Animals As Leaders have announced that drummer Navene Koperweis has decided to leave the band.
Koperweis released the following statement regarding his decision to leave the band:
"Tosin [Abasi] and Javier [Reyes] are the two most generous, caring and understanding individuals I've ever met and I look forward to a lifetime of friendship with the both of them. Over the past decade I have done nothing but music. Recording, writing, playing, practicing, touring and producing. It's taken me beyond what I could have dreamt of as a kid when I started. My new goals extend beyond the drum kit and I'm the type of person who will constantly chase new dreams. You'll be seeing a lot more of me soon."
Abasi commented, "I've shared some of my most memorable musical experiences to date with Navene and truly consider him a brother. I commend him for following his own path in life, even if that means I'll no longer be sharing the stage with him. I feel blessed to have had the pleasure of working together and creating a lifelong friendship."
Filling in for the band on their upcoming European and North American tours will be Matt Garstka, who has previously played with Gokh Bi System, Two Man Trio and Verse The Fire. Some video footage of Garstka can be viewed below.
Abasi says, "We see nothing but great potential with Matt, and look forward to performing with him on the upcoming tours. We feel very excited for the future of AAL, which is brighter than ever. I'm beyond excited for our fans to hear some of the new music we already have brewing for the future!"
