"It's been one of the hardest decisions of my life but I simply cannot commit to the kind of schedule the band deserves and requires so I decided to ask permission to step down from my post."

Iced Earth comments:

"Brent has been a valued member of the group for a long time. We thank him for his contributions, friendship and energy and wish him all the best for the future. We want to welcome Raphael with open arms and are expecting for our fans to give him the welcome he deserves."

In addition to live dates, the band's summer will also be spent recording and mixing the new studio album entitled 'Plagues of Babylon'. A headline tour for the new album will kick off in January 2014.