Susperia Vocalist Recovering From Heart Attack

"Right now I'm on some strong medication and in some agony. It hurts," Susperia vocalist Athera, whose real name is Pal Mathieson, told Noisecreep. The ailing singer of the blackened thrash outfit is currently in serious but stable condition, recovering from a heart attack he sustained on the morning of March 9 in his native Norway. Athera was rushed to the hospital in Lorenskog, suffering from acute stomach pains and bleeding. After a series of tests, it was determined that he had suffered a heart attack as a result of a damaged blood vessel. He remains in intensive care and under doctor's supervision and is expected to remain so for the immediate future.

Despite his physical pain, Athera maintains an upbeat, glass-is-half-full attitude about his health, saying, "Everything worked out well. In the end, they replaced four heart valves and I feel like the $6 Million Dollar Man. I'm going to have to go through some tough times, but it's the end product that counts." Athera recently finished his vocals for Susperia's forthcoming fifth album, which will be released by new label Candlelight Records sometime this summer. The band's touring commitments and promotional plans remain in place but are subject to change based on the singer's condition. We wish him a speedy recovery and thank him for taking a moment out of his recovery to let us know how he's doing!