Opeth announced on November 16 that they had parted ways with drummer Martin Axenrot, and recruited drummer Sami Karppinen (Therion) for touring duties at the time. Opeth has another touring coming up with Mastodon and Khemmis, which of course makes us wonder – who could ultimately join the band to replace Axenrot? These are our six picks!
Gene Hoglan
Hoglan recently quit Testament and is not currently in any major touring band. Hoglan is an absolute monster behind the kit with experience in bands like Death and Strapping Young Lad (among many others), and also knows at least some Opeth given he filled in with the band live in 2004.
Sami Karppinen
Karppinen is currently a very logical choice. Karppinen filled in with Opeth on their last tour, which was the band's first after the departure of Axenrot. Karppinen killed it on the tour and would fit right in. Whether or not Karppinen would leave Therion to join Opeth is another story, but we'll see what happens.
Martin Lopez
Lopez drummed for Opeth between 1997 and 2006. Since his departure, he's been having great success with Soen and it seems unlikely he'll give that up given his comments in recent years. Though as far as replacements for Axenrot goes, who better to call than the guy he originally replaced?
Joan Carles Marí
Marí is currently the drummer in Opeth bassist Martín Méndez's side project White Stones and the dude is a machine. Sure, his performance on the recent White Stones record Dancing Into Oblivion was insane, but his covers are equally nuts (if not even more technical).
Daniel Liljekvist
Liljekvist drummed in Katatonia between 1994 and 2014, and in In Mourning between 2014 and 2018. Liljekvist currently drums in Grand Cadaver with Dark Tranquillity members, and is frankly one of the most underrated drummers in modern metal. Liljekvist would crush it in Opeth.
Gavin Harrison
Gavin Harrison is going to be at least a little busy with the upcoming Porcupine Tree reunion, though who knows how extensive those touring plans (and future plans) will be. Harrison and Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt worked together in Storm Corrosion to an extent, so it's not like they don't know each other.
Catch Opeth, Mastodon, and Khemmis at one of the dates below.
4/21 – Montreal, QC – Place Bell
4/22 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
4/23 – Cleveland, OH – The Agora
4/24 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
4/26 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met
4/28 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom
4/29 – Detroit, MI – The Masonic
4/30 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club
5/1 – St. Paul, MN – The Myth
5/3 – Saskatoon, SK – TCU Place
5/4 – Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Events Centre
5/5 – Edmonton, AB – EDM Expo Center
5/7 – Vancouver, BC – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre Theatre Bowl
5/8 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theater
5/9 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium
5/11 – Riverside, CA – Municipal Auditorium
