Druyor had this to say: "After Caleb and AJ decided that they would no longer continue on with the band, I was asked if I would like to join and make a new record with them. I said yes to both. The decision was very easy to make due to the fact that we've been friends for almost the entire duration of both our bands' careers."

Shomo also commented about leaving the group and told fans about his new group, Beartooth: "So as you all have heard and the internet somehow revealed before i got the chance to, as john announced last week, i have also left AA. Technically i have been out of the band for about three months now, but the guys wanted to wait to announce until they had everything lined up with the new guy which i had no problem with. Honestly me and john have very similar reasons for leaving (if you all got the chance to read his amazing farewell message.)

"I have horrible clinical depression and have for years. as you may have heard from my speeches i gave during about the last 6 months or so of my touring career with AA i have been suicidal since middle school. I've struggled on and off with eating disorders, self image problems since i was announced as the frontman a few years ago, and various substance abuse and addictions for about the past year. Having thousands of people tell you your a "fat piece of sh*t" isn't exactly the easiest thing to deal with at 17, and i could imagine ever. I am very scatter brained and just kinda am ranting so deal with me for this being so all over the place.

"I love all of the guys that have ever been involved in AA. Great dudes, very supportive as well. Starting about a year ago i started to really go into a downward spiral mentally. Having panic attacks, mental breakdowns, cutting myself off from the world for weeks at a time, writing insanely depressing songs, not too fun. I had a lot of stress in my life/demons haunting me and in no way wanted to face it head on and deal with it. As you may have guessed this doesn't help problems in the least.

"2012 has easily been the darkest year of my life overall. Its had some of the most amazing things happen (getting my life together toward the end along with getting married to my lovely wife fleur) but generally filled with a lot of pain and attempts to cope with them. I left on good terms with everyone and they were very supportive of my decision. It wasn't easy, but trust me, if you have known me for the past year you'd be understand as well. I am still fully going to be making music.

"Honestly i'll probably be making more at this point. Im also going to be doing more producing and songwriting which is a massive passion of mine. ALSO for those wondering i will still be making hardcore music. I have a new band (well not that new in reality… but new to you!) called beartooth that is a hardcore band where i will be screaming and yelling and singing and running around on a stage generally making a fool of myself and all that good stuff i did in AA.

"I cant tell you how much i'll be touring or when. But i will be putting out tons of music and i definitely will be playing shows! So if you get a chance, come hang! As of now i really feel that in my life i have needed some stability and rest. this is a time for me to recoup mentally and prepare for my next chapter of life (whatever that has in store.) I also am stoked for AA. Their new singer who will be taking the role i used to play is Phil Druyor of I Am Abomination, who is about a bagillion times more awesome singer then i am if i do say so myself.

"From what I've heard while hanging out with Wetzel and Whiting (which i still do, so don't start going around making up some stupid story that we hate each other or something like that… ya crazy kids) the new music is awesome! Very unique and still very much so AA.

"Music is there and partying so check it out if you wanna hear what i'll be up to from here on out in the aggressive music genre.

"To everybody who was or is involved with AA, has ever come out to an AA show, was in a band that I played a show with, has ever bought an AA cd, has ever encouraged me in my music and told me to keep going, has ever loved me through my past year even though it was very difficult to sometimes, thank you for some of the best and most memorable years of my life. There has been plenty of good and plenty of bad, but i wouldn't trade the last 5 years for anything.