After months of silence, one of doom metal’s most iconic voices has officially left the stage — and not everyone is taking it quietly.
In a move that’s sending ripples through the metal community, UK doom legends My Dying Bride have confirmed that founding vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe is no longer part of the band. The announcement comes after growing speculation and a long period of uncertainty surrounding his status. But here’s where things get interesting — this wasn’t a sudden split. The tension had been building for a while.
Stainthorpe, who helped form My Dying Bride back in 1990, had already stepped away from touring in 2024. The move reportedly followed creative and personal disagreements with long-time guitarist Andrew Craighan, and it happened just weeks before the release of their haunting new album, A Mortal Binding. Fans were left stunned by his absence during the band’s live performances — and speculation only intensified when Finnish vocalist Mikko Kotamäki (of Swallow the Sun) temporarily took over frontman duties.
Now, with an official statement posted across their social media platforms, My Dying Bride have made the separation permanent. The band wrote:
"My Dying Bride have decided to part ways with vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe. Please understand that this decision does not come lightly, hence our initial and painful silence while we gathered our thoughts and carefully considered our response to the disengaged, eerily abandoned state we suddenly found ourselves in. Our collective decision to move forward without him is not something we thought we would ever be forced to say, but to ensure a continued legacy for what we hold dear to our hearts, we simply have to move past this. Whilst change can be difficult, we are doing our best to bring this new chapter forward with powerful positivity. My Dying Bride are not on hiatus; we were never on hiatus. However, we do genuinely wish Aaron all the luck in the world in his new solo endeavours."
The statement makes one thing clear: despite the emotional tone and the painful split, My Dying Bride are determined to press on. The band, known for shaping the very fabric of doom metal in the early '90s, is looking to transform what could be a moment of loss into a new beginning.
Their most recent performance took place in Barcelona, Spain, on September 28, 2025, officially wrapping up their latest tour. As of now, there are no upcoming tour dates listed — fueling fan theories about what direction the band might take next musically. Will Mikko Kotamäki remain as their permanent vocalist, or will an entirely new voice rise to lead the group into its next era?
And this is the part most people miss: could this creative shake-up actually revitalize a band that has spent decades exploring sorrow, beauty, and decay? After all, change in the world of metal often breathes new life into old wounds.
What do you think — is My Dying Bride making the right call in moving on without Aaron, or will his departure leave a void that can never truly be filled? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.
