Last week, amid rumors that Anthrax had split with frontman Dan Nelson rumors stirred by the cancellation of several European tour dates the band pulled a fast one. A statement was released saying it was Nelson's unexpected illness that prompted the nixing of three shows. On Tuesday, White Noise spent all day trying to find out what was going on, following a tip that a band "announcement" would be forthcoming. Now, we're getting the truth. Nelson wasn't sick at all. Instead, it turns out that the band was going through changes. It is the biggest metal news of the week, and it leads today's White Noise.

+ So, Dan Nelson is no longer Anthrax's frontman, as expected. The band issued a statement through its management yesterday, saying that Anthrax would be rejoined August 1 in Knebworth, England, at the Sonisphere festival with John Bush, who fronted the band from 1992 to 2005. The statement confirms Nelson's departure, meaning the band has to pull out of its U.S. dates with Slipknot, which were set for August and September. "Anthrax is already actively considering lead singer candidates, and looks forward to hitting the road before the end of the year," the statement concludes.

Nelson released his own statement on the matter, and says he was never "seriously ill or sick at all." He kept silent, on the advice of counsel, even though Anthrax's statements "hurt me tremendously. This statement misled fans, friends and family members into believing that I was seriously ill when I was not. I was not aware such a statement was being issued and it came as a total shock to me, as I'm sure it did to all of you. It was the other band members' decision to cancel the tour dates, not mine. I was ready, willing and able to do my job." His statement continues that, "after issuing the press release, the other band members decided, on their own accord, that I had 'resigned' from the band. I never resigned from the band.

"Even in view of this action and stance taken by the band, as late as [Tuesday] I made it clear that I was ready, willing and able to continue to fulfill my obligations," Nelson adds, before suggesting legal action could be taken. "After that offer was made, the most recent press release was issued which announced my 'confirmed' departure from the band. I was not aware of the contents of this release until after it was issued, nor was I aware that Anthrax was canceling the European and Slipknot tours. I regret any disappointment and confusion this situation has caused. I want to thank my loyal fans, family and friends for all their support and their many messages, emails and calls. My counsel has been instructed to take any and all appropriate actions to address this situation."

+ French metallers Gojira will be opening for Metallica this fall, but they've booked several headlining off-date shows with Zoroaster and the imposing Burst. They'll be playing September 21 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; September 22 in Baltimore; September 24 in Atlanta; September 25 in New Orleans; September 27 in Houston; October 2 in Orlando, Florida; October 5 in Knoxville, Tennessee; October 6 in St. Louis; October 7 in Milwaukee; and on October 10 in Mokena, Illinois.

+ We love Nile. The fact that the band is working on a new record excites us. Interviews with Nile frontman Karl Sanders about said album excite us more. Dude tells Exclaim! magazine that the recording process has been "grueling" and "exhausting," and that the record "has consumed 12 to 14 hours of my life every day since May. It's now July and we are fucking tired. And we got another month to go." What's the new stuff sounding like? "Musically, the new disc is unrelenting, overwhelming brutality, with lots of various Eastern influences. Lyrically, there are new and interesting influences from various Middle Eastern cultures."

+ Soundgarden haven't reunited, but the band is working on some new releases, guitarist Kim Thayil tells Rolling Stone. He says there's enough unreleased material to fill four albums, but that the band will most likely issue a box set and a B-sides release. But will the band every officially reunite? "People would have to want to," he says. "I think more importantly, tending to the merchandising catalog is something that would be satisfying for the band members and for the fans. I never say never ... but I'm not losing too much sleep over it, either."

+ Speaking of box sets, Cannibal Corpse have released their entire discography in one digital package on iTunes. According to Metal Blade Records, you'll get 16 albums and 196 songs (including live and demo cuts) for one incredibly low price of $99.99.

+ Glassjaw have been working on their comeback for years now. But finally, it seems we're getting closer to an actual release. They've completed work on a five-to-six song EP, and have booked a show with Brand New at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island on November 28. We can't wait.

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