Johnny Crowder‘s Dark Sermon have announced their break-up. Original formed as In Reference to a Sinking Ship, the band released two full length albums after signing to eOne Music in 2012. Their latest record, The Oracle, was released in 2015.
Crowder posted the following statement detailing the break-up.
Hey all, J here. My eyes are flooding as I type this, but you deserve to hear it.
Dark Sermon has been my life’s work for nearly a decade – an unforgettable whirlwind of sweat, flat tires, and insane tours. In my head, DS would live on forever, but life rarely follows the imaginary paths we paint for it.
At this point, we have fulfilled our contracts with eOne and Nuclear Blast. This, coupled with a rather unforgiving season of rotten luck, led several members to retire from touring altogether. While I was stubbornly determined to press on, the remaining members decided that now would be a good time to let DS rest.
Initially, I couldn’t accept it, but now I understand. Since high school, we’ve barely had a moment to tend to anything outside of the band. Looking back, I see how undying dedication to one solitary thing can lead to imbalance.
Is Dark Sermon done? Unfortunately, that is not up to me. However, I can’t just stop writing music and sharing it with the world. This is why I created my new band, Prison. You can watch our new music video or preorder our new record if you’d like to support us.
Although I am still trying to make peace with this situation, Dark Sermon brought immeasurable healing to me and countless others. And for that, I will never, ever forget it – or you.
To everyone who has followed my personal journey with mental illness, faith, and sobriety, thank you. Whether you decide to accompany me in this new chapter or not, you’ve already given me more than I could ask for. You saved my life.
love each and every one of you. Deeply.
Goodbye for now.
Yours forever,
J
