What’s up, music fam? We’ve got some heavy news coming out of the metal world. Wayne Lozinak, the ripping guitarist from Hatebreed, has hit a roadblock. He’s taking a step back from the band for a bit due to the discovery of a non-cancerous brain tumor. The band broke the news on their socials, revealing that Wayne started feeling off during their time at England’s Download Festival. It was like a wake-up call to something not quite right. So, after touching base in Lille, France, he got checked out and boom, there it was – a brain tumor. But hey, the bright side is, it’s benign, a slow grower that’s probably been camping out in his head for a hot minute. Phew! The crew is rallying around Wayne as he gears up to face surgery and kick back for some crucial recovery time. They’re holding it down with Shadows Fall’s Matt Bachand filling in while Wayne gets back on his feet. Love that solidarity!
Speaking of lineup changes, Matt’s no stranger to the Hatebreed crew, having held it down since November 2024. He took the reins from bassist Chris Beattie, who dipped out earlier. In a statement dropped back in February, Chris set the record straight, saying it wasn’t his call to leave and calling out some shady biz that nudged him out the door. With these shifts in gear, the band keeps the fire going, bringing in Carl Schwartz from First Blood to hold it down on bass. It’s all about keeping the metal machine roaring!
Let’s rewind a bit to the origins of Hatebreed. These hardcore legends kicked things off in Bridgeport, Connecticut back in ’94 and dropped their first album a few years later. But it was their banger of a record, “Perseverance,” in 2002 that really put them on the map, hitting No. 50 on the Billboard 200 and earning them a Grammy nom for best metal performance in 2004. From there, they kept leveling up, with “The Divinity of Purpose” in 2013 becoming their top seller, hittin’ No. 20 on the charts and holding down the top spot on the Hard Rock Albums ranking. Their latest album, “Weight of the False Self,” came out in 2020 and marked the first time they didn’t hit the Billboard 200 since their debut, but still snagged the No. 12 slot on the Hard Rock Albums list. These veterans are still bringing the heat, proving their staying power in the game.
Right now, Hatebreed’s trekking their way across Europe on their “Weight of the False Self” Tour, tearing up stages with dates locked in across the U.K. and North America until October. They’re showing no signs of slowing down, keeping the metal spirit alive and well. So, to all the headbangers out there, stay tuned for more updates and keep that metal flame burning bright. Rock on!
