BATTLE BEAST bassist and founding member Eero Sipilä says the band considered no other singers before asking Marina La Torraca to replace Noora Louhimo. With shows already booked after Louhimo announced her departure, the band had to make a quick decision; Sipilä says guitarist Joona Björkroth found La Torraca, and the group chose to trust its first instinct.

La Torraca described joining as an honour but said she was thrown into a demanding run of shows and travel, following an Asian tour in March and a busy summer season. She had expected an audition process, drawing on her musical theatre experience, but said the choice was made through an intuitive group decision. The band plans to start experimenting with new music featuring her vocals after the summer schedule ends.