ANCIENT RITES drummer Walter van Cortenberg has died at the age of 51. The Belgian drummer reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack. Walter van Cortenberg was in the band for 30 years, since 1991. He played on all 6 albums of the band. He was also credited as song writer on the 1994 debut album ‘the Diabolic Serenades’, for the songs ‘Crucifixion Justified (Roman Supremacy)’ and ‘Last Rites / Echoes of Melancholy (Outro)’. He died on March 16th.