HELLYEAH Guitarist Talks Next Album

HELLYEAH guitarist Tom Maxwell has told Noisecreep that work on the band's sophomore album will resume later this month, after vocalist Chad Gray and guitarist Greg Tribbett finish their MUDVAYNE touring cycle.

"When that [process] starts, I will [be] on the road for the next two years," Maxwell said. "Me, Greg and Vinnie [Paul Abbott; HELLYEAH/ex-PANTERA drummer] recently got together first to see what direction we can take the record. The first week, we wrote five songs. It has a lot of continuity to the first record, but it's still a heavy, riff-driven sound. But hook after hook after hook is what I am after. I want every song to be undeniable."

Maxwell also revealed that "the new HELLYEAH record will have the same properties of one the one before it, but with a fresher vibe and more fire, since we know who and what we are."

HELLYEAH are currently free agents after issuing their 2007 debut through Epic Records. Abbott explained to DallasObserver.com, "We had a one-disc deal with Epic, and they're practically begging us to come back. We sold nearly 500,000 records for them, which is practically unheard of these days. That's like going platinum 10 years ago."

Abbott, who bounced back with HELLYEAH from the devastating 2004 murder of his brother and bandmate "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, said about the band, "The guys from HELLYEAH and the incredible music we've created have brought me back to what I love . . . The vibe is positive with a kick-your-ass attitude."

HELLYEAH's self-titled debut has sold more than 350,000 copies since arriving in April 2007.

On the other hand, MUDVAYNE's latest offering, "The New Game", came out last fall but did not match the gold-level sales of the band's previous three studio efforts. The record was delayed by both HELLYEAH's extended live schedule and MUDVAYNE's desire to write additional material after the record was completed.