American melodic black metallers Wayfarer are facing major lineup changes. The founding member Tanner Rezabek is out of the band and so is bassist James Hansen. You can read all about it below.

Here's their statement: "Today, we raise a cheer to Tanner Rezabek, our guitarist, vocalist, founding member of Wayfarer, and our best friend. This has been an important year for the band, and with that has come a shift toward becoming much more of a full time endeavor as a recording and touring band. While this is a very exciting prospect for the future of Wayfarer, it of course brings a dynamic shift inside of the band itself. The life of a full time/touring band is not for everyone, as it can often come at great sacrifice in other realms of one's life.

"For this reason, as has been known within the band for sometime, Tanner has made the decision to step back from the band due to his own schedule in order to allow us to pursue elevating the band to the highest level we can. While it is sad for us to be hitting the road and moving forward without one of our members who has been there since the inception of the band, we do so with complete understanding and respect of his position, and on the best of terms. Tanner was always an integral part of Wayfarer, and the doors are always open to him in our camp, as the future may certainly see his involvement in the band in different ways.

"Tanner is an incredible musician, as well as being one of the most stand-up characters one may have the pleasure of coming across in their lives. Wayfarer had its beginnings as an off and on project of Tanner and Shane from as early as 2007, as two high school best friends exchanging metal riffs, aiming to create something that harkened to heroes such as Enslaved, Primordial and all the others that had such impact to two Colorado kids who wanted to start a band.

"When the project took its first steps toward becoming a band instead of a high school dream, it was Tanner and Shane writing and recording a 4 song demo/EP with current bassist/guitarist Joey Truscelli at his home studio in 2011. The demo featured compositions from both musicians, as well as contributions on bass from Joey and drums programmed by all three involved. It was this demo that led to the formation of the band in 2012 after its completion and subsequent joining of Isaac on drums and now departed bass player James Hansen. The rest speaks for itself from there, as the band would go on to record two full length albums, sign with Prosthetic, and embark on several tours across North America, with Tanner writing music and playing guitar and vocals all the while.

"We are sad to say goodbye, but hold nothing but fond memories of creating all of this with Tanner among our ranks, and give him the deepest thanks for everything he brought as a musician, and as a good guy to be around, polishing off kegs of beer in the mountains and being the only one who knows how to back up a trailer. We would not be what we are without him. As far as the band now, our longtime member and collaborator Joey will be moving to playing guitar full time, as this is his first instrument anyway and he has played circles around all of us this whole time. We are excited to have him in this new role as he can really let his incredible talent and scope of musicianship flourish here. Drew McCutcheon of Circle of Beings will be handling bass for the upcoming US tour. Wayfarer has big plans for music and touring in the coming times, and are excited to finally dive in full speed ahead and make this into everything it can be.

"But in the meantime, we again raise a cheer to an excellent guitarist and the best man you could ever meet, Tanner Rezabek, and to so many years of building this ship together. Thank you Tanner. Wayfarer//2016 (All Burns Down To Grow Anew.)"

Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Wayfarer