For those unfamiliar, Negură Bunget is a Romanian black metal band that has a ton of atmospheric and folk leanings. The band has been around since 1996, and currently had one original member left – Gabriel "Negru" Mafa.
According to a post from Blood Music, as well as vocalist and guitarist Tibor Kati, Negru has passed away at the age of 42 due to currently unknown circumstances.
"With great grief in our souls, we inform you that our friend and colleague, Gabriel 'Negru' Mafa, passed today, March 21st 2017, aged 42. We deeply regret the death of the man who founded and maintained Negura Bunget, and who dedicated his life to the sacred side of our culture, bringing it to life through music and transmitting it to various generations from all over the world.
"We hope that his legacy will continue to enchant and console those whom he left behind. With regret and sadness, we offer our condolences to his family and to those who knew and cherished him in this life."
Negru appeared on every single Negură Bunget release from 1996 to 2016. The band has not yet commented on Mafa's passing.
