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Arctic Monkeys going 'full on Black Sabbath' for new album

Band speak to NME.COM about eagerly awaited third LP

Arctic Monkeys have explained that their forthcoming new album will be "full on" to the extent that some parts are influenced by Black Sabbath.

Frontman Alex Turner told NME.COM that the band started work on the album last summer, using their trip to the Latitude festival for inspiration.

"We went to Latitude, ripped it up, wrote on our faces and eventually wrote some songs," he said. "We spent the first day there on the most complicated riff you've ever heard.

"It goes round in seven-and-a-half-time. We used it in the end, it's on an intro. It was like [Black] Sabbath."

The band also confirmed that they plan to release the album before their headline performances at the Reading And Leeds Festivals in August.

To read an exclusive cover feature with Arctic Monkeys, featuring in-the-studio photographs from their album sessions in New York, see the new issue of NME, out now.

Photo Gallery: behind the scenes on Arctic Monkeys' NME cover shoot

Arctic Monkeys tickets:

Date / Time	Artist	Venue	Town/City	Buy
Nov 16, 2009 19:30	Arctic Monkeys	Newcastle Metro Radio Arena	Newcastle	Buy Arctic Monkeys tickets from Seetickets
Nov 17, 2009 19:30	Arctic Monkeys	Wembley Arena	London	Buy Arctic Monkeys tickets from Seetickets
Nov 18, 2009 19:30	Arctic Monkeys	Wembley Arena	London	Buy Arctic Monkeys tickets from Seetickets
Nov 20, 2009 19:30	Arctic Monkeys	National Indoor Arena	Birmingham	Buy Arctic Monkeys tickets from Seetickets
Nov 21, 2009 19:30	Arctic Monkeys	Manchester Evening News Arena	Manchester	Buy Arctic Monkeys tickets from Seetickets
Nov 22, 2009 19:30	Arctic Monkeys	Trent Fm Arena	Nottingham	Buy Arctic Monkeys tickets from Seetickets

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Comments (25)

Add a comment

RealMode

May 21, 2009

i really dislike this band - look at them, bloody backstreet boys, it's so obvious with these new clothes and haircuts that they stole it from Kings of Leon and want to make it big in America. Pathetic pricks.

3258stuart

May 21, 2009

thought i'd try get in before shityourlegoff . The arctic monkeys do bore the shit out of me very over rated.

jlong5000

May 21, 2009

that'll be wicked if it does come out around august. can't wait to hear that shitt

drum2780

May 21, 2009

Realmode, I see your point on the change of look............ apart from the drummer. not really KOL is it.........?

t_payne

May 21, 2009

Sounds a bit pretentious.

mdelan

May 21, 2009

Arctic Monkeys going all 'Black Sabbath' on us? I don't think so... Remember how The Enemy said their new album would be punk influenced, an what a pile of limp-wristed cack that turned out to be.

grovesy88

May 21, 2009

Why comment that you don't like a band? just carry on to the next post, why spend time doing moaning?

rich119uk

May 21, 2009

RealMode and 3258stuart, what the hell are you both on about? So they've grown their hair, probably going for the in the studio look, big deal. Also they are not overrated, are you forgetting how brilliant their first 2 albums are? The strokes set up the indie scene, so many bands have come along and been a pale imitation, but the arctic monkeys came along and actually made 2 of the best albums of this decade.

Jimmy_Bass

May 21, 2009

rich119uk - no way man! The first album was alright, but the second was such a bland go no where record, apart from the odd few tracks.

piyaface

May 21, 2009

Whoopy-shit, they've grown their hair. They are in a band. Anyone who slags them for that is obviously a jealous, baldy slap-head.

geetar

May 21, 2009

"The strokes set up the indie scene''?? That's a bit of a short sighted comment to make. Indie music's history stretches back a lot further than 2001! Apart from that, any criticism against all these people who moan under almost every news story I'm in complete agreement with. It's so easy to be negative and to blindly slag bands off (I'm talking about the serial offenders here. Everyone's entitled to an isolated rant now and then). It's lazy and boring and just opens you up to ridicule yourself. If you don't like the music, go onto another news story and read about that instead. I'm sick of it. People slating bands indescrimately and without, for the majority of the time, a valid reason - it's dull.

eddy5116

May 21, 2009

'2 of the best albums of the decade' Are you having a laugh?

nigestorm

May 21, 2009

Comparin the monkeys to the Enemy. :)The lads havin made bad record yet and both records and every EP released is different. Not enough bands like them around. Its the year of the monkey !! The enemy are a pile of shite. Shouldn't be mentioned in same breath!

