In celebration of his 25th year in music, author and veteran drummer Joel Gausten (PIGFACE, ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN, THE UNDEAD, EFFECTIONHATE) has issued his first-ever solo release, Snake Bite Blues, available as a free download at GaustenBooks.com.

Gausten is joined on the experimental five-song EP by former Public Image Ltd (PiL) bassist Pete Jones, classical guitarist Sonny Bellavance and keyboardist Shannon Gausten (Effectionhate), with additional percussion supplied by Keith LeBlanc (TACKHEAD / MINISTRY). Instruments on the free-form collection range from the conventional (bass, acoustic guitar) to the surreal (running water, flesh).

"The music on this EP is like nothing I’ve ever done before," Gausten says. "With this project, I indulged my interests in experimentation. The sounds on

this release are sometimes similar to what you might expect to hear on a THROBBING GRISTLE or early Pigface album - but mixed with some very melodic surprises along the way, courtesy of the guest musicians who so graciously contributed their time and talents."

A drummer since age 9, Gausten has appeared on nearly 60 albums, EPs and internationally-distributed compilations with such acts as Electric Frankenstein, The Undead, THE SIXTH CHAMBER, BROKEN HEROES and THE GRAVEYAED SCHOOL. He was a sporadic member of The Undead from 1998 to 2008. In 2001, he performed as a member of Pigface alongside Martin Atkins (KILLING JOKE), Chris Connelly (REVOLTING COCKS), Charles Levi (MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL CULT) and Chris Haskett (ROLLINS BAND). In 1995, he rehearsed with the MISFITS as a fill-in drummer and later appeared on a number of Misfits bootlegs recorded during these rehearsal sessions. He is currently a member of the electronic project, Effectionhate.

Gausten's books include Tales of Horror: The History Of The Misfits & The Undead, and From Satan to Sabbath: The Metal Interviews 2000-2009. Gausten's upcoming books include Rock ‘N’ Roll Monster: The Rik L Rik Story and Albums That (Should've) Changed the World. He was also a contributor to/editor for Martin Atkins' best-selling 2007 book, Tour:Smart, alongside such notables as Henry Rollins and Steve Albini.

Gausten currently hosts a bi-weekly online radio show, Glory Is Noise, which features an eclectic mix of music and interviews with such artists as Bill Ward (BLACK SABBATH), Bob Daisley (RAINBOW / OZZY OSBOURNE) and Steve Zing (DANZIG), among many others.