THE BEAST

HELLYEAH has confirmed that it will release its new album in 2019. The LP will mark the band's final effort with drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott , who passed away in June.

HELLYEAH revealed its plans to issue the LP in a short Thanksgiving message on the group's Facebook page. The band wrote: "Happy Thanksgiving Hellions!! See you all next year and with a new record that is going to blow you away!!"

Vinnie Paul died of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease. His death was the result of chronic weakening of the heart muscle — basically meaning his heart couldn't pump blood as well as a healthy heart.

Not long before his death, Vinnie laid down the drum tracks for HELLYEAH 's sixth album.

Like the last two records, 2016's "Unden!able" and 2014's "Blood For Blood" , the new disc was recorded at The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada with producer Kevin Churko .

Vinnie Paul revealed in January that HELLYEAH was "close to about halfway" done recording its sixth LP, which he said was sounding "amazing." He added: "Every record since 'Blood For Blood' has just been a big, gigantic mountain for us to build and build and this one has already reached a plateau that I know is gonna be… It's gonna top 'Unden!able' ."

Guitarist Tom Maxwell stated about the musical direction of HELLYEAH 's new disc: "Every record that we've done, especially since 'Blood' , we've kind of kept the tree growing, growing different branches here and there off the main root, and it's no different with this one. It's gonna be a little bit outside the box, there's gonna be some stuff that people haven't heard from us but will understand that we did it, because we're all over the board, as you know; we don't pigeonhole ourselves as just being full-blown heavy all the time. So it's gonna be a good record, when it comes out, eventually."

In late June, singer Chad Gray released a statement on the death of Vinnie Paul , saying that dealing with his passing "has been one of the toughest things I've ever had to face in my life. I'm so confused, sad and as helpless as I've ever been," he said. "I'm at a loss and completely devastated. But I'm trying. It's the equivalent of an emotional riot in my head and in my heart as I write this. But I'm trying to focus on anything good. I know Vinnie would want that. And the good things are my memories of him. His smile, his infectious laugh and his personality that beamed light."

Gray added: "I just want to say, thank you, Vinnie Paul ! For saving my life, for your music, for your endless generosity, for accepting me into your life, for creating our music that touched people, for being proud to be in HELLYEAH and for always treating me like a brother and more importantly for treating me like a friend... I will always love you and go to the end of the earth to carry the torch for you and Dime 's legacy."

Abbott 's brother, guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott , was shot to death in December 2004 while performing onstage. The Abbotts founded the bands PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN together. After Dimebag 's death, Abbott joined Gray and other members of MUDVAYNE and NOTHINGFACE in HELLYEAH , which has released five albums. Via Blabbermouth