He has popped up here and there since the band called it quits for good in 2011 but his debut solo album, Talk, is his first substantial piece of work since Silverchair's 2007 album Young Modern.
And different and divisive it is - Johns well and truly closes the door on the angst-ridden grunge rock that he's so well remembered for, instead diving deep into electronic R'n'B territory with slow, simmering tracks like Aerial Love and Warm Hands, both produced by Kiwi Joel Little.
He pushes the trippy vibe further on songs like Chained and Faithless.
"I just kind of figured that I would be completely out of the loop by the time my record was ready and I didn't really make any effort to become part of the loop," Johns says of the eight years in which he retreated from the limelight.
"After working with a lot of people, collaborating on other artists' records, I just decided to write the record that I wanted to hear.
"And if it resonated with people, that was good. It was never high on my agenda to be substantially relevant or anything. I just wanted it to be really good, so that I could be proud of it."
So far, so good, with critics across the Tasman giving Talk the big thumbs up.
Of course Daniels, who has courted plenty of controversy in his career - including this year's drink-driving conviction - isn't too fazed by what the music scribes think. Although he will admit it's nice to know there are positive reviews out there.
"It's always one of those things - you think you don't care about it until you get good reviews and then all of a sudden you care.
If they're bad, you don't care. If they're good, they know what they're talking about."
Daniel Johns' debut solo album Talk is out now.
