SENTENCED frontman Ville Laihiala has confirmed in an online posting that that he has taken over the lead vocal duties in his side-project POISONBLACK.

"Yes, it is true," Ville wrote. "It was not an easy decision to make but as I have the whole [second POISONBLACK] album in my head and I can already have a vision about the overall sound, the roughness that my throat produces is what the lyrics will need to come alive. And now I am just going to concentrate to record the next album with the band... Yes, I could've asked anyone with a rough voice [to join the band] but the thing is that I do not want [just] 'anyone' to do something that is important to me. And I truly think that I am the only person to [provide the] voice for the new songs."

POISONBLACK's debut album, 2003's "Escapextacy", featured the vocal talents of CHARON frontman Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto. Juha-Pekka's touring and recording commitments with his main band eventually forced him to quit POISONBLACK, but not before completing all the touring activities in support of the group's debut CD.

POISONBLACK's follow-up to "Escapextacy" is expected to surface later this year through Century Media Records.

Band profile:

Poisonblack