DUNGEON Part Ways With Bassist, Seek Replacement

Brendon "Dakk" McDonald, bassist for the Australian melodic power metal band DUNGEON, has quit the band due to "personal reasons." Dakk's official statement on the matter reads as follows:

"The decision [to leave DUNGEON] has not been an easy one — yet at the same time I feel that due to many factors I have no choice. To leave the band at such a critical stage is obviously a very hard decision for me (and some of you may well say very stupid!) as a life-long dream of mine is possibly about to manifest, though I believe in the long term this will best suit all involved.

"Whilst I won’t go into the fine detail of it all, let me just say that I am no longer enjoying being in DUNGEON off-stage — for many reasons.

"To everyone that has supported DUNGEON since I joined in 1999 — thank you so much… you are the ones that make playing in a band such as DUNGEON so magical. If everyone who plays in bands could feel what I feel on stage just once in their lifetime they would know success. To succeed in your dreams is to be living them in every moment, & every moment on stage with DUNGEON has been a realisation of my dreams. To the maniacs who are at the front of stage screaming their lungs out, and to those with raised fists & flying hair in the crowd. To those that sing along to the songs, & to those that cheer at the end of them all. To the people who ask for autographs, photos, or even for a bass pick ('Why!?' I keep asking — it's just one of my picks!?). To my friends & family in metal & in blood — thank you all so very sincerely for your love & patience. Thank you to the DUNGEON fans who have sweated as much as I have for the band. Thank you to my beautiful wife who gave up her dreams to be with me on this journey & to whom I will share another magical journey with the birth of our first child in July. Rest assured this is not the reason for me leaving.

"I’ll be around – lurking at metal shows somewhere in the crowd. I look forward to having a beer with you all some time soon.

"Thank you all for the years of enjoyment. I will miss each & every one of you, though as the mighty MEGADETH say in 'Et Tout le Monde', to the world, and to all my friends, I love you (but) I must go."

DUNGEON are currently seeking a replacement bassist, while using session bassists for recording and shows. The band recently spent time at R&R Recordings Studio working on two full-length albums: the follow-up to last year's "A Rise To Power" album, entitled "One Step Beyond", and a re-recording of their 1999 Australian debut, "Resurrection".