ARCH ENEMY have checked in from Japan, where they played two special last-minute shows at the intimate Astro Hall venue in Harajuku, Tokyo when their April 21st appearance at the Ax-Mayhem Festival in Korea was cancelled:

"Thank you Japan! The Japanese Khaos Tour 2012 will be an unforgettable memory for us. We loved every minute of it, on stage and off stage! It has been wonderful to meet so many of you in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. Please stay strong, stay proud, stay metal until we will be back :-)

Thank you for all your kind words, your presence, your gifts, your passion. You are truly wonderful!"

Fan-filmed footage from the band's April 20th show is available below:

Arch Enemy's schedule is now as follows:

April

24 - Chin Woo Stadium (Hall) - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
26 - Diablo Open Air 2012 - Singapore
28 - Pulp Summer Slam 12 - Manila, Philippines
30 - Manning Bar - Sydney, Australia
31 - Billboard The Venue - Melbourne, Australia

June

28 - Peace and Love Festival - Borlänge, Sweden
30 - Dokk'em Open Air - Dokkum, Netherlands

July

13 - Bang Your Head Festival - Balingen, Germany
14 - Rock Harz Open Air - Ballenstedt, Germany
15 - Masters Of Rock - Vizovice, Czech Republic
18 - Hegyalja Fesztival - Tokaj Rakamaz, Hungary
20 - Devilside - Oberhausen, Germany

August

4 - Vagos Open Air - Vagos, Portugal

October

20 - Metal Female Voices Fest - Wieze, Belgium
21 - Le Bataclan - Paris, France
23 - Totem - Pamplona, Spain
25 - Capitol - Santiago de Compostela, Spain
26 - La Riviera - Madrid, Spain
27 - Razzmatazz 2 - Barcelona, Spain

As previously reported, Arch Enemy recently parted ways with guitarist Christopher Amott in an amicable split. Christopher Amott was a member of the band between 1996 - 2005, and again between 2007 - 2011.

Following is a joint statement by Arch Enemy: ”We thank Christopher for the time he’s worked with the band and of course wish him the very best in his future endeavours.Thankfully, there is no drama behind the scenes here. This is the best way forward for all involved. Christopher simply isn’t into playing extreme metal anymore. We have already chosen and rehearsed with a new guitar player and we will complete the Khaos Legions 2012 touring cycle as planned. We are highly motivated and look forward to continue spreading our music around the world! Finally, our deepest thanks go to the Arch Enemy fans, whose amazing support and belief inspires us ever onward.”

Arch Enemy are pleased to welcome 26 year old American guitarist Nick Cordle on board as they continue their touring activity following the release of their recent Khaos Legions (2011) album.

Founding guitarist Michael Amott comments: ”Nick was my first choice as he ticks all the right boxes for Arch Enemy with his musicality and technicality as well as his personality and dedication. Looking forward to having him join us stage, the rehearsals have shown we have a devastating twin axe attack going on!”

Nick Cordle was raised in a musical family in Virginia by parents who teach classical piano and was immersed in 19th century piano music as a child. Rachmaninoff, Brahms, and Liszt are his early memories. There were piano and violin lessons from a very early age but a rebellious streak led to the guitar at the age of 10, and within a few years he discovered the classic thrash metal albums by MEGADETH, METALLICA, and SLAYER. This was his first real musical passion and gateway into extreme music.

Nick studied jazz and music theory at the University of Virginia from 2003 to 2007 but remains self taught in the ways of ”shred” and metal. Shortly thereafter, he joined American death metal band ARSIS playing bass and guitar over a three year period performing with them on various European tours and countless gigs across the US, Canada, and Mexico as well as performing and writing on their most recent album Starve For The Devil (2010).