DEVILDRIVER and COAL CHAMBER frontman DEZ FAFARA has opened up about the personal struggles he has weathered over three decades in metal, crediting his faith, his family and his fans with carrying him through some of his darkest moments.
Fafara said his relationship with God, along with his wife, children, pets and home, has provided a foundation of strength — but he was emphatic that the support of DEVILDRIVER's fanbase ranks just as high. "I would be dead in the water without all of you guys," he said, addressing the loyal following that has stuck with him through years of adversity. That sentiment feeds directly into DEVILDRIVER's new single, "Dead In The Water," which opens with lyrics about resilience and transformation in the face of hardship.
The "difficult times" Fafara refers to have been very real. He suffered a near-fatal bout of COVID-19 in 2021 that left him with lingering health complications. In 2023, heart inflammation forced DEVILDRIVER to cancel a planned appearance at the U.K.'s Bloodstock festival. Then, in 2025, another health emergency led COAL CHAMBER — his reactivated nu-metal outfit — to scrap a rescheduled U.S. tour. Through it all, Fafara has remained one of metal's most candid and resilient frontmen.
Now he is channeling that hard-won perspective into a new chapter for DEVILDRIVER. The groove metal mainstays will release their new album, "Strike And Kill," on July 10 via Napalm Records, continuing a prolific run that has made them one of the most reliable forces in modern American metal.
To support the record, DEVILDRIVER will hit the road across the western United States from August 14 through September 5, 2026, with UPON A BURNING BODY and OV SULFUR providing support. For Fafara, getting back on stage is the ultimate affirmation — proof that the faith, family and fans he credits have indeed pulled him through. "Strike And Kill" arrives July 10.