Belgian death metal powerhouse Aborted has announced a significant lineup shift: the immediate departure of their longtime drummer, Ken Bedene. Bedene‘s exit comes after a substantial 15-year run with the band, having joined in 2010. As of now, the reasons behind his departure remain undisclosed.
Aborted addressed the change in a brief statement, confirming Bedene‘s departure is “effective immediately.” Despite this change, the band assured fans that their upcoming European tour will proceed as scheduled. Filling in on drumming duties for the tour will be Kevin Paradis, formerly of Benighted.
Ken Bedene made his debut with Aborted on their seventh studio album, Global Flatline, which was released in 2012. Over his tenure, he contributed to five more of the band’s albums, culminating in his final appearance on Vault of Horrors, released in 2024.
Adding to the intrigue surrounding Bedene‘s sudden departure, his Instagram account has reportedly been deleted. While Bedene himself has yet to comment on the situation, the abrupt nature of the announcement has sparked speculation among fans. The band’s statement reiterated that “The upcoming European tour is going forward as planned with blast duties being handled by none other than Kevin Paradis.”
Aborted is a death metal band from Belgium, formed in 1995 by vocalist Sven de Caluwé, who remains the only constant member. They’re known for blending brutal death metal with grindcore elements, often categorized under the term deathgrind. Over the years, they’ve evolved to include more technical and modern death metal influences, while keeping their core aggression intact.
Some notable albums include:
- Engineering the Dead (2001) – early, raw sound.
- Goremageddon: The Saw and the Carnage Done (2003) – a fan favorite, full of relentless riffs and a big leap in production quality.
- The Archaic Abattoir (2005) – slightly more melodic, but still heavy.
- Retrogore (2016) – showcases a modern, tighter sound, and brought them back into the spotlight.
- ManiaCult (2021) – a concept-heavy, unhinged journey into madness, very theatrical and brutal.
