TOXIK Taps SHADOWS FALL Drummer

Reactivated cult classic prog-thrashers TOXIK have announced the addition of SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner to the group's ranks. Guitarist and founding member Josh Christian comments on Bittner's addition: "I couldn't have hoped for a better situation. Jason is probably the best case scenario in every respect. Not only is he a sick drummer, but he’s a thinker and a creative force."

States Bittner: "I initially met [former TOXIK drummer] Tad [Leger] at a DEATH ANGEL show back in 1990 shortly after seeing TOXIK for the first time. I recognized him, struck up a conversation and the next thing you know I was at his place taking lessons from him. Over the years, we became very good friends, trading shows with our local bands at the time, etc., and we've stayed close while I traveled the world, building my career with SHADOWS FALL.

"For me, this is a big deal because I get to play in one of my favorite bands from my youth, and I get a chance to help preserve my friend's legacy"

Christian and singer Mike Sanders recently began pre-production work on the vocals at Josh's home studio. TOXIK is hopeful to have the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 1992's critically acclaimed LP "Think This" ready for release late fall. Christian comments: "It was great getting together with Mike. Nothing's changed — he can still totally kill it — so it's going to be a lot of fun recording this album!"

Hailing from New York's Hudson Valley area, TOXIK released a pair of classic thinking-man's thrash metal albums in the late '80s. An upstart record label named Roadrunner Records (later home to SLIPKNOT and NICKELBACK) released the band's two astounding masterworks, 1988's "World Circus" and 1989's "Think This". Both releases saw TOXIK take the aggression and brutality of speed metal and mix it with the technicality and proficiency of progressive hard rock.

TOXIK left the Hudson Valley region and toured the United States and the world, playing shows with the likes of PANTERA, SEPULTURA, EXODUS, KING DIAMOND and others in their quest for metal ascendancy before their premature implosion in 1992.

TOXIK released a DVD, "Think Again", in August 2010. The set contained both vintage and brand new never-before-seen footage. The main feature was a 1989 headlining set from the Paramount Theater in TOXIK's hometown of Peekskill, New York. This performance came shortly after the release of "World Circus" and the energy level of the band wa truly at its peak for TOXIK's first headlining show. The DVD contains all the tracks from "World Circus" and an early version of "Spontaneous" that later appeared on "Think This".