Guitarist Joakim Karlsson Quits Bloodbath

Guitarist Joakim Karlsson Quits Bloodbath

Craft’s Joakim Karlsson has ended his brief tenure with the all-star death metal band Bloodbath. Karlsson joined the band as a guitarist just last year, in time for the creation of their latest album, The Arrow of Satan is Drawn. In a statement released over the weekend, however, Karlsson announced his departure from the group, humbly admitting that he can’t “pull off these fast, evil solos” required of Bloodbath’s lead guitarist. He also seems pretty stoked on being able to give Craft more of his attention.

Here’s Karlsson’s statement:

“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 TAOSID. 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).”

TAOSID is a great album, but Bloodbath have endured line-up changes before. I suspect they’ll be fine in the long term.