25. TR – Istanbul, Dorock Heavy Metal Club 09.05.25. BH – Bahrain, Diggers Club 10.05.25. AE – Dubai, Level R Lounge 13.05.25. CN – Shanghai, Cave Art Venue 14.05.25. CN – Tianjin, 20 Years Of Music Scene 16.05.25. TH – Bangkok, Mr. Fox Livehouse 17.05.25. TW – Taipei, Jack Studio 18.05.25. JP – Tokyo, Garret — 19.06.25. DE – Herford, Kulturwerk 20.06.25. DE – Homberg, Miso Open Air 10.08.25. BE – Kortrijk, Alcatraz Festival 18.09.25. DE – Essen, Turock 19.09.25. DE – Schrobenhausen, Metal Im Void 20.09.25. DE – Weinheim, Cafe Central
Line-up: Patrick Mameli – vocals and lead guitars Michiel van der Plicht – drums Max Blok – lead guitars Roel Käller – bass
Max Blok (Alkaloid, Dark Fortress) has joined dutch death metal legends PESTILENCE as their second, full-time lead guitarist after the departure of Rutger van Noordenburg. The band is currently working on its tenth studio album, “Portals”, expected to be released in June on Agonia Records.
Rutger van Noordenburg has been with PESTILENCE from 2019 to 2025. During that time, he recorded one full-length album with the band – 2021’s “Exitivm” – and the best-of album, 2024’s “Levels Of Perception”. His playthrough for the song “Deificvs” can be watched here.
On his departure, Rutger van Noordenburg comments: “Dear all, my time with Pestilence has come to an end. It is time for new musical adventures. I would like to thank the guys in the band and the management, especially Patrick for his awesome high speed train I was able to board for the last 6 years. We played countless shows in many countries and I feel very fortunate for all the memories created, all the friends made and all the fans out there. It has simply been an amazing experience being welcomed by fans and friends around the globe and experiencing it all with a great bunch of guys.”
Rutger‘s duties will be taken over by Max Blok of Alkaloid and Dark Fortress fame. “Stoked to share that I’m now part of Pestilence,” Max comments. “Big thanks to Patrick, Michiel and Roel for having me in the band. I’m eager to explore the new paths ahead and see what the future holds.” Patrick Mameli adds: “We are very exited to announce, that Max Blok is taking over the second (lead) guitar spot in Pestilence. Wow, that went fast and smooth. Now, back to business: Portals, our upcoming album, is targeted for June 2025.”
PESTILENCE was established in the Netherlands in 1986 and is considered to be a genre-defying, progressive death metal phenom, who paved the way alongside Death, Cynic and Atheist. The group is led by founder, guitarist and mastermind Patrick Mameli, who’s been the band’s binding factor through two breakups and reunions. Both a reinvention and a confirmation of everything the band has been standing for since 1986, PESTILENCE is more than ever breaking new grounds and exploring the further outposts of extreme metal on “Exitivm” (2021) – their last album, which landed on several Billboard charts, most notably including Billboard 200. In recent years, the band remastered & reissued its classic catalog (feat. “Mallevs Maleficarvm”, “Consvming Impvlse”, “Testimony Of The Ancients” and “Spheres”), released a re-recorded best-of album “Levels Of Perception”, and announced “Portals” to be the title of its next studio album, which is nearing its completion.
Upcoming shows: 19.04.25. BA – Sarajevo, Eternal Flame Festival 26.06.25. DE – Homberg, Miso Open Air 10.08.25. BE – Kortrijk, Alcatraz Festival 19.09.25. DE – Schrobenhausen, Metal Im Void
Line-up: Patrick Mameli – vocals and lead guitars Michiel van der Plicht – drums Max Blok – lead guitars Roel Käller – bass
Fresh off a European tour, Dutch death metal legends PESTILENCE offer advance stream of their re-recorded best-of album, “Levels of Perception”, released on April 26th on Agonia Records. The album features twelve tracks from across the band’s 38-year career. The stream is available here:
Patrick Mameli – whose signature vocal, guitar and songwriting skills constitute the hallmark of PESTILENCE – finds “Levels of Perception” to be a testament to the band’s role in death metal’s progression. “I’ve always wanted to do a best-of album, because it would mean that I’ve achieved something in the past; something that still has its value today,” Mameli reflects. “To be able to choose from songs that I composed in the distant past, transporting them into the now, with the line-up of the recordings that consisted of Michiel van der Plicht (drums), Rutger van Noordenburg (guitar) and Joost van der Graaf (bass) – I found this to be of great value and sheer awesomeness.”
