Anglo-Chilean thrashers CRIMINAL have parted ways with Basque lead guitarist Olmo Cascallar.

Olmo is a great guy and an excellent guitar player, but there just wasn’t that special chemistry between him and the rest of us,” comments band leader Anton Reisenegger. “I am sure he will have a new project going soon and we wish him the best of luck with it.”

Cascallar played on the most recent CRIMINAL album, 2011’s “Akelarre”.

Now joining the CRIMINAL ranks is Chilean shredmaster Sergio Klein, who resides in Berlin, Germany. Klein has already gained recognition as a lead player with his band THE OUTSIDE and is also a guitar instructor. With him, CRIMINAL has already started working on material for a new album, tentatively due in late 2015.

Sergio‘s playing is absolutely phenomenal,” says Anton. “I haven’t heard such aggressive-yet-melodic-and-clear leads in a long time. He grew up listening to CRIMINAL so he understands 100 precent what the band is about, and I can’t deny that having another Chilean in the band again feels awesome. The new songs are coming out great; the creative venoms are really flowing.”

Klein had the following to say about joining CRIMINAL: “To say that I’m happy to play in CRIMINAL is an understatement. This is a band I’ve been a fan of since I was 14; I even have some autographs! I’ve played with the records since I started to play guitar, but what gets me more excited than anything is the really inspired work we achieve when we meet and write music together. I’m really looking forward to show you guys what we’ve been working on, it will burn your face off!”

Klein already played his first show with CRIMINAL at the Euskal Assault festival in Durango, Basque Country on March 13.

Photo credit: JoLi Studios

Fonte: Blabbermouth.net