On Friday, the day reserved for New & Noteworthy releases, music enthusiasts eagerly await the end of the workweek to enjoy the latest metal records. However, this Friday had an unexpected twist. Thy Art Is Murder’s new album, Godlike, originally scheduled for a September 15, 2023 release via their new independent label, Human Warfare, instead arrived today (22) due to production delays. This sudden change in release date raises questions about potential underlying issues. The Australian deathcore band issued a statement on social media announcing the departure of vocalist CJ McMahon, who is also apparently absent from the new album. The band has reportedly replaced him with their soon-to-be-announced new vocalist, leading to re-recordings of the album ahead of its arrival. These developments have piqued curiosity about the challenges that may have arisen within the Thy Art Is Murder camp.
The band issued the following statement:
“We have some important news regarding Godlike that we want to share with you. Our new album Godlike is now available worldwide digitally with an unforeseen change – Chris McMahon is no longer a part of Thy Art Is Murder and does not feature on the record. We understand that this may come as a surprise and we want to assure you that this decision was made to preserve the band’s integrity and direction. What transpired over the past month was not the cause of this action, but just another symptom of the drawn out breakdown in his character and judgement. The straw that broke the camels back if you will. Long story short, the fallout has been immense. We were lobbed with threats to destroy Thy Art Is Murder from the inside if we did not capitulate to various ideologies that he holds. Everyone has their own right to free speech and to seek their truth; they are also free to receive the consequences that come with it. We appreciate your support and respect for our privacy during this challenging time. As we move forward, we are excited to introduce you to a new vocalist, who finished re-recording vocals on the new album earlier this week, and will be joining us for the Godlike European tour with Whitechapel, Fit For An Autopsy and Spite, which kicks off in a few days. Our focus remains on delivering powerful music and unforgettable performances to our dedicated fans. We’re grateful for your understanding and continued support as we embark on this new chapter together.”
Earlier this month, the group shared the below announcement on their new album, Godlike’s release date being pushed back a week later:
“It truly pains us to say it, but we’ve made the hard decision to delay the release of our new album ‘Godlike’ by a week to September 22nd. We had hoped that we would be lucky enough to avoid the production delays that have been affecting the entire industry for some time but despite our best efforts, we won’t have vinyl, CD’s and the remaining merch in time for the initial release date. ‘Godlike’ is our first independent record and we’ve poured everything we have into all facets of this release. We want to ensure that you all get the opportunity to hear the record in your desired format on release date, and pushing the release back a week was the only way to make that happen. Selfishly, this also gives us the best opportunity for chart positions by synchronizing the release of all formats. Thank you so much for your patience and support. We promise that ‘Godlike’ is absolutely worth the wait and we can’t wait to see you all on the road.”
We’re curious about the speed at which the re-recording of vocals and the production of physical copies occurred, all within a month or even less before the release. The controversy surrounding McMahon began when he reportedly made transphobic comments on social media in August 2023. Shortly afterward, he issued an apology while the band made a statement regarding their stance on the matter. Given the sequence of events, it raises questions about whether there were underlying factors driving the re-recording process long before the public controversy. Additionally, it’s unclear whether McMahon is aware of the vocal switch. Surprisingly, earlier today, the former vocalist expressed pride on his social media regarding today’s album release.
