Michael Ehré (pictured above), drummer of Gamma Ray, will replace Kosta Zafiriou for Uniconic’s last show this year, Bulgaria’s Lovech Rock Fest on September 23rd.

Says bass player Dennis Ward: "After Kosta (Zafiriou) announced his departure from the band and retirement from professional metal drumming early September, we thought Michael is the perfect choice for now: He's a great drummer, a very nice person and Kai's bandmate in Gamma Ray. We toured together in the past and he is familiar with Unisonic’s live set. During the first rehearsals he already did an exceptional job and we look forward to play the show with him! After this last festival we'll take a longer break and will consider all options for Unisonic’s future.“

Kosta Zafiriou issued the following message to announce his departure from Unisonic:

“Hello friends, fans and all my colleagues in and out of the music business!

“It's been a long journey, but now it's time for a change in my personal life: I’m making this official announcement that I have left Unisonic and will no longer be performing as a professional drummer anymore.  

“Being busy with Bottom Row over the last years - the management and booking agency I run with my two partners - I found it more and more difficult to keep up the physical condition needed to satisfy my own high expectations of how today's powerful metal drumming should sound like. As a result, I had to realize that performing was not the fun it used to be, and the need for a change came into my mind.

“Since my very first tour with Pink Cream 69 back in 1989, I toured all over the world and played the biggest metal festivals - I thought I’d end it on a “high note” by letting the Unisonic show Wacken 2016 be the final show of my drumming career. I will, of course, continue all my business activities and remain Unisonic’s manager with all my power & passion.

“I want to thank my current bandmates in Unisonic and  the former ones in Pink Cream 69: It was a pleasure and an honor to make music with you guys!”

(Kosta Zafiriou photo - Marcus Bernarding)