Thy Art Is Murder has not only split with vocalist CJ McMahon, but completely removed his vocals from their new album Godlike and re-recorded them with a mystery vocalist. According to a statement from Thy Art Is Murder, the split is partially due to McMahon's recent anti-trans comments (for which he sorta apologized), which they note were only a symptom of a larger problem. This might also explain why Thy Art Is Murder recently pushed the release date of Godlike back a week.
Thy Art Is Murder's full statement can be found below. Honestly, one listen through Godlike certainly sounds like McMahon on vocals, but the band concretely states that "Chris McMahon is no longer a part of Thy Art Is Murder and does not feature on the record." We'll update this story if there's any clarification.
"We have some important news regarding Godlike that we want to share with you," wrote Thy Art Is Murder. "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."
McMahon strangely posted about Godlike nine hours ago. So it's not 100% clear if he knows, or if this was a scheduled post that slipped through the cracks, or what.
