02/26/2015 18:55

Battle Beast

Battle Beast split with guitarist Anton Kabanen

Finnish heavy/power metallers Battle Beast have departed with forming member, guitarist Anton Kabanen.

Here's the band's message:

"After long and heavy consideration, Battle Beast has decided to go seperate ways with guitarist Anton Kabanen. This is due to musical disagreements and various other unsolvable issues within the band. Kabanen has stated he will be continuing making music with other projects. The band will not giving interviews concerning the topic.

On the upcoming tour dates the lead guitar duties will be handled by a temporary replacement. Any details considering permanent replacement for Mr. Kabanen will be decided in the future. During the upcoming spring Battle Beast will tour as a headliner in Finland, Russia, Japan, Sweden and Germany. The band is already preparing new material for the upcoming fourth album.

A sad day for everybody involved, Battle Beast wishes Anton all the best in his future projects."

Anton Kabanen told Finnish music magazine Rumba:

"This has been coming for some time. There has been disagreements for a long time.

I didn't want to leave. Initiative was given by the band, and I have to leave. The name Battle Beast is owned by Battle Beast company, not me, and in this company there's five people against me. In this situation I cannot win.

Of course there's a lot of all kinds of issues I'm not ready to talk about.

The music is the most important thing. If I cannot create it as I like and need to fight about everything, I can't work. And when fighting, it takes energy for nothing. I know the package could have been tighter in every way and the band could have worked better.

Above all, thanks for all support that fans and friends have given. I just wish, that they could follow my next project with as big interest. I, of course will continue making music, it's my whole life.

I'm not as yet telling what's happening and when. Maybe something similar, traditional heavy metal. But now I have three albums' experience and understanding about it all how things could be made better. I'm going to be precise about it how to do things from now on and to start a new band. I believe it would be better than before."

(source: Battle Beast / Rumba)