German thrashers Exumer have parted ways with guitarist H.K. The musician played his last show with the band at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Germany on July 13. The guitarist's departure has been an amicable one and he is said to have left the group for solely personal reasons.

Comments Exumer vocalist Mem V. Stein: “We were sad to let H.K. go after touring with him for the past three years and recording our comeback album in 2011. However, the thrashing must go on and we already have found a session guitarists who will accompany us to South and North America for our upcoming tour dates there. We will try our best to fulfill all our touring obligations and find a permanent second guitarist as soon as possible to ensure a band chemistry that will take Exumer to the next level."

Exumer's latest album, "Fire & Damnation", was released in April 2012 via Metal Blade Records. The 10-track Cd, which was recorded with renowned producer Waldemar Sorychta (Grip Inc., Therion, Sodom, Moonspell), "combines a punishing production with aggressive songwriting," according to a press release. "Exumer manages to capture the intensity and feel of the 1980s thrash metal gems and yet sound up to date on their latest output."

Formed in 1985 by Mem V. Stein and guitarist Ray Mensh, Exumer went on to release two albums (1986's "Possessed By Fire" and 1987's "Rising From The Sea") that are regarded as some of the most cult thrash metal releases ever to come out of Germany. Exumer was also one of the first thrash metal acts to capture exotic, foreign markets like Poland and Brazil, where their albums were domestically released in the 1980s. The subsequent tours that followed those releases secured the band live shows in front of thousands of fans and an unusually large following outside of Germany.

Plagued by lineup changes and internal turmoil, the band broke up in 1990, and did not perform live, with the exception of 2001 appearance at the prestigious Wacken Open Air festival, until 2009.

"Fire & Damnation" video: