Dierks Bentley has announced the release of a brand-new album, Black, coming early this year.

Black will be Bentley's eighth studio album; his last disc, Riser, was released in February of 2014. In a press release, the singer describes the project as "a relationship album."

"To do it right, I had to dig deep as a writer, dig into the Nashville songwriting community, and record songs that explore the shadows and edges of the heart," Bentley explains. "The songs on Black range from the lonesomeness of an impossible relationship to ones that describe the feeling of finding that person that makes you forget the one that broke your heart."

Bentley began recording Black with producer Ross Copperman and executive producer Arturo Buenahora Jr. -- also the team behind Riser -- in February of 2015. The country star took a break from the studio during his 2015 Sounds of Summer Tour, then returned for more recording in the fall.

“There’s a realness to the concept, the songs, the process and the production. And the title … Black is mysterious and sexy and has an edge that describes the sounds we were going for,” Bentley says. “A lot of it happens after dark, in the black of night. It’s personal too … Black is my wife's maiden name."

According to a press release, the lead single from Black will be released in the next few weeks. An official release date for the full record has not yet been announced, but the album is already available for pre-order via Bentley's official website. Fans who pre-order the disc will receive bonus tracks and videos, special merchandise and "Black Card" member experiences on Bentley's 2016 tour.

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