Bassist Slawomir “Mortifer” Archangielskij of Polish extreme metallers HATE died in his sleep on April 6 after suffering from a cardiac arrhythmia. The 27-year-old suffered from an irregular heartbeat and died of natural causes, according to a posting on the band’s Facebook page. The group adds: “It is also known that Slawek suffered from asthma and had problems with breathing whilst asleep (obstructive sleep apnea).”

Says HATE: “His family would like to thank everybody who helps and supports them in this tragic moment with the following words:

“We would like to thank for sympathy, love and any kind of support that we have been given by Slawek‘s friends from the bands HATE,NAUMACHIA and SALTUS. We also would like to thank the bandHYPOCRISY for their attitude and support, which is very much appreciated. Great thanks to all kind people in Poland and all over the world whose moving goodwill helps us so much in this hard moment.

“We inform that the last farewell to Slawek will take place on April 16th in Cmentarz Polnocny (Wolka Weglowa) at 11.30 in hall B. Between 12.15 and 12.45 Slawek‘s body will be shown in the Farewell Hall. His ashes will be buried on 17th April at Czerniakowski Cemetary in Sadyba (Warsaw).”

Quality video footage of HATE‘s March 31 performance at Effenaar in Eindhoven, The Netherlands can be seen below (courtesy of“letthedeathmetalflow”).

Archangielskij joined HATE in January 2007 and appeared on 2010’s“Erebos” and 2013’s “Solarflesh” albums.

HATE‘s “Solarflesh” CD was released in North America on February 5 viaNapalm Records. The follow-up to 2010’s “Erebos” was recorded atSound Division Studio in Warsaw with Filip “Heinrich” Halucha(VESANIADECAPITATED) and Arek “Malta” Malczewski (BEHEMOTH‘s sound guy). The effort was mixed at Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland with producers Slawek and Wojtek Wieslawski (DECAPITATED,VADER).