In 2020, Tim became a father and settled into his role as a husband and father, while music took a backseat. In 2021, Tim returned to music, working with friend and talented musician, Alex Michel. With their friend, Jason Bradley, on board, the three began working as a band to create new music. Ultimately, Tim needed to step back from the project due to continuing health problems and his role as a father.

In early 2022, Tim was diagnosed with Covid-19 pneumonia. The illness progressed rapidly in February, and near the end of February, doctor’s gave Tim and his wife the news that he would not survive the illness. After a day of grief and prayer with his family, and counsel from his pastor and mentor, Wade Apel, Tim declared that the illness would not take him, that he was going to fight and survive for his daughter and his wife.

The following 2 months were a tumultuous time in the Matthews family, as Tim struggled, clinging to life at times. During the darkest part of his hospitalization, Tim saw a vision, in which he rode upon a horse through a field of golden, wind-tipped reeds, his grandmother, Vivian, at his side. The ride led to a crossroad in which he saw Jesus with his arms held wide. Tim recalls hearing Jesus’ voice offering him either way home, without seeing Jesus speak. Home to heaven or home to his earthly life with his wife and daughter. In this vision, Tim chose home with his wife and daughter.

“I remember waking up with my wife sitting beside the bed, and I could barely speak at the time as I had received a tracheotomy and was on a ventilator,” he says. “I just remember telling her, and knowing without a doubt, that there was nothing to worry about, even in death.”

After 91 days in the hospital from January and into May of 2022, Tim was released from the hospital. The arduous process on recovery began and would continue well into 2023. During that time, Tim decided that he would return to music once again and write an album about his time and trepidation with Covid and made that his resolution for 2024.

Tim re-founded Shadows in the Dark in January, 2024, and began writing almost immediately. As the album came together, Tim worked with other musicians including his father, Stephen, long-time friend Alex Michel, as well as gifted musician and friend, Dawson Armstrong. Later that year, Dawson would join Tim as lead guitarist of Shadows in the Dark. Together, the two began working to finish the vision Tim had begun.

After a quiet July, Shadows in the Dark emerged, re-born as a Christian rock band, and announced the title of the album would be, Dead. Fighter. Survivor. Its release is slated for later in the year, with their first single, Contemplation, coming soon.