Sixx A.M., the band featuring Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx alongside guitarist DJ Ashba and vocalist James Michael, is putting the finishing touches on a new double album, to be released in two parts next year. Sixx writes on his Facebook page: "Fuck yes. Finished all my bass parts for both Sixx A.M. albums today. Tour dates and album releases being planned as we speak. DJ Ashba has just a few more solos and guitar tracks to go as James Michael is finalizing his lead vocals and then starting the mixing process."

He adds: "I feel like we have topped ourselves on both albums song-wise, but in the end, our fans will make that decision for us."

Sixx A.M. last spring completed its first headline tour, a limited run of North American dates that was a huge success and the catalyst for the group's most prolific period.

Speaking to Rolling Stone about Sixx A.M.'s as-yet-untitled new records, Sixx said: "They'll be companion pieces, named 'Volume One' and 'Volume Two', and they'll come out with a little bit of space between them. Because when a band releases a double album, a lot of times, about halfway through the second record, you say, 'Sounds like they ran out of gas!' So by putting them out separately we'll give the fans time to absorb each one fully. They'll get the first one. They'll stream it. They'll feel it. They'll hear it live. And then it'll be, 'Here comes another one!' "

According to Sixx, the two albums will be linked thematically and sonically, although it is not clear to what extent. "There are tent poles that we're working with, but they could still change," he said. "The one thing I can say is that, in Sixx A.M., we always connect darkness to light, whether it's something like "Life Is Beautiful" or "This is Gonna Hurt", or even "Stars". There's a lot about our own experiences in our songs, but there's also always a light at the end of the tunnel, because we've lived through those experiences. And on the new material, those themes are maybe even a little bit heavier."

Sixx described the new Sixx A.M. music as heavy. "I'll give you an example," he told Rolling Stone. "We have two ballads that we've written, and they're both heavier than the heaviest song on our last record. This thing we're working on is like a monster hiding in the shadows. It's beautiful. It'll seduce you. But it'll also pounce on you and eat your heart."

Nikki previously said that the band's new effort would contain over 22 songs and would be tied in with a 24-month world tour.