Nuclear Blast has announced the signing of EX DEO, the new band of KATAKLYSM mastermind Maurizio Iacono. Iacono has issued he following update:

"The first thing that comes to my mind is the end of another year and the entering of another: 2009. Time flies by my friends and I wish everyone a wonderful 2009 with less negativity than what 2008 brought. You know what they say, darkness is followed by light, and vice versa, a cycle of life.

In 2009, a band I’ve been waiting to launch for the longest time will finally see its light of day: Ex Deo. I’ve dabbled with this idea even at earlier times when Kataklysm's 2001 album Epic (The Poetry of War) and 2002’s Shadows & Dust were released. I was never able to fully carry it out the right way, that is, until now.

As Roman ancestors believed, once Jupiter (king of the gods, son of Saturn) made his rulings, it had to be followed. The time has now come, it is now your turn to follow the calling and witness the rise of this new blood: Ex Deo."

On January 11th, Ex Deo will premiere a new, demo version of the track 'Cry Havoc' from the upcoming debut album, Romulus, tentatively planned for a September 2009 release. The new album, Romulus, will be produced by J-f Dagenais (Kataklysm, MISERY INDEX , DESPISED ICON, MALEVOLENT CREATION) at JFD studios.

Maurizio comments: “I chose to debut the new track on January 11th because it is the day my father was born (he passed away a few years ago). My father was a disciple of Roman history and taught me many things throughout the years. I remember a time he said "Son, everything you see around you, our ancestors built the foundation for it. From the way the wars were fought to the democracy you live in…" and I have been fascinated by it ever since. For his soul looking over me and for the future of this project, I launch a new seed for Roma on the 11th of 2009. I promise something that is much needed in the scene today. It’s going to kick ass!”

Maurizio will be checking in regularly with studio blogs and the writing/recording progress starting February 1st. The new album, Romulus, is scheduled to be completed by mid March.

For more info visit www.myspace.com/exdeo.