PESSIMIST Officially Laid To Rest

PESSIMIST guitarist Kelly McLauchlin (DIABOLIC) has released the following statement:

"As most of you folks already know, I have recently joined the newly reformed DIABOLIC, along with founding DIABOLIC member and former UNHOLY GHOST bandmate Aantar Coates.

"After parting ways with UNHOLY GHOST in March 2005 'to once again pursue PESSIMIST and other musical interests,' lots of folks have been writing me here and on MySpace, wondering what's going on with PESSIMIST! At that time the PESSIMIST lineup from 'Slaughtering the Faithful' (Kelly McLauchlin: lead guitars, Reaper: bass/vox, Bill Hayden: lead guitars) had reunited with original PESSIMIST drummer, Chris Pernia (from the first two CDs). I had flown to Baltimore for a couple days of practice/jamming, rehearsing old tunes and planned to start writing some new PESSIMIST material. However, I live here in Tampa, FL now and the rest of the band is located in the MD/NJ area.

"Since then, the writing process has mainly consisted of emailing MP3s back and forth and working on song arrangements with drummer Chris Pernia via email. Meanwhile, PESSIMIST guitarist Bill Hayden is apparently no longer involved in the death metal scene and bassist/vocalist Ralph 'Reaper' is now currently incarcerated in NJ for an undisclosed amount of time...

"So in order to lay the band to rest with some dignity, I must announce that PESSIMIST is on indefinite hiatus. This will also allow me to focus musically 100% on my current involvement with DIABOLIC!!

"PESSIMIST led a relatively successful 10-year existence, sharing the stage with bands such as MORBID ANGEL, DEICIDE, NAPALM DEATH, VADER, several high-profile festivals in the U.S. (Milwaukee Metalfest, New England Metalfest, November to Dismember...) a European Tour in 1999, and released three full-length CDs: 'Cult of the Initiatated', 'Blood For the Gods', and 'Slaughtering the Faithful' (produced by Erik Rutan).

"PESSIMIST would like to thank Rich at Lost Disciple Records, our friends at Relapse, Century Media, Jen at Metal Blade, Metal Maniacs, Pit mag, SOD mag, all the radio stations, zines, and clubs we have worked with over the years. Also a shout to the bands and friends we made over the years: AVERSE SEFIRA, INCANTATION, IMMOLATION, Ivan and BLACK MASS, MORTICIAN, SUFFOCATION, CANNIBAL CORPSE, LIVIDITY, DARK FUNERAL, KRISIUN, DYING FETUS, GODLESS TRUTH, FLESHLESS, MONSTROSITY, MORBID ANGEL, HATE ETERNAL, DEFILED, TESTAMENT, ANGELCORPSE, MALEVOLENT CREATION, SINISTER, VICIOUS CIRCLE, Don Decker and ANAL BLAST, Gene Hoglan, Diane White and WITHERED EARTH, Snake and Snakenet Metal, KNAC, Blackmetal.com, The Tink, Taz Cortes, John Dwyer, Jimi/Wow Printing Las Vegas, Terri Mochizuki, and especially to you, the fans, for your continued support over the years!!

"Further info or anything related to PESSIMIST will be available at the official PESSIMIST web site, www.pessimist.com, and also on MySpace, at myspace.com/pessimist."