Ex-HAMMERFALL Bassist Explains Departure

Former HAMMERFALL bassist Magnus Rosén has issued a statement explaining his decision to leave the band. It reads as follows:

"Thanks to all the fans around the world who supported the band for 10 years. You all gave me very nice memories after all the concerts we did. It was a pleasure to get such a good audience like you guys! Without you we wouldn't be able to do record so many CDs and make so many tours as we did during the last 10 years. So thank you all.

"It's important for me to tell you that I loved every single second I had on stage during our concerts! To hear your voice, see your happy faces and hear your nice words really made my day!!! It was a pleasure to meet each one of you before and after the concerts, sign your CD, take pictures with you and shake your hands!
It was also very nice for me to use my fame to do my solo concerts for charity in countries like Peru, Chile and Brazil. With these concerts I got food and money for poor people and it was because of YOUR help! Also for supporting me during my bass clinics in schools and in other projects as music against violence and music against drugs! I believe it's very nice way to give and take.

"So it's time for me to be more creative in my career. That's the reason I left HAMMERFALL. So from now on I'll give myself a chance to write songs and be creative in bands that allow me to. The years are passing by fast and it is important for a musician to grow in the situation he is in!

"I hope that HAMMERFALL will find a nice and good bassist for you all. And I hope our fans will respect my choice!

"Anyway, be sure that I'll still be doing heavy metal! So keep your eyes open!"

HAMMERFALL recently extended its contract with Nuclear Blast Records for another six albums. The signing took place on January 31 before the band's concert at the Filharmonie in Filderstadt, Germany.

The Donzdorf, Germany-based Nuclear Blast originally signed HAMMERFALL ten years ago and released the group's debut album, "Glory to the Brave", in 1997.

HAMMERFALL's vampire-themed video for "Natural High", a track off their latest album, "Threshold", debuted in January on MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball". Watch the clip online at YouTube.com.

Known for dedicating themselves to preserving the genre of traditional heavy metal as inspired by metal's "golden era," HAMMERFALL was founded in 1993 by guitarist Oscar Dronjak and drummer Jesper Strömblad (now IN FLAMES' guitarist) in Gothenberg, Sweden. Drinking heavily from the well of high-octane twin-guitar work, clean vocal stylings, and classic-styled on-stage wardrobe, HAMMERFALL use the storytelling tradition to tell tales of honor and victory and to that end, band members have collaborated with the likes of Swedish Olympic athletes to the Swedish National Symphony Orchestra.