it was not until 1999 when the classic leatherwolf line-up re-emerged with a celebrated reunion show at the galaxy theater in santa ana, ca, documented on the "wide open" live album that featured 14 of the band's best songs as well as a cover of the doors' "break on through". leatherwolf also made their return to europe with an exclusive show the at wacken open air festival in germany that same year. further activities remained few and far between, and michael olivieri announced his departure in the spring of 2003 after supporting halford at the grove in anaheim, ca. auditioning various singers, the band recorded a 3-song demo consisting of "disconnect", "behind the gun", and "burned" (later renamed "the grail") with jeff martin from racer x. martin eventually declined to join on a full-time basis and lone survivors, geoff gayer and dean roberts, started the search anew and were finally introduced to florida-based screamer wade black (crimson glory, leash law, seven witches). with both carey howe and paul carman out of the picture, bass was handled by san antonio, tx native pete perez (riot, spastic ink) while oc local mark smith and houstonian eric halpern (destiny's end, z-lot-z) contributed additional lead guitars to the new album. co-produced by roberts and gayer and mixed by jacob hansen at hansen studios in ribe, denmark, "world asylum" was released in the spring of 2006 to great reviews and leatherwolf played the bang your head!!! festival in germany in june, with paul carman back in the fold on bass for the occasion. the band also shot a promotional video for the song "behind the gun" with director karpis maksudian. former leatherwolf (hail mary & shotgun messiah ) member patrick guyton took over on bass for the band's progpower usa festival appearance in atlanta, ga in the fall 2006. guyton has remained as full time bassist to date.