PEGAZUS Split With Record Company, Bassist

Australia's PEGAZUS have officially parted ways with Nuclear Blast Records. "I guess it is something that we both (band and label) hoped would come to a close very soon anyway," the group write in their official newsletter. "In the past few years, it was very evident that we weren't getting the support or given the promotional push for our last two studio albums, 'Breaking The Chains' and 'The Headless Horseman', so it is definitely a great thing for the band to now be free and able to explore possibly better opportunities elsewhere in the near future.

"There is a positive side and that is that we recorded 3 great studio albums over the past 6 years that we are very proud of, with a well recognized and established label like Nuclear Blast, which has also been great for us in being able to reach so many thousand of you true friends and fans all over the world…that is definitely one of the most important and greatest achievements so far. Your fantastic support has always helped us with keeping the true heavy metal spirit alive within us all! We definitely appreciate the great opportunity we've had so far and we now really look forward to the challenge of continuing our true heavy metal crusade, when we start recording our next studio album in early 2004. We have already had some great interest shown from many other record labels, who are anxious to hear new songs for our next album, so we will definitely see what is around the corner over the next few months!"

In other news, PEGAZUS have announced the departure of bassist Hanny, who has opted to step aside "to concentrate on the heavy workload he has cut out for himself with his main passion of playing lead guitar in his main band BLACK MAJESTY," the group write. "We will definitely miss having Hanny around because we've had a hell of a lot of fun over the past 2 years gigging and we really do appreciate his help and support by filling in for us when we badly did need a bass player but most of all for his true friendship…a true brother of metal! We wish Hanny all the best in future and we will all no doubt be seeing him at future gigs, drinking, getting wasted and up at the front of the stage headbanging like crazy as usual!"

Hanny's last shows with PEGAZUS will take place on January 16-17 when the band are scheduled to headline both nights of the HeadBangers Ball 3 Festival. "These will definitely be the band's last live shows till around May 2004, as we will be very busy and hard at work, writing and recording for our next studio album."