Sometimes – albeit very, very rarely – it can suck working for Thrash Hits. Sometimes you get wind of a piece of news that you really, really want to share with the world, but for certain behind-the-scenes reasons, you just can’t. Say – for example – when the vocalist of a band that one of our columnists just happens to be a guitarist of decides he is leaving the band. Which – coincidentally – has just happened with Dan Tompkins, the now-former vocalist for everyone’s favourite djent pioneers, TesseracT.

Today the band “officially” confirmed what the internet rumour mill has been saying for the past couple of days – that Elliot Coleman, of Sky Eats Airplane, Of Man Not Of Machine, and Zelliack, will be taking over on vocal duties. Here’s what Dan Tompkins had to say as to why he felt now was the time to quit TesseracT:

“It is with a heavy heart that I must announce I am leaving TesseracT. This has been the most difficult decision I have had to make in my career as a singer. My priorities in life have changed and as such I can no longer continue with the band. Our friendships are strong and I wish to thank Acle, Mos, Jay and James for all their support and dedication over the past few years. We have achieved great things, travelled the world and met many incredible people and I stand proud to say that I have been a part of the band’s success and helped to carve a wonderful album. I will hold onto these memories for the rest of my life. It has been an incredible journey and it is certainly not the end for myself or TesseracT. I look forward to new beginnings and wish my good friends all the very best for the future.”

Officially, Dan has left to “pursue other live priorities”. We’ve heard a few rumours about what those exact priorities are, but once again we find ourselves encroaching on the “stuff we know that we’re not supposed to yet” file. And who knows, maybe if you’ve been paying particularly close attention to some of the more unexpected opinion pieces to appear on Thrash Hits over the Summer, you might be able to sniff out a small hint of what they might be.

Anyhow, this is what TesseracT bassist, Amos Williams, had this to say about Dan’s replacement:

“We’d like to take this opportunity to introduce somebody special, Elliot Coleman. Some of you may know him as a member of Zelliack, Sky Eats Airplane and Of Legends, or maybe from OMNOM, or Haunted Shores. Well now he’s part of TesseracT! We’re very excited about working with Elliot as we feel he has a great talent and personality, as well as, and most importantly a voice that transcends the norm and continues the TesseracT tradition of taking things to the next level.”

Watch Elliot Coleman perform with TesseracT in Milton Keynes last Saturday:

And as for Mr Coleman himself? We’ve lazily cut’n'pasted what he had to say for the press release too!

“I’m very much excited to be a part of the juggernaut that is TesseracT. I know I have big shoes to fill as Dan is a fantastic vocalist, but i’m confident that we’ll be producing some great new music in the coming year and i’ll be adding some new flavours to this ever evolving machine”

Obviously, the internet has been throwing a collective shitfit ever since Elliot’s performance with the band on Saturday night, throwing idle speculation about TesseracT’s Facebook wall with the wild abandon of a gaggle of pissed-up bridemaids let loose in a confetti factory. Rather than weigh in on the debate, TesseracT have already set about writing the follow-up to their magnificent debut album, One.

If all this bickering and gossip-mongering has got you in the mood to check out what the Elliot Coleman-fronted version of TesseracT sounds like, the band are heading out on their ‘Lowering The Tone’ tour throughout Europe in September and October, with Chimp Spanner and Uneven Structure in tow. After that they’re heading back out to the grand ol’ US of A for the ‘Saints and Sinners’ tour alongside Between The Buried and Me and Animals as Leaders. See? No matter what side of the Atlantic you’re on, you’ll get a chance to see them soon enough.