Finnish metal band SOLE REMEDY, whose 30-year-old guitarist Mikko Laine was killed in a traffic accident on October 3, 2011 in Baarlo — just hours after the group’s performance at the ProgPower Europe festival — has issued the following update:

“Almost four months ago, we lost a dear friend and a wonderful bandmate. Things have been weird since that day and we had to take a time out.

“Some time ago, we sat down, talked some things over and discussed if there is a future for SOLE REMEDY. This weekend (27th to 29th of January), Jukka [Salovaara], Artturi [Sipilä] and Henry [Silmonen] played their first rehearsal together as a trio.

“Changes had to be made in order to continue. No one can fill the hole that Mikko‘s passing away left. Also, it was mutually decided that Eetu Karioja would no longer be a member of SOLE REMEDY. The time isn’t right for him as the band needs more focus now than ever.

“We would like to say a big thank you to Eetu for the journey we had together for a couple of years. We had some good times, some great times and one huge bad time.

“As of this moment, SOLE REMEDY continues as a trio: Jukka Salovaara on vocals and guitars, Artturi Sipilä on bass and Henry Silmonen on drums.

“Still, no one knows what the future holds. SOLE REMEDY will definitely return on live stages some day. But with what lineup? Now, that’s the question. For now, we will focus on composing and arranging the new music to perfection as a dynamic trio. Our first impression was positive, as we rehearsed five new songs over this weekend. Let’s hope this will be an omen for things to come!”

SOLE REMEDY 2012 is:

Jukka Salovaara – Vocals, Guitars
Artturi Sipilä – Bass
Henry Silmonen – Drums

According to a spokesperson for the Sjiwa youth center (where the ProgPower Europe festival concert took place), Laine was killed at approximately 1:30 a.m. on October 3 when the musician, who was sleeping next to a fence, was run over by a truck, which was loaded with some of the festival’s backline, instruments and other equipment, as the driver drove backwards and turned onto the road. The 50-year-old driver, a local man, didn’t see the Finn, who died at the site.

Formed in 1998, SOLE REMEDY‘s sophomore album, “Apoptosis”, was released in September 2010 via Aftermath Music. The CD was described in a press release as the band’s “most ambitious and diverse piece of music to this day. There are moments of pure metal, pop and even an acoustic ballad. Alternative-progressive metal without losing the catchiness.”

A photo report from the memorial event for Mikko Laine can be found at ProgPower.eu. Source: Blabbermouth.net