Andrzej "Quack" Kulakowski, former guitarist of Polish death metal band HATE, has died at the age of 54. No cause of death has been publicly disclosed by his family or former bandmates. The metal community has shared tributes and condolences on social media, remembering him as a dedicated musician and a warm, generous personality who was always willing to help younger bands find their footing in the scene.
Kulakowski was a respected figure in the Polish extreme metal underground, contributing to HATE's development during a formative period in the band's history. HATE, founded in Warsaw in 1990 by vocalist and guitarist Adam "ATF Sinner" Buszko, have grown into one of Poland's foremost death metal acts over three decades. The band's sound evolved from raw, early-'90s death metal into a more blackened, technically demanding style that drew comparisons to BEHEMOTH and NILE. Kulakowski's guitar work during his tenure added a layer of aggression and precision that helped solidify the band's reputation in the European extreme metal circuit.
Poland has produced one of the world's most vibrant and respected death metal scenes, with bands like VADER, DECAPITATED, BEHEMOTH, and HATE leading the charge since the early 1990s. The country's extreme metal community is famously tight-knit, and the loss of Kulakowski has been felt deeply across the scene. Fellow Polish musicians, including members of VADER and DECAPITATED, have posted heartfelt remembrances.
HATE remain active and continue to tour and record, with their most recent album "Rugia" (2021) earning strong reviews from critics and fans alike. The band's current lineup carries forward the legacy that musicians like Kulakowski helped build. Our sincere condolences go out to Kulakowski's family, friends, bandmates, and all who knew him.