Vocalist Sven De Caluwé of the extreme metal formation SYSTEM DIVIDE — featuring members of FEAR FACTORY and ABORTED — has released the following statement:

"It is with great regret we have to announce that SYSTEM DIVIDE has to drop off our north american tour with EPICA. Miri [Milman, SYSTEM DIVIDE co-vocalist and Sven's wife] already had to leave earlier due to a health emergency within the family and things have complicated further, so unfortunately, I have to make the decision to go back and support my wife and family in these hard times.

"We have pushed through as far as possible to make this work and appreciate the support of the fans that came to the shows to see SYSTEM DIVIDE.

"It has been an utmost privilege and pleasure to tour with EPICA. Not only are they great at what they do, they have been amazing people to be on the road with and they deserve everyone's support at the shows and respect.

"It is with great sadness in our hearts that we have to say bye to them today but hopefully our paths will cross again in the future. Our touring brothers in INSOMNIUM and ALESTORM as well, we will all miss you and see you again soon!

"We apologize to all the fans/promoters who were looking forward to see the band. We will do our utmost best to come back to North America and play our hearts out for you all as soon as possible. We will utilize the time now to write the best album we possibly can and return in 2013 with a vengeance!"

The official lyric video for "Ephemera", a brand new song from SYSTEM DIVIDE, can be seen below. The track's release serves as teaser for the band's upcoming second full-length album, due out on Metal Blade Records in 2013.

Commented Sven: "We are extremely excited to get this out. It has been amazing to see Pete transform this into the mastodon it turned out to be. This is, without a doubt, the most epic and challenging material the band has EVER worked on just the tip of the iceberg in regards to what we have in store for the second album. I hope people will be as excited about it as we are."

SYSTEM DIVIDE is:

Miri Milman: Vocals
Sven De Caluwé: Vocals
Mike Heller: Drums
Mendel Bij De Leij: Guitar
Andrei Aframov: Bass

SYSTEM DIVIDE's full-length debut, "The Conscious Sedation", was released on September 14, 2010 via Metal Blade Records.

Founded in summer 2008, SYSTEM DIVIDE set out to revolutionize the conventions of the over-saturated melodic death metal genre, proving that extreme metal can have more depth than blast beats, while female vocals do not have to conform to the precepts of the "goth" genre.

"Ephemera" lyric video: