OSTROGOTH TO RELEASE ‘LAST TRIBE STANDING’ – FIRST RELEASE SINCE 1987
GUITARIST RUDY ‘WHITESHARK’ VERCRUYSSE FIGHTING CANCER
Belgium’s old school metal band Ostrogoth will release ‘Last Tribe Standing’, on January 23rd 2015, both on CD and vinyl, through Belgian cult label Empire Records.
The artwork for ‘Last Tribe Standing’ was created by the talented Velio Josto.
‘Last Tribe Standing’ is the first official Ostrogoth release since 1987 and features the current line-up that has been active since their return at Germany’s Keep It True Festival, back in 2012.
At first the idea was to release a 4-track EP with new material, just like we did back in 1983 with our ‘Full Moon’s Eyes’ debut. Not a full album, just an EP with four killer songs. But a few days before we entered the studio to record the new tracks, we were listening to the tapes of some summer festival shows we had recorded earlier this year, solely for our own archives. The recordings were raw and 100% live, but the tapes sounded so good, it would’ve been a shame not to use them.
So grew the idea to release two EP’s, back to back. With the four new songs on the A-side of the vinyl version and on the B-side the four songs from the ‘Full Moon’s Eyes’ EP, in a 2014 live version, the way the current line-up plays these songs today. Old and new gathered in one.
‘Last Tribe Standing’ was produced by guitarist Dario Frodo and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Epica, Amaranthe, Evergrey, Pretty Maids)
As a tribute to the early days we also decided to reuse the original logo that was only featured on the 1983 debut.
Tracklisting
1. No Risk Taken (5.49)
2. Clouds (4.00)
3. Retun To The Heroes Museum (4.43)
4. Last Tribe Standing (6.25)
5. Heroes Museum (Live) (4.17)
6. Full Moon’s Eyes (Live) (4.41)
7. Paris By Night (Live) (6.12)
8. Rock Fever (Live) (4.30)
(Total playing time: 40.40)
Line-up
Mario ‘Grizzly’ Pauwels – Drums
Rudy ‘Whiteshark’ Vercruysse – Guitars
Dario Frodo – Guitars and backing vocals
Josey Hindrix – Lead vocals & backing vocals
Stripe – Bass & backing vocals
Next to the enthusiasm about the new CD there is unfortunately also bad news to report. Earlier this year Ostrogoth guitarist Rudy 'WhiteShark' Vercruysse was diagnosed with liver cancer. Although the situation was very serious, there was initially an estimated life expectancy of two years. WhiteShark started chemotherapy a few months ago and was able to play the summer festival shows in between the many hospital visits. WhiteShark was also present for the recordings of 'Last Tribe Standing' and everyone was looking forward to a very busy schedule for 2015. But in recent weeks the situation escalated fast, and the cancer was getting more grip on WhiteShark’s body. Last week, the doctors had to bring down drastically the earlier life expectancy of two years to "a few weeks".
On December 6th, Sharky gave everything he had to put on a great show, when Ostrogoth played a sold out Belgian headline club show, but it looks like this will have been WhiteShark’s last ever show with Ostrogoth.
All scheduled shows for 2015 will go ahead as planned. WhiteShark has recently chosen his successor himself. More details on that later.
