MONGREL Singer Quits

Singer Drew Barker has left the Massachusetts-based punk-rock-metal band MONGREL after five years, citing internal turmoil and a desire to create his own music as the major factors for the split. This comes only a week after drummer Ed Loguercio was fired by band founder/guitarist Adam Savage following a scuffle on stage at a recent show.

The future of MONGREL is uncertain at this point, though it is believed the band will continue after finding replacement members.

MONGREL had just completed work on its next full-length album, "This Means War", recorded by Tim Koukos at SFW Studios in Manchester, New Hampshire; mixed by Jeff Wallace at Entrolab Studios in Tom's River, New Jersey; and mastered by Beau Hill Music Production.

Commented Drew: "I had hoped to play a few final shows as MONGREL as a complete band, but recent events have made that impossible. So, it's with a heavy heart that I announce my departure from MONGREL.

"It's been five long years and I've shed blood, sweat, and tears many times for this machine, but alas my time has come to an end.

"This has been a long time coming. The last year has been very rocky and the recent events, culminating with the departure of my good friend Ed, drove the final nails in the coffin."

MONGREL's latest release is the five-song "Revenge" EP, which came out on Halloween 2009 on Screaming Ferret Wreckords/Immolation Records. Reviews of the new EP have been overwhelmingly positive and the EP itself is available on iTunes, Amazon, Shockhound, and at mongrel.bandcamp.com, where it is available for "name-your-own-price" downloads.

MONGREL's first full-length album, "Fear, Lies, & Propaganda", was re-released in April 2008 by Screaming Ferret Wreckords/Locomotive Records.

MONGREL had a busy 2009, including a northeast U.S. tour with punk legends FEAR, playing with KORN, and spending a good portion of the year in the studio working on the "Revenge" EP and "This Means War".