Stefan “Pizza” Eriksson

Swedish heavy metallers CIVIL WAR have announced via their official Facebook page that two members have departed from the band, but balanced with that some good news about forthcoming album “Gods And Generals”, due for release in May on Napalm Records. Check their statement below:

“Good News and Bad News

Civil War:

From the Civil War camp we have some breaking news to report. Good and bad. Let’s take the good first:

A video to the song “Bay of Pigs” from the upcoming album “Gods and Generals” will be released within the next couple of weeks.

The bad news is that guitarplayer Oskar Montelius has decided to leave the band and that we have decided to part ways with bassplayer Stefan Pizza Eriksson.
Oskars last performance with the band is the upcoming video.

Here’s a statement from Oskar:

”Howdy!

I have come to the decision that I am leaving the band. I have lost the spark and I feel it’s no fun to play music anymore. I love hanging with the guys, but I’m not willing to put down the work it takes to be in a band. So it is the best for everyone involved that I quit. Maybe I will pick up the guitar in the future, maybe I won’t. I’m wishing the guys in the band the best of luck in the future, and a big hurrah to all of you fans for all these years!

Cheers!

//Oskar”

Civil War:

Thanks to Oskar and Stefan for what they have done for the band. We will not bring in any replacements.

Mullback, Myhr, Rikard, Patrik and Petrus is the band from now on and we can’t wait to present the video and the upcoming album to the world.

See you on the road,
/Civil War”

Civil War

Source: Blabbermouth.net

CIVIL WAR — the new Swedish metal band featuring former SABATON members Rikard Sundén (guitar), Daniel Mullback (drums), Daniel Mÿhr (keyboards) and Oskar Montelius (guitar) alongside singer Patrik Johansson (ASTRAL DOORS, LION’S SHARE) and bassist Stefan “Pizza” Eriksson (VOLTURYON) — will release its full-length debut, “The Killer Angels”, on June 11 via Despotz Records. The group states: “The album deals with a lot of stuff: heroes, traitors, battles and heavy metal….and yes: we have a song called ‘Gettysburg’.”

“The Killer Angels” track listing:

01. King Of The Sun
02. First To Fight
03. Saint Patrick’s Day
04. Rome Is Falling
05. Sons Of Avalon
06. I Will Rule The Universe
07. Lucifer’s Court
08. Brother Judas
09. My Own Worst Enemy
10. Gettysburg
11. March Across The Belts (bonus track)

A three-minute YouTube clip containing audio samples of the tracks that appear on the debut EP from CIVIL WAR can be found below. The CD was released on November 13, 2012 via Despotz Records.

According to Sundén, CIVIL WAR‘s sound is “more old-school hard rock,” with “a little less keyboards” than that of SABATON. He says, “With Patrik‘s vocals on top, it becomes a different thing, but there are some parallels [to our previous band].”

Regarding how CIVIL WAR came together, b>Mullback told the Swedish-language newspaper Dalarnas Tidningar (DT), “It came pretty naturally. We always thought Patrik had a good voice and he accepted our offer when we asked him to join the band.”

“I had no hesitation about getting involved,” Patrik said. “ASTRAL DOORS certainly has a solid fan base, but we are a little more underground. I see this as an opportunity to reach a wider audience.”

The four ex members of SABATON were never involved in the songwriting process with their former band since those duties were usually handled by vocalist Joakim Brodén. But in the new group, everyone is contributing ideas.

“This has been a reawakening of sorts,” Mÿhr said. “I have never been in a situation where there has been so much creativity.”

On the topic of whether CIVIL WAR will continue SABATON‘s tradition of focusing on war-related themes in its lyrics, Mÿhr said, “No, we won’t. Now the lyrics can be about anything. [CIVIL WAR was just] a good name that sounded good.”