Cleveland, Ohio based traditional metallers LICK THE BLADE have parted ways with original drummer Greg Behnke (pictured below). John Arkey will temporarily fill the position until a permanent replacement can be found. Arkey plays drums in a heavy metal cover band, VERTIGO, with LICK THE THE BLADE bassist Mike Kurtz.

Interested drummers can contact the band atlicktheblade@hotmail.com for auditions.

Behnke appeared on the band's Graveyard Of Empires debut album, released in 2009 on Auburn Records, and is one of the group's founding members. Lick The Blade was started in 2004 by Behnke and guitarists Tom Mowcomber and Chuck Cieslik.

Lick The Blade are currently writing material for their as yet untitled second album. A new song, 'Blood-Soaked Majesty', will be debuted at their November 24 Cleveland show supporting CRYPTKICKER at the Phantasy Nite Club in Lakewood, Ohio. Other upcoming shows in Cleveland include December 11 at the Beachland Ballroom for the Iron Ingo (Metal-Rules.de) festival and December 24 at the Cleveland Agora opening for ex-IRON MAIDEN vocalist Paul Di'Anno.

VHI Classic's That Metal Show co-host Don Jamison recently commented on the band's debut Graveyard Of Empires album: "Reminded me of listening to IRON MAIDEN's Killers for the first time. Recommended for fans like me of New Wave Of British Heavy Metal-style bands."

Lick The Blade were honored in the Best Metal Band category in Cleveland Scene magazine's annual 2010 Cleveland Music Awards. Each year the awards honor the best and brightest musical talent Northeast Ohio has to offer.

The band performed in Germany at the 2009 Headbangers Open Air festival.