Back in 2022, Godsmack vocalist and guitarist Sully Erna spoke with near-finality about the band’s eighth studio album, Lighting Up The Sky, framing it as the end of Godsmack‘s studio era. At the time, Erna sounded resolute, telling 93X (and also the Everblack podcast): “This is the last record we’re ever gonna do. This is the last run around the mill for us. We put every single ounce of energy and emotion into this album.”
While Erna stopped short of saying Godsmack were breaking up, he made it clear he believed the band’s recording days were likely behind them: “I’m not saying the band may be breaking up. What I’m saying is I think this may be the last body of work you get musically from the band.”
Since those comments, Godsmack‘s lineup has undergone major changes, most notably the departure of longtime guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin earlier this year. While their exits marked the end of the band’s classic lineup, Erna has consistently stressed that the split was amicable and drama-free. And now, it appears those changes have also shifted Erna‘s thinking about Godsmack‘s creative future.
Appearing recently on Kylie Olsson’s Life In Six Strings podcast, Erna sounded far less definitive about Godsmack‘s recording future. Asked whether there could be a tenth Godsmack album, Erna replied: “I think there will. I said there wasn’t going to be, and at least I know there won’t be with the original members.
“[Shannon and Tony] have [officially retired], and very honorably, and we’re still really good friends. There’s no drama there. I’m putting some new people in place. I’m still in some trial periods, but we have some plans coming in 2026 that we’re excited about. And it’s gonna be good. I mean, the band’s coming into the height of our career. All these years later we’re hitting another moment where we’re doing our best attendance. And it’s kind of come full circle.”
So maybe this all had to do with some quiet creative differences between Erna and both Rombola and Larkin? In the meantime, Godsmack has the following tour dates all lined up.
5/7 Daytona Beach, FL Welcome to Rockville 2026
5/17 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival 2026
7/23 Athens, Greece Lycabettus Hill
7/25 Plovdiv, Bulgaria Hills of Rock Festival 2026
7/26 Belgrade, Serbia Novi Hangar Luka Beograd
7/28 Ghimbav, Romania Rockstadt Extreme Fest 2026
7/31 Tallinn, Estonia Tallinn Rock Festival 2026
8/6 Villena, Spain Leyendas del Rock 2026
8/8 Relvinha, Portugal Vagos Metal Fest 2026
8/9 Madrid, Spain Sala Riviera
8/11 Barcelona, Spain Razzmatazz 1
8/13 Sulingen, Germany Reload Festival 2026
8/13 Carhaix-Plouguer, France Motocultor Festival 2026
8/16 Eindhoven, Netherlands Dynamo Metal Fest 2026
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