BEAST IN BLACK has officially added Finnish guitarist Markus Venehsalo to its ranks as the band continues work on its fourth studio album. Venehsalo, who initially caught the band’s attention through unsolicited demo videos, will handle lead guitar solos on the upcoming record and make his live debut with the group on June 27 at a festival in Germany.Finnish power metal outfit BEAST IN BLACK has announced the addition of guitarist Markus Venehsalo as a permanent member, marking a significant development in the band’s lineup ahead of its fourth studio album. The announcement comes during an active recording period, during which the band found itself in need of a second guitarist capable of delivering lead solos that matched the evolving direction of the new material.
Venehsalo’s path into the band began in an unconventional manner. He reached out directly to BEAST IN BLACK with a private message accompanied by videos of his original solo work. The material made an immediate impression. The band cited his ability to balance technical speed and precision with melodic sensitivity and emotional expression across both fast and slow passages as a key factor in the decision. His personality, described as carrying a distinctly Eastern Finland sense of humor, also resonated strongly with the existing members and contributed to a natural sense of camaraderie.
Following an extensive search that included interviews with numerous candidates from Finland and abroad, Venehsalo was ultimately selected not only to record the guitar solos for the album but to join the band as a full-time member. His live debut is scheduled for June 27 at a festival in Germany.
The band also expressed its gratitude to Daniel Freyberg, who filled in on guitar during recent live dates. Freyberg confirmed he will now focus full-time on his band CROWNSHIFT, which is currently working on new material. BEAST IN BLACK described his contribution during the transitional period as irreplaceable.
Photo: Jarmo Katila / Toni Kilpinen