UK black metallers HEATHEN DEITY have announced a “new” line up that will both record the forthcoming album, as well as tour live. “New” however is not quite the right description, as the band welcomes back into its ranks original guitarists Azrael (ETHEREAL FOREST) and Balen, and also drummer Sathan (PANTHEON I, ETHEREAL FOREST, TWISTED AUTUMN DARKNESS). Frontman and founder Dagon will temporarily take on bass duties in addition to vocals, until a permanent bass player can be found.

Work is progressing well on preparations for the new album, which had been delayed partly because of Azrael and Sathan’s move to Norway and partly because of an accident that left Dagon, a veteran of the UK black metal scene, with a severely fractured ankle, virtually house bound, and barely able to walk for more than a year. Now that he’s fully healed and with two steel plates and four bolts in his leg as a memento, the band are ready to record, and it is anticipated that this will take place both in the UK and Norway.

“It might seem a retrograde step to bring back the original members,” commented the vocalist, “but in this case their leaving was never anything to do with bad feelings or dissatisfaction within the band. Azrael, who has always co-written Heathen’s material with me, had to move to Norway to be with his family, whilst Balen had to leave the band because of some personal reasons that he needed to take care of. Sathan had also moved to Norway, and has been very active with PANTHEON I, so it was particularly gratifying that he wanted to work with Heathen as well. It’s great to have everyone back together. It feels like we were never apart to be honest.

"It’s true that the accident delayed the album considerably, but I believe that one shouldn’t waste time regretting anything in life, and if this series of set backs had not happened, then this line up would not have been involved, as it’s only now that everyone is free to work together again. This album will be the true essence of Heathen Deity. This time around we are going for a more raw sound than on the previous E.P, and you can be sure that even though some of the band live over in Norway now, Heathen Deity are still the essence of True English Black Metal, and this next release will prove it”.

Anyone interested in applying for the position of bass player should contact Heathen Deity through their MySpace page.