Arctic Monkeys have “pretty much” finished and set to be released next year, according to drummer Matt Helders.

The band have been basically silent since the release of ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’ in 2018, bar releasing a live album recorded at the Royal Albert Hall last year.

During a new interview with BBC Radio 5 Live as part of the BBC’s Drumathon event, Helders spilled the beans on progress on the new album.

Asked if the album was finished, he replied: “Yeah, pretty much, yeah. It was a bit disjointed how we had to do it, and there are bits to finish off, but yeah, it’s all in the works.”

He added: “I think by the time we get everything together it’ll be next year. Hopefully we can get out and tour next summer.”

The news comes after a Suffolk wedding venue accidentally revealed back in July that the band had been recording there, signalling the start of work on Arctic Monkeys’ seventh album.

“We’ve had a band staying with us for the last month recording an album,” the post said. “Musicians love the acoustics in the Great Hall and Drawing Room, with their huge vaulted ceilings. Being serenaded while watering and weeding the garden, listening to the double bass, drums and piano wafting out of the open double doors, was pretty nice. Thank you, Arctic Monkeys.”

Stay tuned for more…