Alcohol Abuse Spurs Kataklysm Drummer To Take Break

It must have taken a lot of guts for Max Duhamel to publicly admit why he has decided to take a break from Kataklysm after serving 21 years in the Canadian death metal band.

Today Duhamel released the following statement: “It is with an a extremely heavy heart that I announce today that I will not be performing on the new Kataklysm album. I have been struggling with many personal issues the last year but lately, the main one has been alcohol. It’s been affecting my body in a very negative way – to the point that when I came home after the EX DEO tour we just did, I tried to stop drinking for [a] few days and it’s been very hard without having any withdrawl symptoms. I’ve also lost a lot of weight as some of noticed recently and I’m not in good shape.

“I’ve heard the new material my brothers have written and it’s truly incredible stuff. It’s really some of the best music the band has ever done, but it’s going to be a very demanding album and my state of mind and body is not ready to confront this big task right now. I need to clean my body and my mind and come back focused to Kataklysm and I don’t know how long this will take. The guys have reached out to help in any way they can, which I can’t thank them enough. I’m truly blessed to have them as a family, so as I start my road to recovery I send this message to all of you and thank you for all the support. It’s time to take my life in my hands and take responsibility. I will not be attending the Juno Awards ceremony in two weeks for EX DEO nominations, but I will close my contract with the shows in May that are left. Extremefest, Beastival in Germany, and Metalfest Cszech Rep will be my last shows until I’m ready again to come back in full form, you guys deserve the best of me. See you later.”