Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss has announced that she's leaving the band.

"After intense deliberation and with heavy sadness, I have decided to leave Sleater-Kinney," her note says. "The band is heading in a new direction and it is time for me to move on."

Weiss has featured on all of Sleater-Kinney's albums since joining the group in 1996, including their upcoming album, The Center Won't Hold, which is produced by St. Vincent.

"We thank her for joining us on this journey many years ago; we will always cherish our friendship and our time together," reads the band's response statement to Weiss' departure. You can read that in full here, and check Weiss' full statement here.

Revisit our anniversary piece on the band's 1999 album The Hot Rock here.