Re-recording of the tracks has not only managed to breathe new life into them – half thanks to new line-up, and other half by implementing subtle changes which reflect Mameli‘s matured vision and refined with years of experience aesthetic – but also sets them apart from cheap, unimaginative compilations, by unifying the album’s sound as befits a full-length release. “The album’s title is Levels of Perception. Why? Because this is what has happened with the songs,” Mameli explains. “Performed by different musicians, with their own views, musical abilities and interpretations, shining a new light on them. So here we are with new Levels of Perception.”
The drums for “Levels of Perception” were recorded by Michiel van der Plicht in 2021, during a live stream held in T Paard (The Hague, NL). “These recorded drum tracks were so awesome that we just had to use them, fine-tuning the guitars and bass,” Mameli comments. These and other re-recordings were done with Reaper behind the console at van der Plicht‘s own studio On Duty in Mijdrecht, NL. The latter engineered, mixed and mastered the album. “I’ve started to realize, after recording Exitivm, that when you can engineer, mix and master by yourself, the control over your own product is way bigger, through the honesty and passion for your own compositions; rather than hiring an engineer that has no feel for your music,” PESTILENCE’s frontman wraps up.
PESTILENCE was established in the Netherlands in 1986 and is considered to be a progressive death metal phenom, labeled on the same genre-defying scale as Death, Cynic and Atheist. The group is led by founder, guitarist and mastermind Patrick Mameli, who’s been the band’s binding factor through two breakups and reunions. Both a reinvention and a confirmation of everything the band has been standing for since 1986, PESTILENCE is more than ever breaking new grounds and exploring the further outposts of extreme metal on “Exitivm” (2021) – the last album, which landed on several Billboard charts; most notably including Billboard 200. In 2023, the band remastered & reissued its classic catalog, and announced “Portals” to be the title of its next studio album, which is currently in the works.
Tracklisting: 01. Horror Detox (Re-recording) 02. Mvlti Dimensional (Re-recording) 03. Mobvs Propagationem (Re-recording) 04. Sinister (Re-recording) 05. Dehydrated (Re-recording) 06. Dominatvi Svbmissa (Re-recording) 07. Land of Tears (Re-recording) 08. Necromorph (Re-recording) 09. Deificvs (Re-recording) 10. Twisted Truth (Re-recording) 11. Sempiternvs (Re-recording) 12. Ovt of the Body (Re-recording)
Upcoming shows: 25.05. SK – Surany, Songs Of Hate Festival 21.06. DE – Protzen, Protzen Open Air 22.06. BE – Dessel, Graspop 27.07. BG – Sofia, Sofia Metalfest 28.07. GR – Athens, Release Festival 10.08. CZ – Brutal Assault 26.10. NL – Sneek, Bolwerk
“Levels Of Perception” recordings musicians: Patrick Mameli – vocals and lead guitars Michiel van der Plicht – drums Rutger van Noordenburg – lead guitars Joost van der Graaf – bass
Dutch death metal legends PESTILENCE – who are currently midway through their European tour – drop the second single from their upcoming, re-recorded best-of album, “Levels of Perception”, set for release on April 26th via Agonia Records. The album features twelve tracks from across the band’s 38-year career. Listen to “Sinister”, here:
Patrick Mameli – whose signature vocal, guitar and songwriting skills constitute the hallmark of PESTILENCE – finds “Levels of Perception” to be a testament to the band’s role in death metal’s progression. “I’ve always wanted to do a best-of album, because it would mean that I’ve achieved something in the past; something that still has its value today,” Mameli reflects. “To be able to choose from songs that I composed in the distant past, transporting them into the now, with the line-up of the recordings that consisted of Michiel van der Plicht (drums), Rutger van Noordenburg (guitar) and Joost van der Graaf (bass) – I found this to be of great value and sheer awesomeness.”
