Canadian true/traditional metal band SAVAGE BLADE have issued the following update:

"Hey Savage Maniacs!

We’ve got some more big, fresh news for you all… after a little shakeup this spring, we’re excited to announce the addition of our new guitarist, Marc-Andre Hamelin. With some serious guitar skill, serious motivation, and just the right amount of a 'not-so-serious' attitude, Marc has proven to be the perfect fit for the Blade as we forge ahead in our mission to deliver true, Canadian metal to those who seek it – wherever we may roam.

Marc-Andre Hamelin developed his unique guitar style from influences such as ANNIHILATOR, RUSH, METALLICA, DEEP PURPLE and IRON MAIDEN. While growing up in the northern city of Whitehorse, Yukon, Marc-Andre found his passion for playing guitar and began his musical career by diving right into the northern music festival circuit. He found success with previous bands PRO DECIBEL and HAMMERHEAD with which he recorded three albums and toured in western Canada. In 2007 he moved to Nelson, BC to continue to tour and record music, as well as study studio/live engineering.

Marc will be making his live debut with the Blade on May 28th, 2011 at the SpiritBar in our hometown of Nelson, BC. See ya’ll there… in the meantime, check out Marc’s official introduction on Video Update Vol. II.

We’d like to thank Mike 'The Gretl' Hodsall for his tour of duty with the Blade, and wish him all the best in his newest projects – a PANTERA tribute band, and his original deep-groove funk act, CIRCLE THE WAGONS."

As previously reported, Savage Blade recently descended upon Serpico Audio Studios in Nelson, BC to begin recording final vocal tracks for their forthcoming release, entitled Angel Museum.

This will be the band’s second full-length album, following up on 2009's We Are The Hammer. Although firmly entrenched in the same classic sound and style of their first release, Angel Museum signals a growth in the band’s collaborative songwriting, arrangement and production efforts. Intense, progressive, thrashy, epic. Although no official date has been set, the band are on track to have the album completed and ready for release during the summer of 2011.