WITCHBREED Parts Ways With Singer, Seeks Replacement

WITCHBREED, the Portuguese metal band formed by bassist Ares (ex-MOONSPELL, DEEPSKIN) and guitarist Dikk (ex-DEEPSKIN),has parted ways with singer Ruby Roque (who is also a member of Sweden's THE PROJECT HATE).

Commented Roque: "As some of you might know, I left WITCHBREED due to my health that doesn't allow me to jump or bang my head until the other half of 2011. It wasn't fair for me to delay WITCHBREED's work so, they are now looking for a new singer. I am not leaving THE PROJECT HATE. I am with them as they are with me. As you know, THE PROJECT HATE don't tour, so it doesn’t affect my life with them and even if they did tour, after May, I will be ready to rock the stages again! So be prepared because Ruby and THE PROJECT HATE are forever! So in the first half of 2011 the album of THE PROJECT HATE will be out and you can still hear me make some serious damage!!"

The remaining members of WITCHBREED have released the following statement regarding Ruby's departure from the band:

"We are sorry to announce that due a very risky pregnancy Ruby was medical advised to stop all music activities that include physical effort of any kind; obviously that health comes first and we made the decision to put a break on WITCHBREED. Ruby let us knew about her serious health issues sometime ago when she was diagnosed with tumor/cancer which by the time was not prohibitive of any music activity. So we all carried on hoping everything would work fine for her. Unfortunately, now with her early pregnancy being at risk, she informed us that she really needed a healing break from music. For the rest of us (Ares, Dikk, Filipe and Hollow) the four guys behind the music of WITCHBREED, this is not a easy decision but it's probably the best and most human (!) decision we could make at this point, we wish Ruby all the best for her health and upcoming child. Having said that, we were eager to play all the live dates we had booked for the upcoming year as well as the most immediate gigs, including the show next Friday at the Hard Club in Oporto. We had high expectations for this show, being the first time we would play in Oporto for an apparent growing crowd and everything was ready for a very special night. The recordings for our sophomore would be next, the second WITCHBREED album is half way finished and will have to be put on hold a well.

"As for the future, this is not meant to be a 'Ba(n)d Ending' statement of any kind. The four of us (Ares, Dikk, Filipe and Hollow) are already working on new material and are now looking for a vocalist (male or female) to complete this new cycle. So anyone interested in fronting an heavy, dark and mystic unit please get in touch!! We are ready to go in studio and blast on recordings and live shows, we are interested in hearing from devoted artists with an ambitious spirit who feel have something to say through lyrics and stage presence."

An e-card for "Heretic Rapture", the debut album from WITCHBREED, is available at this location.

"Heretic Rapture" was released in June 2009 via Ascendance Records. The CD was produced, mixed and mastered by Waldemar Sorychta, who has previously worked with LACUNA COIL, THE GATHERING, SAMAEL, TIAMAT and MOONSPELL, among many others.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/witchbreed.