Noora Louhimo Speaks Out on Leaving Battle Beast After 13 Years

When Noora Louhimo announced her departure from Battle Beast, the news landed with weight. Thirteen years is not a phase, it is a lifetime in a band that tours relentlessly, releases consistently and carries global expectations. Now, for the first time, Louhimo has spoken openly about why she chose to step away, and her reasons are as human as they are honest.

In a recent interview with Finland’s Chaoszine, the former Battle Beast frontwoman made it clear that her decision was not sudden, dramatic or rooted in conflict. It was the result of years of reflection, shaped by health scares, personal growth and the reality of what it means to live inside a nonstop touring machine.

Over the past few years, Louhimo faced a series of serious challenges, including a ruptured artery and a car accident. Experiences like that have a way of forcing perspective. For her, they sparked a deeper question about priorities, fulfillment and what she still wanted to accomplish as an artist. Being in Battle Beast, she explained, meant constant motion. Writing an album, preparing the next one or being on tour. There was no real space left for anything else.

That lack of creative room became impossible to ignore. Louhimo has always been an artist driven by expression, not limitation. Her solo album, Eternal Wheel Of Time And Space, released in 2021, had already been a long time coming. The pandemic finally gave her the chance to make it, but once touring resumed, her solo path was once again pushed aside. Years passed without the freedom to explore new ideas, genres or projects, and that absence began to take a real toll.

Leaving Battle Beast was not just about music, though. It was also about fear. Louhimo admitted that the hardest part was telling the fans. After building the band alongside her bandmates for more than a decade, she worried about disappointment, rejection and losing the connection she values deeply. Still, she chose honesty. When the band announced her exit, she insists every word was true, delivered with respect for the past and care for everyone involved.

Timing was another crucial factor. Louhimo informed the band after their summer shows, deliberately allowing time for planning with the label, management and the rest of the group. She wanted to avoid chaos, rushed decisions or overshadowing upcoming releases. There was no perfect moment, but there was a responsible way to handle it.

Battle Beast has already entered its next chapter with the announcement of Marina La Torraca as their new vocalist. Known for her work with Phantom Elite and Exit Eden, La Torraca brings both power and versatility to the role. Her first shows with the band are scheduled for March 2026 in Japan and Australia, marking a clear forward step for Battle Beast as Louhimo looks toward her own future.

That future, for Noora, is wide open. She is now fully focused on her solo career, with new music already taking shape. Rather than locking herself into one genre or format, she plans to explore freely, from heavy metal to collaborative projects and guest appearances. The common thread is simple. She wants the freedom to create without compromise.

For Louhimo, this decision was about alignment. Living the same message she has always shared with fans. Chase what fulfills you. Do not ignore your own voice. And do not wait until it is too late to choose happiness.

Leaving Battle Beast closes a major chapter, but it does not feel like an ending. It feels like an artist finally giving herself permission to fly.