Seeing Suffocation live is a thing of beauty in large part because of vocalist Frank Mullen. The dude’s a great performer and talented death metal vocalist, no doubt, but at least half the reason I go to see Suffocation live is to hear Mullen’s between-song banter. The guy is an absolute character, and the things that come out of his mouth between songs are sage pieces of advice and wisdom culled from decades of being a man from Long Island. It must be witnessed to be believed! There’s a reason we named the guy the seventh best frontman in modern metal in our countdown a few years back.

So it is with great sadness we report today that this coming fall’s Suffocation tour will be their last with Mullen. Mullen had already retreated into a part-time role in recent years, with Ricky Myers and Kevin Muller having taken on the bulk of the band’s live vocal duties since 2014 and Mullen joining for select dates and, of course, in the studio. But now it seems that, too, will come to an end.

A press release tells us that the tour — which will run in October and November and feature Cattle Decapitation, Krisiun and Soreption as openers — will be Frank’s last in North America, which would seem to imply that a European run with Mullen is in the works.

Here’s what Frank had to say about his departure from the band:

“Hello my friends – so this is it, after 30 years of being a part of this amazing band, which I have had the opportunity to tour the world and bring our music to the sickest fans on the planet, it has come to this time – I bid you a farewell. “I would like to thank first and foremost, all of my brothers in SUFFOCATION who I have shared the stage with over the years. We have had the sickest of times on the road, and recorded some of the sickest fucking music the planet has ever heard. Secondly I want to thank ALL OUR FANS AND FRIENDS WORLDWIDE, who have helped make this journey possible by supporting us unconditionally. None of this would have been possible without you. So in closing, I will miss you all. This has been the craziest ride of my life and I would not change a thing! Until we meet up again take care, stay brutal and I look forward to the next chapter. “But before I take my final step off the stage, to give back to all of you who have supported, me and the boys are going to head out on the DEATH CHOPPING NORTH AMERICA tour. Along with some insane support acts including CATTLE DECAPITATION, KRISIUN, and SOREPTION! I hope to see you all for one last ride across North America. Stay brutal.”

Tickets go on sale Friday, August 10th at Suffocation’s official website. Dates:

10.21: Wantagh, NY @ Mulcahy’s Concert Hall

10.22: Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Down

10.23: Montreal, QC @ Les Foufounes Electriques

10.24: Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Place

10.25: Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick

10.26: Joliet, IL @ The Forge

10.27: St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar and Grill

10.29: Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room

10.30: Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre

10.31: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall

11.01: Jerome, ID @ Diamondz Event Center

11.02: Seattle, WA @ Club Sur Rocks

11.03: Portland, OR @ Dante’s

11.04: Oakland, CA @ Oakland Metro

11.05: West Hollywood, CA @ Whisky A Go Go **

11.06: San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick **

11.07: Mesa, AZ @ Club Red

11.09: San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger

11.10: Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Bar ‘N Grill

11.11: Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall

11.13: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade

11.14: Charlotte, NC @ The Underground

11.15: Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar

11.16: New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre

11.17: Reading, PA @ Reverb

** – No Cattle Decapitation