Volbeat Part Ways With Guitarist, Vow to Carry On

When Volbeat return to the road in January and join Megadeth and Motorhead on the awesomely named Gigantour 2012 tour, the Danish metalbilly act will have a slightly different look.

Earlier today (Nov. 28), the band announced the departure of guitarist Thomas Bredahl. In a statement on their website, remaining members Michael Poulsen, Anders Kjolholm and Jon Larsen said they intend to carry on and play all scheduled shows -- either as a trio or with a replacement axeman.

"Being in a band is in many ways similar to a marriage with ups and downs," the statement reads. "At times you can work it out and sometimes you need to go separate ways ... We want to thank him for the work he has put in for Volbeat and we wish him all the best in the future."

Bredahl joined up in 2006 and played on Volbeat's two most recent albums, 2008's 'Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood' and 2010's 'Beyond Hell/Above Heaven.'

The latter disc reached the top 10 in numerous European countries and further heightened the band's profile in the United States, where it's undertaken several headlining tours.