Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders has given the strongest hint yet that the band will release their new studio album later this year.
It is two years since Arctic Monkeys released their last effort, 2011s 'Suck It and See', and speaking to NME at the NME Awards in London recently, Helders spoke about the relaxed atmosphere the band have enjoyed while recording in America. Asked what he has been up to recently, the drummer said: "I have been in the desert… with motorcycles. Not with Josh [Homme], no. The band's just been working together, the band working on our own so far, writing and stuff."
He added: "There's no time deadlines or anything like that for release. We're just getting back into it, because it always takes a while to get back into it."
Quizzed on what the album will sound like, Helders replied simply by saying: "2013". Then asked if that meant the album will definitely be out by the end of the year, he added: "Well, we'd be stupid if we made a 2013 album and released it next year."
Matt Helders has previously stated that he felt the band's third album, 'Humbug', was unfairly criticised while frontman Alex Turner has hinted that any new material is likely to be heavier and louder than before, inspired by the success of their 2012 single 'R U Mine?'
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