BYZANTINE vocalist/rhythm guitarist Chris "OJ" Ojeda entered the studio earlier this year to begin recording his solo project - a cover album of late 80s and early 90s thrash metal songs that inspired him and his band mates to form Byzantine.

The cover album, to be recorded under the band name BLACK CAP MINER, is being tracked by longtime Byzantine producer/engineer Charles A. Fisher and mixed by Drew Mazurek. Ojeda is handling the rhythm section and vocals himself and will be featuring various lead guitarists to handle the lead guitar work.

An update now reads: "Thanks to all of the great submissions we have received for the guest guitarist contest but alas, there can only be one. Dave Cardwell (THOUGHTS BETRAYED) has been chosen to perform on Black Cap Miner's debut album entitled The Formative Years, due out early 2009. Thanks to all of the other guitarists who entered the contest as well. We really appreciate your interest!

Dave Cardwell will be highlighted alongside a great group of guitarists playing on the album, such as Tim Roth (INTO ETERNITY), Tony Rohrbough (Byzantine), Kyle McKnight (THREAT SIGNAL), Dave White (Sci-fi guitar), Jim Malone (ARSIS) and Matt Wolfe (Byzantine).

You can check out Dave's music at www.cardwellmusic.com.

Thanks guys and till then!!!"

"This is gonna be a blast!" OJ said in a previous update. "These are songs that I have dug for over 15 years and to have some of my good touring friends ripping it up on these songs with me will be a hoot! There will be some shredders on here for sure!"

The songs slated to be recorded are as follows: MEGADETH- 'The Conjuring', NUCLEAR ASSAULT - 'Brainwashed', ANNIHILATOR - 'Allison Hell', M.O.D - 'True Colors', TESTAMENT - 'Greenhouse Effect', WRATHCHILD AMERICA - 'Climbing The Walls', EXHORDER - 'Legions Of Death', KREATOR - 'People Of The Lie'.

Stay tuned for further updates. More info here.