Re-recording of the tracks has not only managed to breathe new life into them – half thanks to new line-up, and other half by implementing subtle changes which reflect Mameli‘s matured vision and refined with years of experience aesthetic – but also sets them apart from cheap, unimaginative compilations, by unifying the album’s sound as befits a full-length release. “The album’s title is Levels of Perception. Why? Because this is what has happened with the songs,” Mameli explains. “Performed by different musicians, with their own views, musical abilities and interpretations, shining a new light on them. So here we are with new Levels of Perception.”
The drums for “Levels of Perception” were recorded by Michiel van der Plicht in 2021, during a live stream held in T Paard (The Hague, NL). “These recorded drum tracks were so awesome that we just had to use them, fine-tuning the guitars and bass,” Mameli comments. These and other re-recordings were done with Reaper behind the console at van der Plicht‘s own studio On Duty in Mijdrecht, NL. The latter engineered, mixed and mastered the album. “I’ve started to realize, after recording Exitivm, that when you can engineer, mix and master by yourself, the control over your own product is way bigger, through the honesty and passion for your own compositions; rather than hiring an engineer that has no feel for your music,” PESTILENCE’s frontman wraps up.
PESTILENCE was established in the Netherlands in 1986 and is considered to be a progressive death metal phenom, labeled on the same genre-defying scale as Death, Cynic and Atheist. The group is led by founder, guitarist and mastermind Patrick Mameli, who’s been the band’s binding factor through two breakups and reunions. Both a reinvention and a confirmation of everything the band has been standing for since 1986, PESTILENCE is more than ever breaking new grounds and exploring the further outposts of extreme metal on “Exitivm” (2021) – the last album, which landed on several Billboard charts; most notably including the top 200 best selling albums. In 2023, the band remastered & reissued its classic catalog, and announced “Portals” to be the title of its next studio album, which is currently in the works. PESTILENCE shows no signs of slowing down, starting 2024 off with a spring tour and a long-sought best-of album, “Levels of Perception” – both of which will roll out this April.
Tracklisting: 01. Horror Detox (Re-recording) 02. Mvlti Dimensional (Re-recording) 03. Mobvs Propagationem (Re-recording) 04. Sinister (Re-recording) 05. Dehydrated (Re-recording) 06. Dominatvi Svbmissa (Re-recording) 07. Land of Tears (Re-recording) 08. Necromorph (Re-recording) 09. Deificvs (Re-recording) 10. Twisted Truth (Re-recording) 11. Sempiternvs (Re-recording) 12. Ovt of the Body (Re-recording)
Tour dates: 23.03. NL – Kampen, Ukien 31.03. NL – Nijverdal, Cult Art — Black Death Over Europe 2024, remaining shows Pestilence + Carnation + Bodyfarm 13.04. 1T – Milan, Legend 14.04. FR- Marseille, Jas Rod 15.04. ES – Barcelona, Sala Boveda 16.04. ES – Madrid, Revi Live 17.04. PT – Lisbon, RCA Club 18.04. PT – Porto, Hard Club 19.04. ES – Zaragoza, Sala Lo Intento 20.04. FR – Limoges, C.C.J. Lennon 21.04. BE – Antwerp, Zappa — 25.05. SK – Surany, Songs Of Hate Festival 21.06. DE – Protzen, Protzen Open Air 22.06. BE – Dessel, Graspop 27.07. BG – Sofia, Sofia Metalfest 28.07. GR – Athens, Release Festival 10.08. CZ – Brutal Assault 26.10. NL – Sneek, Bolwerk
“Levels Of Perception” recordings musicians: Patrick Mameli – vocals and lead guitars Michiel van der Plicht – drums Rutger van Noordenburg – lead guitars Joost van der Graaf – bass
Legendary Dutch death metallers PESTILENCE preview their upcoming, re-recorded best-of album, “Levels of Perception”, set for release on April 26th via Agonia Records. The album features twelve tracks from across the band’s 38-year career and will be preceded by a three-week long headlining tour of Europe, which starts on April the 3rd. Listen to “Horror Detox”, here:
Patrick Mameli – whose signature vocal, guitar and songwriting skills constitute the hallmark of PESTILENCE – finds “Levels of Perception” to be a testament to the band’s role in death metal’s progression. “I’ve always wanted to do a best-of album, because it would mean that I’ve achieved something in the past; something that still has its value today,” Mameli reflects. “To be able to choose from songs that I composed in the distant past, transporting them into the now, with the line-up of the recordings that consisted of Michiel van der Plicht (drums), Rutger van Noordenburg (guitar) and Joost van der Graaf (bass) – I found this to be of great value and sheer awesomeness.”
