Update, 4:38 p.m.: The band have confirmed Butler’s departure via Facebook:

VEIL OF MAYA has parted ways with vocalist Brandon Butler. Currently we are hard at work on our new studio album and while the music is almost finished, the hunt for a new vocalist is now on. We are very excited with how well this album is turning out and cannot wait to release it soon on Sumerian Records. We know that both our long-time AND new fans will be calling THIS their favorite Veil of Maya album of all time. We want to wish Brandon good luck with anything and everything that he does in the future and thank him for being a part of the band.

Original story follows below.

Vocalist Brandon Butler may have parted ways with Veil of Maya if the above screen cap from Butler’s Facebook page is to be believed (sent in by MS reader Jacob S.).

A request for comment sent to Veil of Maya’s label, Sumerian Records, has not been returned.

Brandon’s profile shows him holding a job at Cascade West Coatings, a painting contracting company in Snohomish, WA (outside Seattle). His profile picture shows him with a new, neatly cropped haircut. Of course it’s completely normal for members of bands to hold day jobs when they’re not touring, even bands as successful as Veil of Maya, but all of the above taken together makes it seem pretty likely that Butler is no longer the guy.

Butler was not the original vocalist for the band; Adam Clemans held the spot down until 2007, and later joined up with Iron Thrones.

If it is indeed true that Butler and the band have parted ways, I’ll be truly sad: the affected voice Butler takes for his between-song banter has become the stuff of legends, often mocked but rarely successfully imitated! Veil of Maya are scheduled to play Knotfest next month, so I’m sure they will issue an official statement on the matter soon enough.