Bassist Magnus “Devo” Andersson has announced his departure from the Swedish black metal band MARDUK. Andersson, who initially joined MARDUK in 1992 until 1994 as the group’s guitarist and as a bassist in 2004 until 2019, made his exit official in a Facebook post earlier today (Sunday, December 29).

He wrote: “After a total of 17 years in MARDUK, 70 countries and almost 900 gigs, I decided to leave the band. I intend to concentrate more on the studio. I therefore wish the other members of MARDUK good luck in the future.”

Guitarist Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson is the sole remaining member of MARDUK who played on the band’s debut LP, 1992’s “Dark Endless”.