Re-recording of the tracks has not only managed to breathe new life into them – half thanks to new line-up, and other half by implementing subtle changes which reflect Mameli‘s matured vision and refined with years of experience aesthetic – but also sets them apart from cheap, unimaginative compilations, by unifying the album’s sound as befits a full-length release. “The album’s title is Levels of Perception. Why? Because this is what has happened with the songs,” Mameli explains. “Performed by different musicians, with their own views, musical abilities and interpretations, shining a new light on them. So here we are with new Levels of Perception.”
The drums for “Levels of Perception” were recorded by Michiel van der Plicht in 2021, during a live stream held in T Paard (The Hague, NL). “These recorded drum tracks were so awesome that we just had to use them, fine-tuning the guitars and bass,” Mameli comments. These and other re-recordings were done with Reaper behind the console at van der Plicht‘s own studio On Duty in Mijdrecht, NL. The latter engineered, mixed and mastered the album. “I’ve started to realize, after recording Exitivm, that when you can engineer, mix and master by yourself, the control over your own product is way bigger, through the honesty and passion for your own compositions; rather than hiring an engineer that has no feel for your music,” PESTILENCE’s frontman wraps up.
Tracklisting: 01. Horror Detox (Re-recording) 02. Mvlti Dimensional (Re-recording) 03. Mobvs Propagationem (Re-recording) 04. Sinister (Re-recording) 05. Dehydrated (Re-recording) 06. Dominatvi Svbmissa (Re-recording) 07. Land of Tears (Re-recording) 08. Necromorph (Re-recording) 09. Deificvs (Re-recording) 10. Twisted Truth (Re-recording) 11. Sempiternvs (Re-recording) 12. Ovt of the Body (Re-recording)
“Levels Of Perception” recordings musicians: Patrick Mameli – vocals and lead guitars Michiel van der Plicht – drums Rutger van Noordenburg – lead guitars Joost van der Graaf – bass
PESTILENCE was established in the Netherlands in 1986 and is considered to be a progressive death metal phenom, labeled on the same genre-defying scale as Death, Cynic and Atheist. The group is led by founder, guitarist and mastermind Patrick Mameli, who’s been the band’s binding factor through two breakups and reunions. Both a reinvention and a confirmation of everything the band has been standing for since 1986, PESTILENCE is more than ever breaking new grounds and exploring the further outposts of extreme metal on “Exitivm” (2021) – the last album, which landed on several Billboard charts; most notably including the top 200 best selling albums. In 2023, the band remastered & reissued its classic catalog, and announced “Portals” to be the title of its next studio album, which is currently in the works. PESTILENCE shows no signs of slowing down, starting 2024 off with a spring tour and a long-sought best-of album, “Levels of Perception” – both of which will roll out this April.
Tour dates: 23.03. NL – Kampen, Ukien 31.03. NL – Nijverdal, Cult Art — Black Death Over Europe 2024 Pestilence + Carnation + Bodyfarm 03.04. DE – Munich, Backstage 04.04. DE – Trier, Mergener Hof 05.04. DE – Berlin, Orwo Haus 06.04. PL – Krakow, Kamienna 12 07.04. CZ – Jaromer, Narodak 08.04. CZ – Ostrava, Barrak 09.04. SK – Kosice, Collosseum 10.04. AT – Vienna, Viper Room 11.04. HU – Budapest, A38 12.04. IT – San Donà di Piave, Revolver 13.04. 1T – Milan, Legend 14.04. FR- Marseille, Jas Rod 15.04. ES – Barcelona, Sala Boveda 16.04. ES – Madrid, Revi Live 17.04. PT – Lisbon, RCA Club 18.04. PT – Porto, Hard Club 19.04. ES – Zaragoza, Sala Lo Intento 20.04. FR – Limoges, C.C.J. Lennon 21.04. BE – Antwerp, Zappa — 25.05. SK – Surany, Songs Of Hate Festival 21.06. DE – Protzen, Protzen Open Air 22.06. BE – Dessel, Graspop 27.07. BG – Sofia, Sofia Metalfest 28.07. GR – Athens, Release Festival 10.08. CZ – Brutal Assault 26.10. NL – Sneek, Bolwerk
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