Hi everybody,

I am very sad to say that I will be leaving the band. The main reason why I'm leaving the band is that I just graduated from college and I have a lot of student loans to pay off starting next year and since I'm pressed for time, pursuing a career as a full-time touring musician will not be a sufficient source of income for me. I've also realized over the past couple of years, I'm just not interested in playing this style of music anymore and if I'm not putting 100% of myself emotionally into performing music, I shouldn't at all really. However, for all you prospective drummers out there, you will be able to make a living doing this, just as long as you don't have thousands of dollars in loans to pay off. I am still great friends with everybody in the band and I will always be there to help them when they need it. Also, I am not leaving until we find a new drummer, so expect to see me with the band for the remainder of the year. So far, we are planning to have my last show be the CD release show for the new album, so please come out and support the band. Even with my departure, I know that the band will go far and reach new heights in the world of music, so The Subtle Way is not done melting faces.

Alright for all you drummers out there, here are the guidelines you must meet in order to become the new drummer:

1) Have experience (preferrably touring experience) with playing in a metal/hardcore/progressive band. Obviously, drums must be your primary instrument.

2) You must have music writing experience, so if youre insterested in different styles of music, that's definitely a plus.

3) You must be ready to tour for many months out of the year.

4) You must have good equipment:
-at least a 4 piece drumset
-functioning double bass pedal
-cymbals: Crashs, ride(s), china, hi hats, bell?
-road cases
-all of your limbs

5) Be a cool/chill dude/chick. We want a friend as well as a bandmate.

6) Live fairly close to fremont, CALIFORNIA and a car or another reliable form of transportation so when you're home, you can drive to practice.

7) Be able to play the following songs: The guard, The Perfect Lens, and This ain't no fashion show (a new song). If you can play all of those songs, you will have to learn all of our other songs...

If you meet all of these qualifications, please message us on our myspace. Please send us videos of you playing the songs and a freestyle video of you playing something.

Thanks to all of the fans we have made over the years, I really appreciate all of the support.

-Love,
Mike