For those worried that the party would stop once Kvelertak got a new vocalist, fear not – the party is still very much going. The band just posted footage with their new vocalist, Ivar Nikolaisen, who replaced Erlend Hjelvik, and it doesn't look like Ivar misses a beat at all.
Makes sense. Ivar noted he was a big fan of the band before joining. "I've been a huge fan of KVELERTAK ever since I first saw them nearly ten years ago. It's an honor to be a part of the band! I will not try to copy Erlend. Erlend is a lion. I'm just a small rat. But this rat is pissed off, infectious, and full of pestilence — ready to take this machine to new heights!"
As for why he left, Erlend Hjelvik said that "the experience of building a successful band has been fun and rewarding but has also been equally intense and challenging. Over the years, this has taken its toll. As we've been developing personally and professionally, our individual goals, needs and motivations have changed, leading us in different directions."
"Though it is a heavy decision to leave a life I've been living and breathing for the last decade, I feel happy and excited to explore new possibilities for the future.
"Regrettably, due to circumstances out of my control, I am not able to perform the last four shows in Norway this summer. I apologize to the festival organizers and fans planning on these shows."
Correction: An earlier version of this story mistakenly referred to the new Kvelertak frontman as Erlend.
