AFTER DEATH – Two Members Drown In Brazil

Two members of the UK metalcore outfit AFTER DEATH drowned yesterday (Thursday January 21) while swimming at the Atalaia beach in Aracaju, in the northeastern part of Brazil. 21-year-old guitarist Leon Villalba and 18-year-old bassist Timothy Kennelly, along with their bandmates, were in the middle of an extensive tour of Brazil as the support act for Master when the incident occurred.

Villalba and Kennelly were reportedly swimming at the beach around 2:30 pm when another beachgoer noticed a floating body and alerted the local lifeguard rescue team. An attempt was made to resuscitate Villalba using CPR, but he didn't respond. Kennedy's body is still missing. The search for Timothy's remains will continue on Friday with air support, since the area to be covered is very wide.

Atalaia is considered to be the fourth most dangerous beach in Brazil, even though it's one of the most popular in Aracaju, the capital of Sergipe, which is the smallest Brazilian state by area.

In spite of the tragedy, which is being investigated by the homicide division of the Department of Public Safety, the 17 remaining dates of the “Masters of Hate Tour 2010” will take place as scheduled. The surviving AFTER DEATH members have stated that they are “all in mourning and still shocked by everything that happened,” but that they “are sure that [Leon and Timothy] would want the shows to go on. We'll complete the tour in their honor,” they are quoted as saying by the local media.

AFTER DEATH is a five-piece metalcore band from London. According to their MySpace, their music influences are combinations of bands such as Killswitch Engage, In Flames, As I Lay Dying as well as UK bands such as Architects and Bring Me The Horizon.