Metal
Ukri Suvilehto is no longer Abbath’s drummer. He announced it himself on Sunday 20 September in a social media message that gives no explanation for the reason.
“I’m announcing my full availability for new professional opportunities and artistic collaborations,” he writes. “If you need a drummer or musician for your band or project, live or in the studio, or if you see any other possibilities for collaborating with me, don’t hesitate to get in touch!” He adds that his schedule is open from 2027.
The Finn joined the Norwegian band in 2018, recommended by the previous drummer, Emil Wiksten, and recorded the two albums the band has released since then: “Outstrider” (2019) and “Dread Reaver” (2022).
The announcement comes five days after Abbath cancelled all their remaining 2026 shows. That cancellation came a month after the SaariHelvetti festival in Tampere, on 14 August, where Abbath Doom Occulta played “To War!”, threw his guitar to the ground and walked off stage after two minutes. It was Suvilehto who came out to address the crowd and said the singer had health problems; the festival organisers gave the same reason.
The band has given no further detail about Abbath’s condition, has not announced any replacement drummer, and has no new album announced since 2022’s “Dread Reaver”.
Text by Roger Estivill