Due to a recently diagnosed injury, DIMMU BORGIR drummer Hellhammer will be unable to play drums for the band on the remaining festival dates this summer and the upcoming European tour with AMON AMARTH and HATESPHERE.

Hellhammer's x-ray confirmed a severe neck prolapse causing numbness in his right arm. He will be going into treatment soon and could - quite possibly - undergo corrective surgery.

Taking over drum duties for the upcoming shows will be Tony Laureano (NILE, ANGELCORPSE, AURORA BOREALIS), who played for Dimmu Borgir during the band's North American stint on OZZFest in 2004 and during festival performances throughout 2005.

Says Nuclear Blast Records, "We wish Hellhammer a swift and successful recovery!"