Kataklysm's Jean-François Dagenais Tests Positive for COVID-19

The Canadian guitarist says he's "fine and...will get over it"

Photo: Carlos Oliver (@carlosoliverphotography)

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Aug 24, 2020

Ahead of releasing new album Unconquered next month, Kataklysm have shared new that guitarist and co-founder Jean-François Dagenais has tested positive for COVID-19.

The Canadian headbangers first informed listeners of Dagenais's diagnosis on Saturday (August 22), ahead of the axe man sharing an update himself today.

"First, I want to thank everyone for the outpour of support from all our awesome fans and music colleagues around the world It really gave me a morale boost!" Dagenais wrote, recalling how last week began like any other until symptoms surfaced.

"On Wednesday morning I woke up and felt like I got hit by a train; I had a slight fever, body aches, and very low energy," he recalled. "The next day I went to my doctor after no improvement and they administered the COVID test to be on the safe side. It came back positive and I was shocked because I'm the extra careful type of guy. I wear a mask religiously, wash my hands, and barely go out."

Dagenais wrote that over this past weekend, he "started to feel much better and started feeling like my old self again," adding, "Luckily, I am in decent health with no underlying conditions." 

"I will self-quarantine at home with my family (so far they are fine) and will be free of this thing in no time," the guitarist concluded. "I don't want to make a big thing out of this and overshadow the new album but wanted to share the news that anyone can get this so be careful out there. It is a nasty bug, the first few days were brutal but at the end of the day, I'm fine and I will get over it."

You can read his full statement below.

Unconquered arrives September 25 through Nuclear Blast and follows Kataklysm's 2018 album MeditationsDagenais recorded and engineered the band's latest at his JFD Studio in Dallas.

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