Godsmack 2.0? Sully Erna Teases New Album Following “Honorable” Member Departures

It wasn’t long ago that Sully Erna was adamant: Godsmack was done making new music. The 2023 release Lighting Up The Sky was billed as the final chapter, a “legacy” bow meant to transition the band into a permanent greatest-hits act. But as 2025 draws to a close, that finality is starting to look like a cliffhanger.

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The “End of an Era” Reconsidered

Back in 2022, Erna told the world that the band had “put every single ounce of energy” into their eighth album, signaling that the grind of the studio was over. He argued that with 25+ years of hits, the band had earned the right to just “enjoy our lives” and play the hits without the pressure of the charts.

However, the internal landscape of Godsmack shifted dramatically in April 2025 when longtime members Tony Rombola (guitar) and Shannon Larkin (drums) officially retired from the group.

The Godsmack Shake-up:

• Amicable Split: Rombola and Larkin stepped away to pursue a quieter life off the road; Erna maintains there is “no drama” and they remain “brothers for life.”
• New Blood: The band has been touring with Will Hunt (Evanescence) on drums and Sam “Bam” Koltun (Dorothy) on guitar.
• The Attendance Boom: Despite the lineup changes, Erna notes the band is currently seeing some of the best ticket sales of their entire career.

A Tenth Album on the Horizon?

During a recent appearance on Kylie Olsson’s Life In Six Strings, the frontman was asked point-blank if a tenth Godsmack album was possible. His answer was a far cry from the “never again” stance of 2022.

“I think there will [be a tenth album]. I said there wasn’t going to be, and at least I know there won’t be with the original members… 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.”

While Erna stopped short of a formal release date, he hinted that the “full circle” energy of the band’s current success has reignited a creative spark that seemed extinguished just a year ago.

Godsmack 2026 European Tour Dates

With the band currently on a year-long hiatus to “figure out what’s next,” they have already begun booking a massive return to the stage for the summer of 2026.

• 07/24 – Istanbul, Turkey – Bonus Parkorman
• 07/24 – Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Hills Of Rock
• 07/27 – Rasnov, Romania – Rockstadt Extreme Fest
• 08/01 – Wacken, Germany – Wacken Open Air
• 08/03 – Leipzig, Germany – Haus Auensee (feat. Nothing More & Thunder Mother)
• 08/05 – Leyendas Del Rock, Spain – Festival Grounds
• 08/06 – Kortrijk, Belgium – Alcatraz Open Air
• 08/07 – Walton-On-Trent, UK – Bloodstock Open Air
• 08/11 – Copenhagen, Denmark – K.B. Hallen
• 08/12 – Dinkelsbuhl, Germany – Summer Breeze
• 08/13 – Sulingen, Germany – Reload Festival
• 08/14 – Eindhoven, Netherlands – Dynamo Metalfest

[Via Blabbermouth]

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