BATTLE BEAST have confirmed one of the most significant vocalist changes in European power metal in recent memory. Founding bassist Eero Sipilä announced this week that Noora Louhimo, who fronted the Finnish band since 2012, has departed, and that Brazilian singer Marina La Torraca will step into the role.
La Torraca built her reputation fronting PHANTOM ELITE, the Dutch symphonic metal band, across three albums between 2017 and 2022. She also appeared as a guest vocalist on AD INFINITUM's 2021 record Chapter II: Legacy and has been a visible presence in the European symphonic and power metal circuit. Her vocal range — combining operatic clarity in the upper register with a robust, powerful mid-range — is well suited to BATTLE BEAST's arena-ready sound.
Louhimo's tenure covered the band's commercial peak. Albums like BATTLE BEAST (2013), Unholy Savior (2015), and No More Hollywood Endings (2019) established the group as one of the most commercially viable Finnish metal acts of the decade, with Louhimo's powerhouse delivery central to their appeal.
The band confirmed that new material with La Torraca at the helm is already in progress, with a studio album expected in late 2026 or early 2027. No farewell statement from Louhimo has been published; the split appears to be amicable.
BATTLE BEAST remain signed to Nuclear Blast Records, who are expected to support the transition campaign.