Pearl Jam to self-release new album

Pearl Jam are "close to hitting the studio" to record their ninth studio album, according to Rolling Stone.

The grunge veterans plan to self-release the album without a label in the US.

There is as yet no indication as to whether the band will release the album outside the country.

"The new record feels good so far — really strong and uptempo, stuff we can sink our teeth into," frontman Eddie Vedder told the magazine.

The album will be the first the band have worked on with producer Brendan O’Brien since 1998’s 'Yield'.

Their last studio album, which was self-titled, was released in 2006.

As previously reported, Pearl Jam are to remaster and re-issue their 1991 album 'Ten' on March 23, with tracks reportedly going to be exclusively available via Verizon Wireless.

The album will also be released onto the Rock Band video game on the same day.