Ex-Warbringer Drummer Nic Ritter Passes Away

If you went to ANY metal show between 2008 and 2011, you probably saw Warbringer perform: they were on what seemed at the time like every frickin’ tour under the sun. And if you saw Warbringer during that period, you absolutely saw drummer Nic Ritter, who also performed on the band’s 2009 release Waking Into Nightmares and their Imperial Anthems split with Dew Scented.

Sad news to report today, as Ritter has passed away at only 37 years of age. His cause of death is not publicly known, but to say that a gigantic talent has been lost too soon would be an understatement.

Warbringer mastermind John Kevill had the following to say about Ritter on Facebook:

“A couple days ago we got some tragic news. Our former drummer, Nic Ritter, is dead. 
He passed either Wednesday or Thursday and I got the word Thursday night. I know few details of how he died. I had not seen Nic in many years, though I had spoken to him a few times fairly recently. I always will to regret that I never saw him again, and we never really caught up on all our old times traveling the world.

“Nic played approximately 400-450 shows with Warbringer between June 2008 through January 2011, the period where we were never off the road. His drum performance on “Waking into Nightmares” pushed the standard of technicality and musicianship in Warbringer to a new level and helped to shape the identity of the band to what it is today. He was an absolutely stellar player who in my opinion is a true innovator in thrash metal drumming.
Sadly, “Waking into Nightmares” is, to the best of my knowledge, his sole recorded musical legacy. Shame that he never played on another record, at least I know he was very proud of our work on that one.

“Rest easy, old buddy

“-Kevill”

On behalf of everyone at MetalSucks, we which Ritter’s family, friends and bandmates (current and former) the best during this difficult time.

Check out Ritter’s performance on the video for “Severed Reality” below.

R.I.P.