Chicago death metallers BROKEN HOPE have issued a band and album update. Read on for the latest news, straight from the band themselves:

"We want to give you all a quick Broken Hope update before the New Year, and we have some exciting news! First, congratulations to Broken Hope's own Shaun Glass on the birth of his first child: Maddux Burton Glass, born December 17th, 2012. Maddux enters the world just before Christmas and just as Broken Hope is writing the new album!

Speaking of the new album, we can officially say that we've written 11 songs so far - and are still trucking along with more material. The new material is so ferocious, we jokingly sum up the vibe of the new music as Reign In Bowels because it's like someone took SLAYER's Reign In Blood and mated that intensity and horror with the extremity and sickness of Broken Hope's Bowels of Repugnance album... It's insanely heavy and unrelenting! That said, here's a couple song titles we can release to you all - chew on these: 'The Flesh Mechanic' and 'Give Me The Bottom Half'. We can't wait for you to hear 'em all! Happy Holidays everyone!"

Broken Hope was formed in 1988 by Wagner, while he was in high school. Shortly after formation, they recorded two demo tapes and signed with indie label, Grind-Core Records. Then in 1991, they released their debut album, Swamped In Gore, launching the band out of the underground and into the mainstream. From there, the band signed to Metal Blade Records and released three more albums, all stellar examples of Broken Hope's fury, which etched their place in death-metal history.

After Broken Hope's last album (1999's Grotesque Blessings) and world tours, Wagner cleaned house and put BH into "metal hibernation" in 2000. On January 20, 2010, original BH vocalist Joe Ptacek tragically committed suicide. He was only 37 years old. Before his death, Ptacek met with Wagner and Glass and discussed the resurrection of BH. With Ptacek's death, Wagner and Glass took time off to reconsider their next moves.

In 2012, BH signed with Hard Impact Management and vowed to make BH a full-time monster - forever. Wagner and Glass recruited longtime friend and GORGASM vocalist, Damian Leski, as their new vocalist, and shortly after marked their return on the highly successful Carnival Of Death tour. BH's high-intensity COD concerts received top-praise, and confirmed BH was back, and more rabid than ever. BH is currently booked for the 2013 editions of Extremefest (Germany) and Maryland Death Fest.

Broken Hope's first decade was filled with non-stop writing, touring, and constant visibility. The next chapter in their career will be much the same.

Broken Hope lineup:

Damian Leski - Vocals

Jeremy Wagner - Guitars

Shaun Glass - Bass

Chuck Wepfer - Lead Guitars

Mike Miczek - Drums

More on Broken Hope at this location.