Aerosmith Working on New Album, Eyeing May 2012 Release

Aerosmith is involved in something "raw" and "nasty," according to longtime producer Jack Douglas (Clutch), and for once, it's not a disagreement between Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.

In a recent web post, Douglas revealed that the Boston hard-rock vets will release their 14th studio album sometime around May 2012. Sessions began in early July, Blabbermouth.net reports, but with South American and Japanese tours scheduled for the fall and early winter, the band won't be able to resume recording until January.

The forthcoming record will be Aerosmith's first collection of original material since 2001's 'Just Push Play.' While the group has remained active over the last decade -- touring regularly and releasing the covers disc 'Honkin' on Bobo' in 2004 -- its music has often been overshadowed by interpersonal squabbling.

The band nearly split up in 2009, as Perry, the lead guitarist, indicated that Tyler had quit. While the frontman never actually left, his decision in August 2010 to serve as a judge on 'American Idol' exacerbated tensions between the so-called Toxic Twins.

Despite all the drama, bassist Tom Hamilton says he's excited about the new project. In a video on the band's website, he discussed what Douglas brings to the table.

"For those of you who don't know who Jack is, he's the guy who we worked with, producing our best albums of the '70s - 'Get Your Wings', 'Toys In The Attic' and 'Rocks,'" Hamilton said. 'And it's really gonna be cool, because there's no one that knows more about the soul of this band and the creative part of this band [than] Jack.'