SALOME’S AARON DEAL IS NOW THE BASS PLAYER FOR DARKEST HOUR

UPDATE: It looks like this is just temporary for Summer Slaughter, and Burnette is NOT out of Darkest Hour. So that ends me having five minds about this.

Last week, we got an anonymous e-mail from someone claiming that Salome drummer Aaron Deal had found a sweet new gig: bass player for perennial MetalSucks faves Darkest Hour. And at first we thought this tipster must be mistaken; after all, the band had made no announcement about parting with bassist Paul Burnette, who has been on all of their albums since 2003’s classic Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation. And Burnette was still listed as a member on Darkest Hour’s Facebook page.

But then a Google search brought us to a website called American Aftermath, which in turn directed us to this tweet from Salome’s label, Profound Lore, which also said that Deal was now in Darkest Hour. So it was starting to look like, yes, the Deep Throat of Darkest Hour was telling the truth.

And then we sent our newest member of the MetalSucks Photo Squad, Miikka Skaffari, to shoot some pics for us at Summer Slaughter in San Francisco this past Friday night, and, hey, guess what? He just happened to capture an awesome picture of Deal playing bass for Darkest Hour:

So, we doubt no longer: Mr. Deal has found a new home.

And I’m of about five minds about this news. It really does mean that Salome is dead, which is sad; but it means that Salome went out on top, which is happy; but it means that something went awry with Burnette, of whom we were fans, so that’s kinda sad; but it also means that Darkest Hour have already found a terrific replacement, and that Deal, who is certainly a massive talent, can continue to make music with a bunch of folks we really admire, which is happy. By my count that means happy wins 3-2.

So what happened with Burnette, and why hasn’t there been any official announcement regarding Deal joining the group? Hopefully answers will be forthcoming. In the meantime, you can enjoy the below video of Deal playing with Darkest Hour in LA a few weeks ago, and welcome him to the band at any of the remaining shows on this year’s MetalSucks-sponsored Summer Slaughter tour, which also includes The Black Dahlia Murder, Whitechapel, Six Feet Under, Dying Fetus, As Blood Runs Black, Oceano, Fleshgod Apocalypse, and Powerglove. Get dates here.

Keep checking back for the rest of Miika’s killer Summer Slaughter pics; we’re gonna run ’em later this week!

-AR