Alabama death metal outfit Ectovoid have suffered a blow with the unfortunate news that guitarist Michael Stewart has passed away. Hellthrasher Productions, the band's label home, first reported the death.

The label broke the news on Facebook, stating, "R.I.P. Ectovoid's Michael Stewart. Such a tragic loss." Stewart died on March 23 and Encyclopaedia Metallum lists "epilepsy induced asphyxiation" as his cause of death. Services were held over the weekend and his obituary seen on Dignity Memorial reads,

Michael James Stewart (23) passed away March 23, 2016. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama and grew up in Irondale. Michael ("Stew" to all of his friends) was loved by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. He was always a kid at heart, making people laugh and enjoyed being the "life of the party," but also was a respectful loving son, brother, nephew, and friend. He was always the "peacemaker." Michael's passion was music, and he played the guitar from a very early age. He was a member of the band Ectovoid from the age of 14 years old. He will be dearly missed by all, but his memory will live on with us forever.
Michael is survived by his mother and step-father Jayne Bryant Granger and Curt Granger, his father and step-mother Rick Stewart and Laura Anderson, his older brother Bryant Stewart, and his step-sisters Stacey Granger and Beth Maples - as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins. He is preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents and several close friends.

Ectovoid have released two albums to date, 2012's Fractured in the Timeless Abyss and 2015's Dark Abstraction. The latter is set to receive a vinyl reissue today (March 28) on Blood Harvest Records, which can be purchased here. The band plays a pummeling brand of old school death metal, aligning themselves with acts like Grave and Incantation. Stewart was the sole guitarist in the group, rounding out the power trio. The axeman had also contributed his talents to Bloated Carcass and Condukator.

Loudwire extends their deepest condolences to Michael Stewart's family, bandmates and friends.

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