The Weeknd has finally dropped his eagerly anticipated third studio album today (November 25th 2016), two days after he unveiled a 12 minute long short film called 'MANIA'. The visual was released as a preview of a variety of tunes from the new release.

The WeekndThe Weeknd drops new album 'Starboy'

The video features a montage of imagery including a panther on a plinth, a cruising sports car with a 'Starboy' plate, a dancer in a club, a knife-wielding assailant and ends with The Weeknd and a girl getting cuddly on the aforementioned plinth. Meanwhile, the music is a medley of various previews from the 'Starboy' album, with songs such as 'All I Know', 'Sidewalks', 'I Feel It Coming', 'Die For You' and 'Party Monster'.

'MANIA' has been directed by Californian filmmaker Grant Singer, who previously worked with The Weeknd on the video for his 2015 release 'The Hills', as well as Ariel Pink on 'Dayzed Inn Daydreams' and Skrillex on 'Burial Ft. Yogi and Pusha T' and 'Red Lips'.

On 'Starboy', The Weeknd has worked with a variety of musical guests, namely electronic legends Daft Punk on the title track and closing track 'I Feel It Coming'. Plus, Lana Del Rey provides vocals for the song 'Stargirl Interlude', as well as additional voicework on 'Party Monster', and Future and Kendrick Lamar appear on 'All I Know' and 'Sidewalks' respectively.

More: Read more about The Weeknd's 'Starboy'

The album has seen a number of different producers working on it such as Max Martin, Chasmere Cat, Labrinth, Diplo and Cirkut, and it follows the release of The Weeknd's second album venture 'Beauty Behind the Madness' which came out last year. While 'Beauty...' explored the vulnerable, ordinary man behind The Weeknd, 'Starboy' is more of an exploration on how fame and fortune have affected him.

'Starboy' is available to buy today on XO and Republic Records.