Bloodbath Parts Ways With Dan Swano

Swedish death metal supergroup BLOODBATH has issued the following update:

"Dan Swanö is no longer part of BLOODBATH. The reason being restrictions on his behalf to devote more time and effort to the future of this project that it would require by taking things to the next level i.e. touring and playing live. Moreover, his future vision for BLOODBATH's concept proved to head in the almost opposite direction as his desire for death metal was to be of a less brutal kind, something the remaining members regard as musical differences not interesting to pursue, so at these crossroads, we'd like to wish Dan Swanö good luck with his future endavours and with the music that's closer to his heart. The audition for BLOODBATH is closed. We thank everyone who tried out, but it's with dashing hopes we have to announce there's no suitable replacement that matched our expectations. It was surprising, how so many applications could barely be listened to because of the extreme low quality in talent. We found it shocking to say the least, that same applicants would send us emails claiming they 'killed' both of our previous singers, but all they could achieve at the end of the day was our laughs or sighs. Well, one day we can maybe throw together a little compilation of those efforts and put up an exclusive mp3 right here and you'll be the judge, or have a good laugh or sigh, like us! But this doesn't mean all the applications were bad, actually a couple of them were damn fucking good, but criterias on other levels failed. Life goes on and so does death!"

"Wacken will soon release their annual DVD, but despite what was previously implied, the song 'Eaten' will not be featured on the 2005 edition. The entire footage of the show remains archived until there's been clearances by all parties, a subject to time."

For more information, visit Bloodbath.biz.

Dan Swanö has posted the following message on his official forum regarding the split:

"I figured there would be a lot of questions circulating about 'me out of BLOODBATH' so I just would like to make a few comments before the rumours kicks in.

I received an email from Blakkheim today where I saw that my services as a member of BLOODBATH were no longer required.

"I must admit I didn't see that one coming!! But... I can totally see what the other guys are thinking about. (Tried to do the same to the EDGE OF SANITY guys in '97... but that one backfired pretty badly... ha, ha!!)

"Blakkheim and Jonas are touring musicians, living off their metal and I would just be 'in their way' with the constant, 'Sorry I can't go on tour because bla bla bla,' that's cool.

"Concerning the musical differences, I am a bit confused. As far as I can remember, I haven't even discussed the direction of my future BLOODBATH tracks. The announcement says that I tried to get BLOODBATH in a 'Moontower'/'Crimson' direction... That is not right... I have toyed with the idea to make a new album, using my own name, and revisit the style of those albums... Oh yes... What is a bit funny is that I actually wanted to write a bit more brutal songs for BLOODBATH the next time. I got inspired by working with the COLDWORKER album and the urge to write some complex, fast fucken brutal death came creeping back. (I have not always written 'TRL' death metal, you know... INFESTDEAD and some of the early EDGE OF SANITY material is kind of brutal, isn't it???)

"Anyway. I just wanted to clarify that I was NOT trying to pussify BLOODBATH and therefore got kicked out... Where this rumour came from and how the guys (without asking) just decided that I was on a different level musically... remains a mystery.

"I wish the guys all the best and hope they ask nice if they can play my songs live for you guys."

BLOODBATH's latest album, "Nightmares Made Flesh", received a U.S. release in March 2005 via Century Media Records. Due to the long gap between the European and North American release dates, the American version was enhanced with two bonus songs taken from a previously unreleased demo recording of "Breeding Death" EP, as well as a different front cover, featuring artwork by Wes Benscoter.

Source: Blabbermouth