BLOODBATH Guitarist JOAKIM KARLSSON Quits

Joakim Karlsson has left the death metal supergroup BLOODBATH.

The guitarist announced his departure via statement posted on the band's Facebook page earlier today. He wrote: "I am putting away my BLOODBATH vest for good.

"To be honest, I've never really considered myself a guitarist — at least not a particularly good one — just someone who plays guitar out of necessity because I wouldn't be able to write my music otherwise. BLOODBATH needs a lead guitarist; someone who can pull off these fast, evil solos and whatnot, and to be completely honest, that guy simply isn't me. BLOODBATH needs someone who can do it justice.

"I have had pretty much only good moments with the band, and I'm glad to have been a part of it for the last year and a half, but now I'll do other things. (I vaguely remember having a main band which hasn't gotten the attention it deserves during the last year. I think I'll focus on that for a while.) Alright... Later, BLOODBATH fans. I hope I at least managed to trick some of you into listening to CRAFT.

"By the way, some of you were making guesses about what songs I wrote for [BLOODBATH's latest album, 2018's] 'The Arrow Of Satan Is Drawn'. I wrote 'Wayward Samaritan' (music/lyrics),'Only The Dead Survive' (music, together with former CRAFT guitarist John Doe),'Ride The Waves Of Fire' (music/lyrics) and 'Wide Eyed Abandon' (music)."

BLOODBATH has not yet announced a replacement for Karlsson.

The band will proceed with Tomas Åkvik of LIK as its touring guitarist.

"The Arrow Of Satan Is Drawn" was released last October via Peaceville.

Photo by Steve Brown