Stated band would start working on seventh studio album

In March 2010, Aaron Lewis stated the band would start working on their seventh studio album by the end of the year. Lewis had finished recording his country music solo EP and had started a nonprofit organization to reopen his daughter’s elementary school in Worthington, Massachusetts . Guitarist Mike Mushok stated in a Q&A session with fans that the band was looking to make a heavy record, but still “explore some of the things we did on the last record and take them somewhere new for us”. In a webisode posted on the band’s website, Lewis stated that eight songs were written and that “every one of them is as heavy or heavier than the heaviest song on the last record”. The band originally planned on recording with Nick Raskulinecz , but ended up working with The Illusion of Progress producer Johnny K , much to Wysocki’s dismay.