Florida metallers TRIVIUM have announced Nick Augusto as their new permanent drummer. Augusto was introduced to TRIVIUM fans when he filled in behind the kit on last fall’s “Into the Mouth of Hell We Tour” trek. He is now stepping in to permanently replace the departing Travis Smith.

Vocalist/guitarist Matt Heafy commented, “We’re really happy to have our good friend and fellow Floridian Nick Augusto join the TRIVIUM family. Nick’s drumming is very technical and diverse and he brings a real intense energy to the band and we can’t wait for everyone to hear the new song, ‘Shattering the Skies Above’, that we just recorded with Nick. I think it’s the best TRIVIUM recording we’ve ever done; it’s raw, full of energy and I think Nick’s drumming really pushed us to a new level.”

Smith sat out the second leg of the band’s North American “Into The Mouth Of Hell” tour in order to take care of “some personal business” at home.

The always-industrious TRIVIUM is wasting no time in the wake of this line up shift and is staying busy as it works its new skinsman into the fold. The band has recorded two brand new tracks: the aforementioned “Shattering the Skies Above” will appear on the forthcoming, digital-only “God of War Blood & Metal” EP, as well as a cover of SEPULTURA’s “Slave New World”.

The band will also head right back out on the road, embarking on a tour of Asia, New Zealand, Australia and the U.K., which kicks off February 11, in Jakarta, Indoensia and runs through March 24 in England. This will be the band’s final tour dates in support of 2008’s “Shogun”. Once the tour ends, the band will head back to the studio to work on their next album for Roadrunner Records.

Video footage of the band and their new drummer recording “Shattering the Skies Above” can be viewed here.

Source: www.blabbermouth.net