NARNIA Parts Ways With Singer

Swedish epic/melodic metallers NARNIA have issued the following update:

"We are sad to announce that Christian Liljegren has left NARNIA. Christian was NARNIA's singer for 12 years and he was also one of its founding members. The decision behind the split was a mutual agreement between Christian and the rest of the band. We understand that this comes as a surprise for most of you but we ask you for your understanding, prayers and support. We thank Christian for all the years we had together on the road, in the studio and for our friendship and we wish him the best for the future."

Christian's statemement regarding his departure from the group:

"I am very proud for the 12 years as vocalist/frontman for NARNIA and what God has done and still doing through the band. I felt for a long time that I needed to take a long break and I shared this with my friends and members of NARNIA. This is something I have felt since 2006 and it was a very hard decision to make because NARNIA is very big part of my life and it will always be. The others guys will continue and I will not stop them and I wish them the best of luck to continue the mission to spread the good news about Jesus Christ. I feel good and peaceful inside and it was a right decision to make for me in my life situation. I will continue to do music and run my record label CM Sweden / Rivel Records. I am also working on a new solo album in Swedish where I will do some NARNIA songs with Swedish lyrics. Concerts are planned but all is delayed because right now I need time to rest. You will hear my voice on some albums this year. The final studio album with DIVINEFIRE called 'Farewell' will be out June 20th and I am one of the vocalists on the second album release with the band 7 DAYS. I am forever thankful for all the memories I have had with CJ, Andreas and Andreas and all fantastic support and prayers from NARNIA fans all over the world. Please continue to support the band. I will also thank my manager and friend Rainer Mittelstdt at MCM Music for the great work for NARNIA and also Niclas and Frippe DOT Music in Sweden and, of course, all record labels who has released the NARNIA albums. I am very blessed to sing for my King and Saviour, Jesus Christ and I am looking forward for the future what God has planned for me.'

NARNIA recently began recording its sixth studio album with producer Fredrik Nordstrm (Studio Fredman).

NARNIA last year posted a newly recorded song, "In His Majesty's Service" on their MySpace page. The track was originally written and recorded by the Swedish band JERUSALEM back in 1985. NARNIA's version of the song is featured on the group's 10th-anniversary "best of" album, "Decade of Confession", which was released this past summer via Massacre Records.

NARNIA's most recent collection of all-new material, "Enter the Gate", was released in April 2006 via Massacre. The CD, which was released in Japan on March 23, 2006 via Attic Arcade/Gencross, was described by the band as "the most well-sounding and well-performed NARNIA album to date." The follow-up to 2003's "The Great Fall" features backing vocals by Mats Leven (THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, AT VANCE) and contains "the most melodic and catchy songs since 'Long Live the King' from the late '90s but in a brand new sound and approach," according to the band.

NARNIA performing at the Legends Of Rock festival on April 5, 2008 at Haus Ennepetal (community center) in Ennepetal, Germany: