HELLYEAH, the southern-fried metal band featuring drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott (ex-PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN), singer Chad Gray and guitarist Greg Tribbett (MUDVAYNE), guitarist Tom Maxwell (NOTHINGFACE) and bassist Bob "Zilla" Kakaha (ex-Damageplan, are expected to release their third album, tentatively in late spring/early summer.

The band's as-yet-untitled third album was recorded at Vinnie Paul's Alrington, Texas home studio and was mixed by Jeremy Parker (GODSMACK, EVANESCENCE). Some song titles set to appear include: 'Call It Like I See It', 'War In Me' and 'Drink, Drank, Drunk'.

In a new interview with Loudwire, Vinnie Paul discusses the new album and more. An excerpt follows:

Q: Exactly where are you with Hellyeah’s third album?

A: "The record is done. I’ve been mixing it for last week in Las Vegas. On our first two records, we were a new band. We really wanted to branch out and expand and experiment with all different styles. We all come from traditional metal bands and backgrounds, so it was a great breath of fresh air to play in a band that was rock ‘n’ roll, blues and Southern rock. We got that out of our system and got really focused on going back to our metal roots. It’s heavy, focused, groove-oriented and I’m excited about it."

Q: Has that bluesy, Southern rawk element been abandoned altogether? Or is it still there somewhat, just in lesser form?

A: "There is some of that in there, but when we started writing, we thought, ‘Let’s take this to a place we haven’t been all the way yet.’ We’ve been super diverse, from songs like ‘Alcohaulin’ Ass’ to ‘Better Man,’ but this one honks from start to finish!"

Q: Honks, huh? I like that.

A: "It’s about getting your groove on — that’s what we used to do. The first two records were the chance to breathe and expand and do something we hadn’t done in our past and in our other bands. When you meld guys from Pantera, Mudvayne and Nothingface, this is what you get. It just honks."

Read the complete interview at this location.

Sam Roon from SkullsNBones sat down with Jason Lekberg from Eleven Seven Music in New York City to get a preview of Hellyeah's third album. Check out the clip below: