Arctic Monkeys in 'early stages' of writing new album
Arctic Monkeys are in the "early stages" of trying to "write a [new] record".
Drummer Matt Helders has revealed the group are working on a follow-up to 2018's 'Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino', but the band have been "faced with various obstacles" amid the coronavirus pandemic.
He said: "Being separated by the sea is one of them.
"We're all eager to do it - we would have been doing it by now in a normal time.
"There's definitely a desire from our end to do a new record, as soon as we can."
The 34-year-old stickman - who is originally from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, where his fellow band members, Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, and Nick O'Malley also hail from - is currently based in Los Angeles, where he has been working on his drumming.
Speaking on Instagram Live, he added: "I've got drums here.
"[I'm] always trying to improve on and study certain things."
Matt's comments come after the 'R U Mine?' group's manager Ian McAndrew revealed last month that the British rockers are working on new tunes.
He said: "They're working on music.
"In this rather disjointed time, the guys are beavering away and I hope that next year they'll start working on some new songs, new ideas, with a view on a future release.
"There were recording plans in the summertime that got canned as a result of the travel restrictions."
The group released their debut album, 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not', 15 years ago, in January 2006.
Matt Helders
Ian Mcandrew
Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not