Former IN FLAMES Guitarist JESPER STRÖMBLAD Sitting Out CYHRA Shows To Focus On Family

November 30, 2018

Guitarist Jesper Strömblad has announced that he will sit out CYHRA's live appearances for the remainder of 2018. He will be temporarily replaced by Marcus Sunesson from ENGEL.

The former IN FLAMES axeman explained in a statement: "Due to personal reasons concerning my family, I must step aside from CYHRA's current activities for the rest of the year. I need to focus on some personal matters, and my family's health. And therefore, I will not be able to give the band the 100% commitment that is needed.

"I'd appreciate a respect of my privacy during this special time.

"I am happy that our friend and great guitarist Marcus Sunesson from ENGEL can fill in for me for the upcoming CYHRA shows. Please welcome him in with open arms and give him the love and respect you all have given to me.

"Next year I'll be back with recharged heart and soul, and I can't wait to get back on the road to perform the songs from our new album that I am extremely proud of!

"I'll be back."

The other members of CYHRA added in a separate statement: "We are definitely going to miss our good friend Jesper while he takes some time away from the band. However, we know that he will return very soon, ready to unleash his killer riffs and melodies, and most-likely more tattooed than ever!

"Marcus has already done a few shows with us, and he has done an amazing job. We feel that he is already very much part of the CYHRA family.

"We have two shows left for this year (in Sweden; Eskilstuna on November 30th and Stockholm on December 1st) and those are going to be awesome as always.

"2019 will be a big year for us as our second album will be released, and we are planning to (FINALLY!) tour all over the world.

"Please come and have a good time and hang out with us.

"See you all on the road very soon!"

CYHRA recently finished recording its as-yet-untitled second album for an early 2019 release via Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to 2017's "Letters To Myself" was laid down at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark and will be mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE).

Regarding the songwriting process for CYHRA's upcoming album, vocalist Jake E told Dhaka Tribune: "I am the main lyricist, but on this album all the others have contributed with ideas as well. Euge [Valovirta, guitar; ex-SHINING] and Jesper are the ones between the solos but it's [the three of us] that usually write most of the songs. Euge has been doing a great job on songs on this album and Euge and I actually sat down and wrote three songs together for this album."

CYHRA's current lineup is completed by drummer Alex Landenburg (LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY).

In a recent interview with Metal Casino, Jake stated about how CYHRA approached the making of its second LP: "When we wrote the first songs [for the debut album], we were just sitting, jamming around, and we had no plans — we had no expectations from fans or labels or anything like that — and now we have. We've been touring a lot — we've been playing a lot of shows — and now we realize that, 'Oh, the new songs, we might have to think a little bit more about how are these songs gonna work out live.' So we continue the same road with this album as the last one — it's a natural progression, music-wise — but we've been putting a little bit more effort into having the songs work out in the live set."

According to Jake, one of the biggest differences between CYHRA's next disc and "Letters To Myself" is the fact that the band no longer has a bass player, having split with former IN FLAMES member Peter Iwers earlier in the year. "We actually have more or less decided — we don't know for the future — but right now, the bass is gonna be handled by Mr. ASUS, as we call him; that's our computer," Jake said.

"Letters To Myself" was recorded at Top Floor Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden.

CYHRA made its live debut in October 2017 at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland.

This past spring, CYHRA completed a successful North American tour opening for SABATON and KREATOR.

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