As the Swedish war machine gear up to release their brand new album ‘The Last Stand‘, guitarist Thobbe Englund has announced he will be leaving Sabaton at the end of the summer.

After 4 years with the band, he announced via the band’s Facebook that he will be stepping down after the band’s album release show at Sabaton Open Air in Falun, Sweden.

Dear friends!

Today I have decided to announce my leave from Sabaton.
Why? …many may ask.

– There is this thing that I truly believe in, and that is that one should always follow the heart.

I have in recent years become more aware of what would make me feel real happiness and content, and that is to expand my own creativeness in combination with a somewhat stiller life, where I will not tour all year round at the speed of light.

Unfortunately as a consequence I will not be able to meet all of you wonderful people out there, which is sad, and I´m really gonna miss you all.
But I will still be making music, of course, and as I am writing this I am making plans for the future.
During the many years of touring with Sabaton we have become like brothers.

Together with the best crew in the world we´ve had a true blast and there is a bond between all of us that cannot be broken.
Therefore I find no reason to be sentimental, because brothers and sisters are friends for life, and the future is bright!

Always yours truly.

Thobbe.

Sounds like Thobbe just needs a new chapter in his life and that’s fair. It all seems amicible with the band. Nevertheless, the war machine will roll on.

Sabaton will release their new album ‘The Last Stand‘ via Nuclear Blast on August 19th, with a massive European tour with Accept in January 2017.