Guitarist Justin Lowe Of After The Burial Passes Away

The metal-music world mourns today after news of the death of Justin Lowe surfaced the internet early Wednesday morning. Lowe, founder and ex-guitarist of metalcore act “After The Burial”, was found dead by a hiker early Tuesday morning. The unsettling news follows a month-long slew of reports surrounding his battle with mental illness, revealing itself to the public in various forms since his departure from the band just under a month ago. Lowe had since posted a statement on Facebook regarding the separation, uncovering the reason behind his decision. The band responded with the following message:

“This is a very sad and hurtful situation for us to grasp, and unfortunately it is one we still don’t fully understand. Our dear friend, our brother onstage and off, has fallen into a very broken state of mind. A state that, despite our continued efforts, we have been powerless to get him out of.”

According to his sister, Lowe was reported missing early Saturday, July 18th in Washington County, MN. A police search followed his disappearance. On July 22nd, Lowe was found by a hiker near Somerset, Wisconsin. Authorities state that the cause of death is consistent with a fall.

We’re very saddened to hear this news, and our deepest condolences extend to the family, friends, and fans of Justin Lowe. His passion and talent will continue to live on through his music. RIP.