The metal world has taken some serious hits this year health-wise. Peter Steele, Ronnie James Dio, Debbie Abono, most recently Early Graves frontman Makh Daniels… and while Behemoth frontman Adam “Nergal” Darski’s diagnosis certainly isn’t death, it certainly isn’t good.

Nergal is “seriously ill and waiting for [his] multi-stage treatment,” and as such all planned tour dates including the upcoming MS-sponsored U.S. trek with Watain, Withered and Black Anvil have been canceled, according to an official message from Nergal himself:

I do not want to bore you with details, but I can no longer hide the fact that I am seriously ill and waiting for my multi-stage treatment, which can take up to several months. Thus, we have not choice but to cancel the coming summer festivals, planned for September and October tour of Russia and the Baltic States and the November tour of the USA. I’ve got a rather difficult period, and a lot of work but I became hardened in the fire, is not it? You know me, so that you know that out of this I will become stronger than ever. We will then rebook all the concerts and return with greater momentum. At this time, I feel good, my head is ready to fight the disease, everything is under the control of professionals. I have with me the most wonderful and loving woman, family, team, managers and people from publishing companies who are doing everything to support me. I do ask of you just a little bit of patience. I would add that the fact that in the near future we will not be touring but will not be in hibernation. We have a lot to offer you in the coming months, Behemoth will be working on many other fronts. In coming days expect release of our latest clip “Alas, Lord Is Upon Me.” Ensures that this is the most perfect, the most provocative and stimulating I have ever made a picture. In addition, we will finish work on the DVD release “Evangelia Heretika” which will be released in November of this year. We will keep you informed about what is happening in our camp. Horns Up!”

Whatever it is sounds really terrible and there are only a small handful of things it could possibly be, all of them bad. We’ll update you with more details as we have them available.

There’s not much else to say other than that this really, really sucks. While we don’t personally know Nergal the man, we intimately know Nergal the musician and hope he can get back to blackening our metallic souls as soon as possible. Speedy recovery to Nergal and best wishes to him and his family on behalf of everyone at MS.