THE FACELESS Parts Ways With Vocalist

Los Angeles-based progressive death metal titans THE FACELESS have parted ways with vocalist Derek Rydquist. In a statement to Lambgoat, Rydquist said about his exit from the group, "As you Internet sleuths have deduced, I have left THE FACELESS. I left the band a couple months ago, and we were waiting until they had everything sorted out on their end before saying anything about it, but I guess I'll take it upon myself to break the news. I am no longer emotionally or artistically fulfilled by being the vocalist for the group, and that's how I arrived at my decision.

"Touring's luster has worn off, and I have found myself reconsidering the role I would like to take in creating and presenting music. Also, being a 'professional musician' was kind of ruining my love for music because when you rely on this stuff to make you money, as with anything, it is easy to become bitter towards it. Not that it was all bad I had the best times I will ever have being in this band but it is time for me to move on.

"I'd like to thank the band and the friends I've made through the band for making this not only a life-altering experience, but a life-shaping one. There is an immense amount of talent in this band, and the new vocalist they have is doing a great job, so please keep supporting THE FACELESS. I can now join you in anticipating the new album.

"If you're interested, I'm now playing in another group with some dudes from some awesome bands. Check it out at [this location]. We're mixing the album right now, so we should have some music up soon."

According to Lambgoat, Geoff Ficco (KAMIKABE, ORGONE) has been taking care of the vocal duties in THE FACELESS for some of the band's most recent shows.

THE FACELESS recently re-signed with Sumerian Records. The band entered guitarist's Michael Keene's studio in March to begin recording its third album for a summer release. Keene described the band's forthcoming CD as "the most musical and progressive record we've made." He added, "Since recording 'Planetary Duality', the goals of THE FACELESS have changed a bit. You can still expect a fast, technical and blistering record, but I personally am less focused on a musical aesthetic and more on musicality and making an expressive, unique, moody and expansive record. Speed picking, flying double bass and skin melting guitar solos are certainly still in order. However, you can also expect more clean vocals with big harmonies, some unique instrumentation, dark moody passages, interesting keyboards, synth guitars, vocoder and sequenced segments. It's going to be the most focused and depressive FACELESS record to date."