Drummer leaves controversial rock singer’s side project, citing “no real change”

Things just keep getting worse for As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis. The latest issue concerns his side project, Austrian Death Machine. Brandon Short, the group’s drummer, took to Instagram Saturday to announce his departure from the band.
Austrian Death Machine is Lambesis‘s thrash metal side project created to honor beloved actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The band’s song titles are classic Schwarzenegger lines from throughout his career. Short cited the “recent developments surrounding the As I Lay Dying camp and Tim” as the push for him to take this step.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my decision to step away from Austrian Death Machine,” Short said in the post. “For the sake of my mental well-being and personal beliefs, and in light of the recent developments surrounding the As I lay Dying camp and Tim, this has become an inevitable step for me.”
Lambesis was convicted in 2014 of hiring a hitman to kill his estranged wife and was sentenced to six years in prison. He was released on parole in December 2016. He is the only member remaining his main band, As I Lay Dying, after bassist Ryan Neff, guitarist Ken Susi, drummer Nick Pierce and guitarist/vocalist Phil Sgrosso all left the band in recent weeks.
Lambesis responded to the departures and stated the band would continue with a new crew in the near future.
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Murjani Rawls may be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @MurjaniRawls.
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