Karyn Crisis Contributing To Charity Horror Anthology "The Healing Monsters"

Karyn Crisis (Crisis, Ephel Duath, Gospel Of The Witches) will contribute a written piece, entitled "Angels In The Ashes," to The Healing Monsters benefit anthology for Dustin LaValley and Katherine Ludwig.

Metal Maniacs co-founder and former editor, Katherine Ludwig, has been battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and dark fiction writer, screenwriter, and metal/hardcore enthusiast Dustin LaValley has been struggling with Crohn's/IBD issues; all proceeds from The Healing Monsters will be split evenly between LaValley's and Ludwig's respective medical funds.

In regards to her contribution to this collection of metal-horror poetry and prose, Karyn comments:

"When Shawn Macomber asked me to contribute something to Katherine Ludwig's cause, I was honored and thrilled to give something back to a woman who's given so much to the metal music community. I consider that each action we take sends out a resonance, so with my piece I made an offering of strength to a woman who already symbolizes that very idea to many other people...

"'Angels In the Ashes' is based around a stanza I wrote when I was 15 years old, as I was ruminating on the limitations of the physical body while I struggled with my own disease. In adulthood, I've perceived that within my greatest personal weakness can be found my deepest strength, simply trying to draw my attention into myself where it lay dormant, awaiting our reunion."

Shawn Macomber, co-editor of The Healing Monsters and contributor to Decibel Magazine, Fangoria, and Rue Morgue adds: "I've been a fan of Karyn Crisis' vision and music for nearly twenty years now, so when Kriscinda over at Despumation first gave The Healing Monsters the green-light, Karyn was high on my 'reach' list of contributors.

"I mean, we're talking about a singular, fearless artist imbued with a very real, very potent vitality and power -- if that's not the sort of individual you'd want standing alongside you while attempting to in some small way confront the forces of darkness and disease, I don't know who is. Anyway, to my great surprise and elation, Karyn was eager to help and her poem was predictably wonderful. That this anthology will arrive roundabout the same time she once again demolishes expectations and boundaries via the stunning new album 'Salem's Wounds' is merely coincidence, though a happy one!"

The Healing Monsters will be released in March with a pre-order available soon. For more information, please visit this location. The full listing of contributors includes:

Mathias Jansson (Despumation 1 & 2)
Lewis Dimmick (This Music)
Stephanie Wytovich (HYSTERIA, Mourning Jewelry)
Karyn Crisis (Gospel of the Witches)
Jessica Pimentel (Alekhine’s Gun, Orange is the New Black)
Mike IX Williams (Corrections House, EYEHATEGOD)
John Palisano (Nerves)
Dustin LaValley (Human Wreckage, Despumation 1)
Jesse Bullington (Brothers Grossbart, Despumation 1)
Adam Cesare (The First One You Expect)
Billups Allen (Razorcake)
JR Hayes (Pig Destroyer)
Andrew Bonazelli (Decibel)
John Boden (Dominoes, Shock Totem)
K. Allen Wood (Shock Totem)
Tim Deal (Shroud Publishing)
James Newman (Ugly As Sin)
Sean Frasier (Hipster Massacre, Decibel)
Larissa Glasser (Hekseri)
Shane Mehling (Decibel)
Marc Ciccarone (Blood Bound Books)
John Edward Lawson (Tempting Disaster, Raw Dog Screaming Press)
Dutch Pearce (Decibel)
Matthew Widener (Cretin)
Brian Serven (Backstabbers Incorporated)
Ryan McKenney (Trap Them)
Shawn Macomber (Fangoria, Decibel, etc.)
Jeremy Wagner (The Armageddon Chord, Broken Hope)
Dean Swinford (The Inverted Katabasis, Despumation 1)