Coldplay will release their next album before the end of the year.

The four-piece band are reportedly planning to surprise their fans by suddenly releasing their seventh studio record, which frontman Chris Martin previously revealed would be called 'A Head Full of Dreams'.

A source revealed: ''The album is almost finished and the band are keen to get it out as soon as possible.''

The release will follow-up their 2014 LP 'Ghost Stories' which was inspired by Chris' separation from his wife of over a decade, Gwyneth Paltrow, but the insider teased the new album is much more positive and is almost complete.

The source told The Sun newspaper: ''The last record was so depressing because it was about Chris' split from Gwyneth Paltrow. But the new material is more upbeat with a pop feel.

''They have already finished eight tracks, which are all completely different.''

Adding further fuel to the rumours, the band's strings composer Davide Rossi hinted the project would be released imminently when he tagged Coldplay in a Facebook post and said the LP was one of his ''projects about to be released''.

However a representative for the Grammy Award winning band - who are also planning a world tour next year to follow the record's release - has insisted they have not yet locked down plans for the album's release.

They said: ''There is no release date set as they are still working on the record.''