Swedish melodic death stalwarts Soilwork have promoted their touring guitarist Simon Johansson to full-fledged member status, following the tragic death of former guitarist David Andersson last year.
Johansson joins Sylvain Coudret, the other guitarist for Soilwork, who made the announcement after recently wrapping a European tour with Katakylsm.
“We are excited to finally welcome Simon Johansson to the Soilwork family as a permanent member,” the band say in a statement. “Simon has been with us on a session basis since 2019, and not only has he proven himself to be a solid guitar player, but also a humble human being and a true gentleman in some of the most challenging years of the band’s history. We love you, and we are grateful that you are part of our band.”
For his own part, Johansson says: ”I’m super-stoked and very humbled to be the new guitarist in Soilwork. I have been a fan of the band since way back, and now to be a part of the Soilwork legacy is a huge honor. We first started to work together in 2019 when I joined as their session touring guitarist, and during this time, my admiration for the band has just grown. Now (I’m) happy and proud to be joining my brothers as a full-time member and I’m thrilled to be a part of the next chapter of Soilwork.”
That next chapter will include a second string of dates with Kataklysm, who are co-headlining the trek. Soilwork, Katakylsm, and Finnish melodeth band Horizon Ignited, who will open the next series of shows, are all on Nuclear Blast Records. It runs from March 30 in Roskilde, Denmark, through April 30 in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
Vocalist Björn “Speed” Strid is the only founding member still participating in Soilwork, whose latest album, Övergivenheten, came out in August. Like Johansson, bassist Rasmus Ehrnborn graduated from touring member to a permanent player in the band last year.
Soilwork’s other members are Coudret, who joined in 2008; keyboardist Sven Karlsson, who came aboard in 2001; and drummer Bastian Thusgaard, who started playing for Soilwork in 2016.
Andersson played guitar for Soilwork for 10 years until his untimely death in September at age 47.
“Sadly, alcohol and mental illness took you away from us,” Soilwork say in a statement at the time. “He was one of a kind and a brilliant man in so many ways.”
