Alex Rudinger - DECAPITATED - 'DAY 69' (ft. Kevin Heiderich)

First off, BIG shoutout to my friend Kevin Heiderich - he recorded the guitars for this cover, & frankly, if I didn't have quality guitars / bass to use with my recorded drums, I probably wouldn't have done this at all. So THANK YOU for being into this cover idea, Kevin! To everyone else reading this, show your support & SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW him (on YouTube & Instagram, respectively!):

AND (quick shameless self-promotion! 😂) - If you've yet to check out any of the products from Anup & I's business, RS DRUMS, please do so by clicking below!

On to my usual/over-the-top video description 😂👌🏼! This #DECAPITATED song, "Day 69" is from the album 'Organic Hallucinosis', released in 2006. I heard it for the first time right around then - my friend Max Phelps (guitarist of the band EXIST, who also fronts the 'Death To All' tribute band & plays live with Cynic sometimes) burnt me a CD copy of it. Max & I grew up together (in fact, Exist was our local band), & he was always showing me new music & burning me CD's back then. Frankly, I wouldn't have gotten into HALF the stuff I was/am into if it weren't for him.

Anyway - this album always stuck out to me. It quickly became one of my favorite death metal albums, & remains one of my favorites to this day. About a year after this album's release, the original drummer of Decapitated, Witold 'Vitek' Kieltyka, was killed in a bus crash in Russia (well, according to wikipedia, it says they were on their way to a show in Belarus, but were taken to a hospital in Russia). He survived the initial accident, but passed away several days later at the age of 23. The singer of the band at the time, Adrian 'Covan' Kowanek, was also severely injured, but survived. Little information can be found about him online anymore, but from what I understand, he is paralyzed from the waist down & deals with symptoms caused by Cerebral Hypoxia.
 
This accident would've been devastating for anyone, but I remember it hitting especially close to home for me - Vitek was a young drummer who I looked up to, & his entire vibe/feel with Decapitated was truly unmatched (even to this day!). Who knows how great he could've gone on to be. Covan as well - I absolutely love the vocals on this album. IDK, ya'll - it's just truly sad. At the very least, we are fortunate to have this RIPPIN' album that they both participated in, so if you've never heard it - I highly recommend you check it out! 

Decapitated went on hiatus for awhile after that, but eventually resurfaced, & got young-drummer/fellow YouTuber KRIMH to take over behind the kit (around 2009/2010). I remember ALSO being hellllla stoked about this, & thinking that there's no one better to take over the position. To this day, Krimh is in my Top-3 favorite metal drummers (along with Eloy & Dirk!), & he has got to be one of (if not THE) grooviest death metal drummers. I mean, nobody really has the feel & power he has, especially at the speeds he plays. So, yeah - he was the perfect replacement back then. Although he didn't stay in the band, he did record one album with them, & I was fortunate enough to see them live with him on a Summer Slaughter Tour (circa 2011).
 
Speaking of... I also saw Decapitated with Vitek... twice! One of those times (Jaxx Nightclub in Springfield, VA), I actually caught his drumstick at the end of the show. Still have it, too - how sick is that?! 

ANYWAY, ya'll - my POINT is: I've had love for this album for a long time, & was super stoked to finally do a cover from it. So I hope you enjoy it!

KIT SPECS!

#TAMA STAR Maple

10x6.5
12x7
14x11
16x13
20x16 (x2)
14x7 JT Sig Snare

#MEINL Cymbals (from L to R if sitting behind the kit)

18" Pure Alloy China
18" Classics Custom Dual Crash
15" Byzance Traditional
12" Classics Custom Dual Trash Splash
10" Classics Custom Dual Splash
15" Byzance Dual Hi-Hats
19" Classics Custom Dual Crash
18" Classics Custom Heavy Dark China
22" Byzance Heavy Hammered Ride

#EVANS Drumheads

Toms - Clear G2s (batter), Clear G1s (reso)
Snare - Coated UV2 (batter), Snare Side 300 (reso)
Kick - Clear EQ4s (batter), Smooth White EQ4 w/ port (reso)

As per usual, mixing duties were handled by Declan White! He absolutely KILLED IT! Kevin's sick guitar tone & Declan's mixing... 👌🏼

& I'm finally doing my podcast again (regularly!). Several new episodes are already up (links below!) -

Please feel free to follow me on your desired social network(s)!

As always, thanks for watching & stay tuned for more!

[Kmac]

The drum break at 2:17 has lived rent free in my head for the better part of 10 years

[xjasonx]

One of the sickest death metal tracks out there. RIP Vitek

[blumetech]

Dude this is HUGE that you’re covering death metal songs again. Takes me back to the old Rudinger days. So fucking good man!

[KeithMerrow]

This drum mix is so insane, and obviously you nailed this. But man, this sounds so powerful, I keep coming back to it. Love u Rudi!

[ravensongstudios]

Man, every time I see covers I am happy that people still know who Vitek was, but it still leaves me sad. You did a good job with this.

[ContaminatedBeef]

Rudinger and Heiderich? Talk about a stacked lineup

[quadblaster]

Vitek was literally irreplaceable. Such a unique and incredible talent. I miss him every time I listen to older Decapitated.

[ScottMillerCovers]

I love how respectful you were to the parts, but still added your own unique twist! You and Vitek are forever the goats.

[zachripa]

Peace to Vitek, he was a great drummer and only just getting started . This is great cover and way to pay homage to a great drummer !

[MattJFilms]

Killllerr cover and what a classic jam! The OG's will remember hearing 2:18 in that old "Top 10 Fastest Double Bass" video lmao!

[PLYBiUS]

FUCK that was clean, holy shit. A fantastic homage to the legend.

[skywalkerluk]

Vitek RIP ....he was teenager at the time when he wrote this and also played. Decapitated ❤❤❤

[viniciusdiniz]

Long live Vitek (Witold Kiełtyka) the creator of the MASTERPIECE drum composition.

Jan 24, 1984 🌟
Nov 02, 2007 ✝️

[matthewburdett]

I’m amazed how high that stick comes up on the blasts, fast and still powerful as hell using the fingers. BEAST

[msnrc]

I am a big fan of Kevin and I am so happy that he gets more recognition! He's a great musician!

[Djcimofficial]

Still blasting this album till this day. Vitek was a monster behind the kit.

[Goregaltha]

The thing I love most about the drum break in this song (this album in particular actually) is that it was starting to showcase Vitek's mastery of space and not just technicality. Not only is the solo tasty but it's also incredibly musical and makes sense in the context of the song. That's part of why it's such a memorable moment. Gone way too soon, RIP

[raymondbauer]

Kevin is one of the highest skilled guitarists on the planet, sick to see that you're working together!

[johnnygotgrowls]

This is fantastic and Kevin really did do an unreal job of these guitars. Unreal. Makes me wanna do the yelly yelly bad guy vocals over this <3

[nj]

Vitek and Vogg were just the perfect groovy duo. The riffs and drums parts of Decapitated from Winds of Creation to Organic Hallucinosis are unrivaled! I still think Vogg writes some of the catchiest and groovy riffs today, but I kinda miss the insane drumming of Vitek to go with the riffs. Great job with the cover from both you and Kevin!