DAWN OF AZAZEL Frontman Thanks Fans For Support In Wake Of Controversy

November 25, 2005

Ibex Moon Records has issued the following update on the New Zealand-based death/grind outfit DAWN OF AZAZEL:

"[DAWN OF AZAZEL] have been the subject of controversy and received considerable publicity this week [check previous BLABBERMOUTH.NET stories: Story#1, Story#2, Story#3] after a sensationalist tabloid newspaper, the Sunday Star Times, printed a slanderous and poorly researched expose on frontman Rigel Walshe's occupation as a police officer and the band's lyrical content. The story sparked an outcry and the band featured as the main story the following day on New Zealand's biggest 6 o'clock news show, 3 News, sparking over 43,000 hits on their website in 24 hours. The band has been the source of massive and heated debate on virtually every newspaper, radio and talkback show for several days straight, inspiring comments and debate from police ministers, Christian fundamentalist groups, the personal backing of New Zealand's government's Minister for the Arts Judith Tizard, as well as creating massive headlines overseas in the metal media and even featuring on CNN. All this came in the middle of the band's New Zealand release tour for their second album, 'Sedition'." Bassist/vocalist Rigel Walshe offered the following comments in relation to these events.

"We would collectively like to thank all the fans and bands that have come out to support us, and all the news media that have helped promote the band and the tour during this period and make the tour such a success.

"Our next step will be releasing the album in the Australia and the rest of the world in January/February next year.

"We are also excited to announce we will be touring Australia and New Zealand in March with DISGORGE and are currently are considering two U.S. tour offers that will see us touring with some of the top bands in the death metal genre around April or may next year.

"In response to recent events in the media, we wish to thank our supporters, and state we spit upon those who are afraid to stand proud as individuals, who cannot perceive beyond face value reach their own conclusions, and are blindly lead by the half-baked opinions of the loudest voice as lambs to the slaughter.

"May you never stifle the voices of those who dare to stand proud and venture from the comfort of their armchairs and computer screens, defy convention, provoke debate and thought and grasp life by its horns to make their message heard."

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