Well apparently its over for good, below is Nicks statement on the matter...
"As you all know after yesterday's post here on Blabbermouth.net, I am with great disappointment and deep-filled sadness no longer involved in the making of the much-anticipated, eagerly awaited new TESTAMENT album, to be released on Nuclear Blast Records in the spring of 2008.
"Let me fill everyone in on my situation surrounding this and quash any rumours/speculations before the fork-tongued, venomous Blabber gossip-mongers start talking their usual shit.
"In July of this year, after returning back to the U.S. from a very enjoyable and successful appearance at Waldrock open-air [festival] (Burgum, Holland) I was refused entry into the United States (in Minneapolis en route to San Francisco) due to not having the appropriate visa required by an international artist/entertainer like myself which enables me to enter the country and do my thing, which, of course, in this case was to make music and perform on American soil.
"So that was pretty much why I was unfortunately not on the East Coast shows (Sounds Of The Underground, etc.) in late July and Paul Bostaph [ex-SLAYER, EXODUS, FORBIDDEN, SYSTEMATIC] stepped in.
"Due to the expense and processing/turn-around time required for such a visa under these circumstances, it is with regret simply impossible for me to be where I need to be right now (in California) with the TESTAMENT guys putting the finishing touches to the album/songs/drums and preparing to record. So it makes perfect sense all round to utilize the incredible services of drumming powerhouse Paul Bostaph who is already in the Bay Area, done time with TESTAMENT and is a longtime friend of the band.
"Paul is a phenomenal drummer and will absolutely deliver the goods ten-fold when it comes to the new record. He's also a good friend too and I wish him nothing but the best.
"YOU RULE, BRO!!!! Can't wait for the FORBIDDEN reunion too — I am SO there....
"On a closing note i would like to sincerely thank from the bottom my heart Chuck [Billy], Eric [Peterson], Alex [Skolnick], Greg [Christian] and all of the TESTA-crew for such a fantastic, fun-filled, very memorable time spent on the road and in the studio. It was truly an honor and a pleasure to share a stage with you guys and travel the four corners of the world (Australia, Brazil, China, Korea, U.S., Europe, etc) as your drummer and fellow comrade.
"I can honestly say to the Blabber readers out there that the new album is simply gonna kick major-league ass and will show all these wanna-be pretenders to the throne TESTAMENT IS THE REAL DEAL!!!!"
