INTO ETERNITY Touring Without Founding Guitarist TIM ROTH

Canadian extreme progressive metal quintet INTO ETERNITY — whose new album, "The Incurable Tragedy", debuted at #17 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart last week — return to the road this weekend, when they kick off a string of dates alongside ICED EARTH. However, the band's founding guitarist/principal songwriter Tim Roth is unable to participate in the tour.

The group has issued the following statement to explain matters further: "All of us in the band, and especially Tim, have been looking forward to this tour with ICED EARTH for months. Over the years, ICED EARTH has been a huge influence on INTO ETERNITY, as anyone who owns 'Dead or Dreaming' [the group's second album, which features a picture of Tim wearing an ICED EARTH t-shirt] knows.

"Unfortunately, the events of the past two years have recently taken their toll on Tim. Emotionally, he's a rock, but there are some important legal, financial and family-related matters at home that he needs to take care of right now. However, he's given us his blessing to do the tour without him so we can honor our commitments to our fans (who won't get a refund if the support act cancels),and continue to promote an album that we all very much believe in.

"Luckily, Sean Maier from our labelmates BLESSED BY A BROKEN HEART has agreed to fill in on super-short notice. From what we've seen and heard on his MySpace, Sean's an amazing shredder, and we can't thank him enough for stepping in. Meanwhile, Stu is going to do his best to handle all of Tim's vocal parts, as well as his own. The vocal harmonies won't be as rich, but Stu vows to do the best he can.

"Please know and understand that INTO ETERNITY's lineup is not changing, and that Tim will rejoin the group on tour as soon as humanly possible. Again, it's not that Tim doesn't want to do this tour; it's just that he can't right now. Over the last three years, Tim has led INTO ETERNITY through 300+ shows with death metal bands, power metal bands, prog-metal bands, metalcore bands and everything in between. We'll miss him out there, but the show must go on.

"Thanks again to all the fans around the world who picked up 'The Incurable Tragedy'. We weren't sure how people would respond to such an emotional roller coaster, but we couldn't be more grateful for our fans' continued support. We can't wait to see you all on tour."

Visit www.myspace.com/officialintoeternity to view their complete touring itinerary.

"The Incurable Tragedy", the fifth full-length album from INTO ETERNITY, sold 1,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"The Incurable Tragedy" is the first INTO ETERNITY album to feature Justin Bender (guitar) and Steve Bolognese (drums),who came aboard shortly after the group finished Gigantour in 2006.

The group recently shot a video for the song "Time Immemorial" with acclaimed director Craig Bernard (THEORY OF A DEADMAN).

HardTimes.ca recently conducted an interview with Tim Roth. Watch the 10-minute chat below.