Two Members of After Death Drown in Brazil

After a year full of crippling losses, tragedy continues to befall the metal community in 2010. On Jan. 21, metal lost two more of its own in Brazil. Leon Villalba and Timothy Kennelly, the guitarist and bassist for U.K. metallers After Death, drowned while swimming at the Atalaia beach in Aracaju, in the northeastern part of Brazil.

Villalba was 21 years old, while Kennelly was 18. The deaths come amid After Death's extensive tour of Brazil, where they're the support act for Master. Villalba and Kennelly were reportedly swimming at the beach around 2:30 PM when another beachgoer noticed a floating body and alerted local lifeguards. The floating body was Villalba, and several attempts were made to revive him, but he did not respond to CPR. Kennelly's body has not been recovered, and a search for his remains will continue Friday with air support.

Atalaia is considered to be the fourth most dangerous beach in Brazil, despite being one of the most popular in Aracaju, the capital of Sergipe.

The tragic loss will not deter the remainder of the tour, and both deaths are being investigated by the homicide division of the Department of Public Safety. There are still 17 dates remaining on the Masters of Hate Tour 2010, and they'll go on, as scheduled. The surviving members of After Death told local media that, while they are "all in mourning and still shocked by everything that happened," the show must go on.

"[Leon and Timothy] would want the shows to go on," they said. "We'll complete the tour in their honor." After Death released an EP called 'Eulogy' last spring.