After filling in since November, Cold guitarist Terry Balsamo has officially joined Evanescence as a replacement for departed axeman Ben Moody. Cold frontman Scooter Ward confirmed the news in a post on the band's official Web site. He also lashed back at Evanescence singer Amy Lee's recent comments that Cold's future is in jeopardy because Ward "is in and out of rehab and having real problems."

"So it's official," he wrote. "Terry has left us for Evanescence. I don't know why and I don't want to. I also don't know why Amy threw my life out there like she did. I never did anything but treat her with respect. But this is the life I choose and I understand not everything can be a secret. I just wish she would have let me tell my story when I was ready."

Ward adds that Cold will immediately begin its search for Balsamo's replacement and is hoping to begin work on a new album. The band's 2003 Geffen album "Year of the Spider" debuted at No. 3 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 458,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. Ward says the next single from the set will be "Wasted Years."

As for Evanescence, the group just began a 10-date tour of Japan, which runs through Feb. 1 in Tokyo. A North American tour with support from Default will kick off Feb. 11 in Los Angeles.