Rickylee1985

May 21, 2009

Rich119uk - Your joking right? The only thing worst than this band is their fans until you reach rock bottom...Oasis. How can they claim this will be influenced by black sabbath? I will put money on it being just another twangy indie album that the masses will lap right up because their told too.

rich119uk

May 21, 2009

what is it with people hating second albums....anyone with a bit of sense can see it's a quality album...but because the first was a classic, it's therefore trendy to say the second album is 'disappointing'. Ok my strokes setting up indie statement was a bit vague, but it's true that they opened the door for franz ferdinand, the libertines etc...they released is this it when that style of music was hardly in the charts etc...i know indie existed before then...but im just using them as an example as a band helping to create a whole new scene. Which they did.

Geo91

May 21, 2009

LOL, The Strokes created indie, never thought I would hear that.Anyway by the law this album is going to be average, but they've got a new look so nobody will notice, I'm sure the NME will make a big fuss out of Jamie's moustache like they did Brandon Flowers'.A bit dissappointed they're going down the 70s rock route rather than something a bit more interesting. C'est la vie.

MPR arctic junkie

May 21, 2009

rich119uk is right, the arctics are easily one of the best bands in the world, witty songs about experiences. both albums have been amazing and cannot be disliked, although i dont want to go heavy i know this album will still be amazing.

Eastpaw

May 21, 2009

It better be good.

glimmers_of_hope

May 21, 2009

I bumped into them at Latitude watching Glasvegas, they were nice guys.I'm looking forward to the new album...it won't actually sound like Sabbath.

NicholaCarr

May 22, 2009

I loove this band from their new er...do's to their probably equally hairy toes. can't wait for new album. arctic monkeys meets josh 'sexiest ever ginger (apart from sonia) homme it's never goin to be bad is it? i cannot stress that enough. however... jamie IS wearing a shooting jacket. not quite sure where that came from but the stylist needs a kick in the shin.

cazINDIE

May 24, 2009

Rickylee1985 why are you on nme.com? giving 'twangy indie' albums to the masses is kind of the business they're in. love it or leave it, but leave AM out of it.

Splendid Fool

May 25, 2009

After a disastrous 2nd LP, it's a relief to learn that Arctic Monkeys try to branch off for their 3rd helping. Although I'm not sure that Black Sabbath counts as a cool influence, this new LP has got to get away from the awful math-rock of 2nd LP.

sim94

May 25, 2009

i think maybe people should calm down slightly. First id like to say that their second album, even if a number of you hate it, was very widely received and loved, especially by me. As a note to 'Rickylee1985', who clearly thinks he's really cool and independent minded for talking about the public liking what their told to like; i liked AM's second album all on my own, without being told to as i had no contact with magazines or articles that would tell me too. Also, everyone saying that AM cant copy black sabbath; their not copying them! their INFLUENCED by them, and that can only be reviewed as bad or good after the album is out, you have no idea yet, and certainly shouldn't be judging their new music on their new looks, tacky as they may be.

snowybear

May 26, 2009

wow. people, stop. actually, please do keep going, as pointless arguments are all these comment spaces are really meant for..my personal and unimportant opinion: I first listened to the Arctic Monkeys years after they became popular, I listened to both of their albums as a unit, i didnt know which album each song was from.. and i couldnt notice a difference in quality. After figuring out the albums.. i could see the how their music had developed.. but not gotten worse. Could it possibly be that the media *GASP* (or the people who oppose whatever the media says, regardless) has led you into your beliefs about the second album's inferiority?also, he said that one riff was like Black Sabbath, so calm down.also, theyre musicians, who cares what they look like?

NicholaCarr

May 26, 2009

snowybear...they're not 'musicians' they're pop stars and yes, we care what they look like. i cannot imagine that they would have been quite so popular if they looked like the sticky end of a tramps armpit (which they clearly do not). so please people, their hair cuts are forgiveable but that jacket? someone must have an answer...!