Depeche Mode have confirmed that they will be releasing a new album in 2013. It’s confirmed what we all suspected; the band have hardly been secretive about the fact that they’ve been busy writing and recording new music, but this is the first time they’ve given concrete details about the forthcoming longplayer.

The follow-up to 2009’s Sounds of the Universe will reportedly be released in March 2013. Martin Gore and Dave Gahan have done most of the songwriting for this one. Gore has commented “I am very happy with how the album turned out,” Gore commented. “The music has a similar vibe to Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion and I think there are a few songs on the album that are among some of the very best we’ve done” whilst Dave Gahan was equally positive about the new release, saying “The album has a very organic and direct feel to it. It's not a blues record, but it definitely has a soulful vibe. During the recording process we really tried to get the elements of performing and the live show into the album more.”

In a recent interview with Clash magazine, Dave Gahan explained the secret behind the band’s long-lasting success. “We've been through so much. My band has been through everything together for thirty years. It's the one relationship weirdly enough that's survived… I think it's because we have an understanding, myself, Martin and Fletch, We're like brothers. We have the same quibble fights and the same crap going on that we've had for years. It's definitely a sort of family relationship." 

Watch Depeche Mode's studio montage: