In a move that was widely anticipated, ICED EARTH have now officially withdrawn from this year's installment of Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place Jul. 31-Aug. 2, 2003 in Wacken, Germany. Replacing ICED EARTH on the bill are none other than TWISTED SISTER.

The complete list of artists currently scheduled to appear the event is as follows:

ANCIENT RITES
ANNIHILATOR
ASSASSIN
CARPATHIAN FOREST
CIRCLE II CIRCLE
DARK AGE
DARKANE
DARK ANGEL
DARK FUNERAL
DEW-SCENTED
DIAMOND HEAD
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
DISMEMBER
EIDOLON
EXTREME NOISE TERROR
FREEDOM CALL
GAMMA RAY
HEAVENSHALLBURN
IN FLAMES
KATAKLYSM
LORDI
LOTTO KING KARL
MALEVOLENT CREATION
MASTERPLAN
METALIUM
NILE
ONKEL TOM
PRIMAL FEAR
RAGE
RAUNCHY
ROTTING CHRIST
RUNNING WILD
SENTENCED
SEVENTH ONE
SINISTER
SINNER
SLAYER
SOILWORK
SONATA ARCTICA
STRATOVARIUS
SUBWAY TO SALLY
TESTAMENT
THE ALMIGHTY PUNCHDRUNK
THE CROWN
THYRFING
TWISTED SISTER
TWISTED TOWER DIRE
VADER
VICTORY

ICED EARTH are currently on the lookout for a new frontman following the departure of Matt Barlow earlier in the month. A new album, titled "Glorious Burden", is due in late 2003/early 2004 through SPV/Steamhammer Records.

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