Trivium frontman says drummer Travis Smith was fired over the phone

Guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy of Florida metallers Trivium spoke to Aol's Noisecreep about the departure of drummer Travis Smith and addition of Travis' replacement, former drum tech Nick Augusto (Maruta).

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.

Smith sat out the second leg of the tour in order to take care of "some personal business" at home.

"We were coming to the point where the band was - not necessarily dissolving - but dissolving in creativity and maybe in live fire and energy, so we had to make a change for the positive," Heafy told Noisecreep. "Thankfully, we were able to find Nick, who was able to step it up and really be that guy to take us to the next level."

He added, "We told [Travis] over the phone [that we were continuing with Augusto] and it was hard for everyone involved. But I hope it's going to be something Travis recognizes was for the better for him in years to come. For his own health and well-being as well and for our own. I heard that he's doing very well now and that's the best you can wish for. And we hope he does amazingly, no matter what he picks in life to do next."