German epic metallers BLIND GUARDIAN have announced a replacement for drummer Thomen Stauch, who left the band in April after 20 years. The new man behind the kit is fellow German Frederik Ehmke, so far fairly unknown in the world of Metal.

The production of BLIND GUARDIAN's debut on NUCLEAR BLAST will start soon with the help of Charlie Bauerfeind. No album title has been set as of yet, but it looks like there will be a total of ten songs. Some working titles, which might be kept, are: 'Carry The Blessed Home', 'The Edge', 'In Search For The Lionheart', 'Market Square', 'Another Stranger Me', and 'Otherland'. The release of the first single is planned for February 2006, the album will follow in April, before the band embarks on an European tour in September.

Here is news update from BLIND GUARDIAN Hansi Kursch.

"A Happy New Year to everyone! Though you have not heard a lot from us during the last months we have not been lazy at all. There are a lot of things going on at the moment. Just to mention a few: the Demons and Wizards production is making good progress and the same can be said about the songwriting for the next Blind Guardian album which is at a very important point.

Andrй and I have completed 5 songs for the new album and 10 songs for the orchestral project. Yesterday, we had a meeting with Charlie Bauerfeind (who is going to produce both albums) during which we have set up a rough schedule for the next months. We definitely will start the production within the year and it won't take as much time to accomplish it as it did with "A Night at the Opera".

With regards to the next Demons and Wizards album I am happy to tell you that 5 songs have been mixed for it already and that there are 7 more to go. How many of them we are going to use for the regular album and how many we will use as bonus material I can ґt tell you right now. There are 11 Schaffer/Kьrsch songs and one cover tune. We will be done with everything mid February. The album surely will be released in late spring, or early summer. I am very pleased with the songs and so is Jon. My favourite tune at the moment is called "Touched by the Crimson King". We have not spoken about an album title yet but have to make a decision rather soon. I will let you know.

Hansi"