Skillet is looking at the summer of 2019 as the release window for their next LP, according to frontman John Cooper. The album - their 10th - will be the the follow-up to the acclaimed Unleashed record, which came out in the summer of 2016.

"It’s been so crazy," Cooper tells Consequence of Sound. "As of seven weeks ago, we were supposed to be releasing a brand-new Skillet record in October. And six months before that, we had planned to release the new album this past January. Now, we’re not going to release it until next year. [Skillet drummer] Jen [Ledger] has a new solo project, Ledger, and we want to give her time to build her brand while keeping Skillet alive."

"It’s a juggling act," Cooper continues. "My wife Korey and I worked on Jen’s record, and it’s an awesome record. So, we decided that with Jen’s project and everything else going on, we’re going to wait on the Skillet record, even though we’re about 70% done with it. When we decided to wait, I made the move to release my Fight the Fury EP now. Then, we’ll come hitting hard with Skillet in the summer. Next summer is the plan for the new Skillet album to come out, because the record is almost done."

Cooper adds that while it's too early to say exactly what the music on the new Skillet will sound like, he expects it to go into a heavier direction, which was previewed a bit on the extended edition of the Unleashed LP.

"There’s a song called 'Breaking Free,' which people said they liked and sounded heavy for Skillet," he says. "It’s a song that I produced on my own, because I wanted Skillet to have a little more teeth. I do think the new album is going to be a bit heavier, but we’re going to have those arena anthems and also some duets with Jen and me, which our fans love. I’m excited for it."

Fight the Fury's debut EP Still Breathing comes out tomorrow (Oct. 26). December will see the band do a brief tour of Russia and the Ukraine. The full list of dates can be found here.

Skillet's John Cooper: Don't Tell Me Rock Is Dead