Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell has confirmed that the band recently finished recording their new album, due out in 2013. The new disc will mark the follow-up to their 2009 release ‘Black Gives Way to Blue.’ Alice in Chains started working on the new tunes back in 2011 but were sidelined when Cantrell had to undergo surgery on his shoulder.

Back in the saddle, Cantrell recently spoke to Guitar World about the pressures surrounding the new disc, saying, “It’s like having to deal with the sophomore jinx for the second time in our career.” Cantrell, of course, is referring to writing and recording music with the band’s new lineup several years after the tragic passing of singer Layne Staley in 2002. The band’s current lineup features Cantrell joined by William DuVall on vocals and guitar, Mike Inez on bass and Sean Kinney on drums.

For the new disc, Alice in Chains worked with producer Nick Raskulinecz whose resume includes work with the Deftones and the Foo Fighters and engineer Paul Figueroa.

Cantrell talked about how the post-Staley Alice In Chains measures up, explaining, "In my opinion, that record [Black Gives Way to Blue] stood up to anything else we’ve put out in our career and this new one is right up there, as well."

Although no official release date has been confirmed yet, it has been speculated the disc may make its debut within the first few months of the new year. With Alice in Chains already confirmed as one of the top acts for the 2013 Download festival, it looks like it could be a busy year for the Seattle rockers.

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