Anton Kabanen will not perform with Beast In Black during upcoming tour

In order to concentrate on finishing Beast In Black’s much anticipated fourth studio album, guitarist Anton Kabanen will miss the band’s North American tour as Helloween’s supporting act, as per Blabbermouth. The following statement was posted on social media by the former guitarist for Battle Beast.

An important message from Anton to all our fans about the ALBUM and the NORTH AMERICAN TOUR.

Without further ado, sadly I have to tell you that I won’t be able to join my bandmates on the North American tour. I need to stay behind because it’s absolutely vital for the new album, which is still work in progress. Making this album has been imbued with constant distractions, challenges, deviations and problems which have effectively stanched the creative, technical and practical workflow beyond acceptable, especially in the past couple of years. But reality always wins. However, the album has finally reached a pivotal checkpoint but requires my utmost attention more than ever to make sure it lives up to what you’ve been waiting for, and what you deserve from us.

This wasn’t an easy decision. I know many of you were looking forward to seeing us together on stage, and I’m truly sorry for any disappointment this may cause. The band will still be going out there giving you the Best-of-the-Beast shows, and I fully stand behind them.

Thank you for your understanding, your patience, and for always standing by us. We can’t wait to share the new music with you and be back on stage together again as soon as possible.

Yours,

Anton

Upcoming shows:

• Wednesday, April 8, 2026 – San Antonio, TX, USA – The Aztec Theatre (with Helloween)
• Friday, April 10, 2026 – Atlanta, GA, USA – Tabernacle (with Helloween)
• Sunday, April 12, 2026 – Orlando, FL, USA – House of Blues (with Helloween)
• Tuesday, April 14, 2026 – Silver Spring, MD, USA – The Fillmore (with Helloween)
• Wednesday, April 15, 2026 – Boston, MA, USA – House of Blues (with Helloween)
• Friday, April 17, 2026 – New York, NY, USA – The Palladium Times Square (with Helloween)
• Saturday, April 18, 2026 – Montréal, QC, Canada – L’Olympia (with Helloween)
• Sunday, April 19, 2026 – Toronto, ON, Canada – Queen Elizabeth Theatre (with Helloween)
• Tuesday, April 21, 2026 – Milwaukee, WI, USA – The Rave (with Helloween)
• Thursday, April 23, 2026 – Denver, CO, USA – Paramount Theatre (with Helloween)
• Saturday, April 25, 2026 – Salt Lake City, UT, USA – The Depot (with Helloween)
• Tuesday, April 28, 2026 – Seattle, WA, USA – The Paramount Theatre (with Helloween)
• Thursday, April 30, 2026 – San Francisco, CA, USA – The Warfield (with Helloween)
• Friday, May 1, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA, USA – YouTube Theater (with Helloween)
• Saturday, May 2, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV, USA – House of Blues (with Helloween)
• Saturday, June 27, 2026 – Dischingen, Germany – Rock am Härtsfeldsee (Main Stage)
• Saturday, July 4, 2026 – Tampere, Finland – Tuhdimmat Tahdit (Main Stage)
• Friday, July 17, 2026 – Laukaa, Finland – John Smith Rock Festival (Main Stage)
• Saturday, July 18, 2026 – Joensuu, Finland – Ilosaarirock (Main Stage)
• Saturday, July 25, 2026 – Vaasa, Finland – Kaaos Festival (Main Stage)
• Friday, July 31, 2026 – Turku, Finland – Baltic Metal Storm (Main Stage)
• Friday, October 23, 2026 – Mallorca, Spain – Full Metal Holiday (Pool Stage)
• Monday, October 26, 2026 – London, England – O2 Forum Kentish Town (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Tuesday, October 27, 2026 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Wednesday, October 28, 2026 – Tilburg, Netherlands – 013 Poppodium ((with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Thursday, October 29, 2026 – Leipzig, Germany – Haus Auensee (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Saturday, October 31, 2026 – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Sunday, November 1, 2026 – Budapest, Hungary – Barba Negra (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Monday, November 2, 2026 – Zlín, Czechia – Sports Hall Datart (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Tuesday, November 3, 2026 – Gliwice, Poland – PreZero Arena (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Thursday, November 5, 2026 – Berlin, Germany – Columbiahalle(with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Friday, November 6, 2026 – Hanover, Germany – Swiss Life Hall (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Saturday, November 7, 2026 – Ludwigsburg, Germany – MHP Arena (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Sunday, November 8, 2026 – Offenbach, Germany – Stadthalle (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Monday, November 9, 2026 – Paris, France – L’Olympia (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Wednesday, November 11, 2026 – Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Thursday, November 12, 2026 – Madrid, Spain – Sala La Riviera (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Friday, November 13, 2026 – Bilbao, Spain – Santana 27 (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Saturday, November 14, 2026 – Toulouse, France – Le Bikini (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Sunday, November 15, 2026 – Lyon, France – Le Transbordeur (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Tuesday, November 17, 2026 – Zürich, Switzerland – Komplex 457 (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Wednesday, November 18, 2026 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Friday, November 20, 2026 – Munich, Germany – Zenith (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Saturday, November 21, 2026 – Luxembourg City, Luxembourg – Rockhal (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Sunday, November 22, 2026 – Oberhausen, Germany – Turbinenhalle (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Monday, November 23, 2026 – Hamburg, Germany – Inselpark Arena (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Tuesday, November 24, 2026 – Gothenburg, Sweden – Eriksbergshallen (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)
• Wednesday, November 25, 2026 – Stockholm, Sweden – Fryshuset Arenan (with Sonata Arctica, Frozen Crown)