BEAST IN BLACK leader and founding guitarist Anton Kabanen has announced he will miss the band's North American tour supporting HELLOWEEN, which launched April 7 in Dallas, Texas. Kabanen cited the critical need to complete the band's fourth studio album as the reason for his absence.
In a statement, Kabanen explained the album's creation process has faced "constant distractions, challenges, deviations and problems" that disrupted the workflow over time. He stated: "The album has finally reached a pivotal checkpoint but requires my utmost attention more than ever." Rather than derail either the tour or the record, Kabanen made the decision to stay home and push through to completion.
The North American run — which runs through May 2, 2026, concluding in Las Vegas — will proceed without him. The remaining members confirmed the band "will still be going out there giving you the best-of-the-BEAST shows." No replacement guitarist has been officially announced.
BEAST IN BLACK have been one of the most exciting Finnish power metal acts of recent years, known for their anthemic, synth-driven sound on albums like "From Hell with Love" (2019) and "Dark Connection" (2021). The long-gestating fourth album has been a topic of anticipation among fans, making Kabanen's commitment to completing it — even at the cost of missing a high-profile tour — a significant statement of creative intent.