Hinder frontman Austin Winkler told Billboard on Wednesday (November 14th) that a "really dark drug binge" fueled much of his songwriting on the band's upcoming fourth album, Welcome To The Freakshow. Winkler explained to us what his state of mind was during this tough period: "I was in a very, very, very dark addiction, and you can kind of hear the turmoil in my voice and stuff like that. And, you know, as soon as we got the record done I went into treatment to get help, and it's interesting to go back and listen to it now."

• Winkler told Billboard that he entered rehab as soon as the record was finished. The album is due out on December 4th and follows 2010's All American Nightmare.
• The first single, "Save Me," touches on Winkler's struggle, with him saying, "I had a really nasty attitude in that song, but I had a blast singing and recording it. I think it's our heaviest single yet, and we're getting a pretty good response."
• The vocalist called the new disc "really diverse," adding that "it's going to surprise a lot of people."
• Hinder will open for Lynyrd Skynyrd on November 16th in Durant, Oklahoma and plans to mount a full tour once 2013 rolls around.

CHECK IT OUT: Watch fan-filmed footage of Hinder performing "Save Me" in San Antonio, Texas last month:

WHAT DO YOU THINK??

• Is the idea of an album being fueled by a "drug binge" kind of cliched by now?
• Is it refreshing to have a rock musician be so candid about what he was doing while making an album?
• Should rock stars worry about being seen as role models?

 Hinder's Austin Winkler On Drug Binge Inspiring Album

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