Finnish melodic death metal band Omnium Gatherum have announced that current touring guitarist Joonas "Jope" Koto (Malpractice, ex-To/Die/For) has officially joined the band. Jope has been on tour with the band since former guitarist Harri Pikka (Total Devastation) left the band in August 2010.

Omnium Gatherum comments: "Joonas "Jope" Koto officially joins Omnium Gatherum as a new guitarist and backing clean vocalist, so OG is a twin guitar squad again and what's even better is that now we have Jackson guitar tour de force on both sides of the stage! He have been playing already a big bunch of gigs with OG as session live member as the previous guitarist Harri Pikka left the band over a year ago, and Jope was even filling up Harri in some gigs even before we separated ways with him.

Jope have been Markus Vanhala' partner in crime in a progressive metal band Malpractice for many years by now, so he was the first, the most natural and the only candidate for the job for us and gladly we got him on board! He has been playing and recording previously in To/Die/For and Hateframe too, so he is a hard core professional dude."

Joonas had the following to say: "After two years as a session guitarist the guys finally asked me to join OG and I didn't hesitate one second! From the get-go I have felt like part of a family. The guys are very great as persons and professional as musicians. I'm very happy and proud to be a part of such a great band of brothers."

Source:	omniumgatherum.org
Band profile:	Omnium Gatherum