From the Opeth website:

After several months away from his drumming duties in Opeth Martin Lopez has permanently decided to leave the group. After being plagued by illness and anxiety attacks Lopez decided he wanted to concentrate fully on his own project, currently unnamed. His replacement will be Martin "Axe" Axenrot who's been filling in for the last 5 tours and who also recorded with the band during the recent BBC sessions.

Mikael Ã…kerfeldt: " However sad I and the rest of the band feel in light of Lopez departure I want to thank him for his incredible work with Opeth and immense dedication to the band. We recorded some classic stuff together and he obviously had an enormous impact on our sound. I now feel very excited to hear the material of his own band. In the meantime Opeth fans can rest assured that we'll continue jamming it out with Axe and we all have high expectations about our coming musical ventures "

Oh well, at least they have a ready replacement.

Pretty crazy news...... I loved Lopez's drumming in Opeth. As far as Martin Axenrot goes...... this guy is an incredible drummer. He'll make an awesome replacement for Lopez. This guy nailed the set night after night with Opeth when the DTB was on tour with them, he was awesome to watch. I'm excited to hear what Axenrot will do on their next album. Regardless, Opeth has always had excellent drummers with them and with Axenrot joining the band, I don't think they'll loose any ground what-so-ever.

Opeth kicks ass !!!

RVP

This make sme very sad, but having seen and heard Axenrot recently I am at least assured that the band are left with a more than capable replacement... It's just a shame. He gave them so much character, and it will be interesting to hear them without that style there.

Axenrot is a very good drummer. Respect to Lopez though, he did do a great job!

Sad news. Hope Martin gets better.

gutted get well soon lopez

bye bye latin groove black metal

At least it'll take their sound new places, I was slightly let down by Ghost Reveries. Only time were I thought "oh..more of the same".

[blabbermouth]Axenroth didnt nail "Deliverence" on the show Ive atended, he played it much to slow!1!! Gen Holgan sHould replace Martn LOpes. SYL are a overated joke Band anYway!!!![/blabbermouth]

No WAY that came from Blabbermouth...













The spelling is too good.

I thought this may happen at some point.
Sad news anyway, he seemed like a cool guy indeed. At least I got to see them play live with him.

Sounds like the drumstool is being left in safe hands (or arse?!) though.

I loved Lopez. Although Axenroth is a great drummer with a bad-ass name, he can't quite match up with Lopez' Latin-American 'swing'.
The Martins have a bit of salsa in their Uruguayan blood that' essential for Opeth. And somewhat missing on Ghost Reveries maybe?

well maybe he will bring something new and interesting to the table

I love Lopez, but I'm sure Axenrot will do great! Mikael wouldn't have him in the band if he doubted him.

Good luck to both Martins!

I knew this was going to happen sooner or later

Lopez is a great drummer, theres no way that the back-up is going to be nearly as good.