Arctic Monkeys new album: Release date, tour and everything we know so far

2018 marks five years since Arctic Monkeys released an album. The band's last record, AM, is one of their most successful, having sold just over one million in the UK.

In 2014 the quartet announced they would be taking a break, but that hasn't stopped anticipation building around their sixth collection, which is now imminent. Here's what we know so far. 

When will the new Arctic Monkeys album be released?

The band's sixth album is called Tranquillity Base Hotel & Casino and will be released on May 11. In an interview last September, bassist Nick O'Malley said the collection needs to be out this year and "if it isn't, we've got problems".

In May 2017, a series of pictures in a recording studio were posted by drummer Matt Helders, while photographer Daniele Cavalli posted images of Alex Turner sat at a piano plus the band members out and about in Los Angeles. 

Whether the band were recording in L.A is still unclear, though 2013's AM was recorded there along with the last Last Shadow Puppets album from 2016. There have also been reports of recording sessions in their hometown of Sheffield. 

Mormorando Magnificenza

A post shared by ᴛʜɪs ғᴇᴇᴅ ғᴇᴇʟs ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴀᴛ ɴɪɢʜᴛ (@danielecavalli) on Apr 26, 2017 at 6:16am PDT

A release date for the album's lead single is still unclear, although given the band are back on tour in June, expect it sooner rather than later. 

Who is working on the new Arctic Monkeys album and what will it sound like?

The band have teamed up again with James Ford, who produced AM, 2011's Suck It And See, a handful of 2009's Humbug and 2007's Favourite Worst Nightmare. Listen to a preview of the album posted by the band themselves below: 

Alex Turner has taken the lead on songwriting and co-producing, with many of the album's final vocal takes taken from his home demos on a Tascam 388 8-track recording machine. 

In terms of aesthetic, the band's official website was recently relaunched with a rather hypnotising new graphic (which tilts when viewed on a mobile), while the imagery and album title suggest a lot of night gazing. 

Early reviews of the album, including NME's four star review, have been comparing it to the works of Father John Misty and David Bowie. DIY describe the record as a slow burner, adding: "There’s still something a little sad about having to try so hard to fall in love with a record from a band who’ve always made devotion so easy," while Uncut call it "a brave reinvention" and its lyrics "endlessly quotable". 

When are Arctic Monkeys on tour?

The band are back on the road this summer, kicking off with a headline date in Berlin on May 22. AM first announced UK date was Scotland's TRNSMT festival on July 1, but they have since confirmed an arena tour set for September 2018. Check out the latest confirmed list below: 

May 5 - Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles
May 22 - Columbia-Halle, Berlin
May 26 - Cavea, Rome
May 29 - Zenith, Paris
June 2 - Primavera Sound, Spain
June 4 - Mediolanum Forum, Milan
June 8 - Best Kept Secret, Netherlands
June 14-17 - Firefly Festival, Delaware, US
June 16 - Red Hat Amphitheatre, Raleigh, North Carolina
June 19 - Coca Cola Roxy Theatre, Atlanta
June 22-24 - Southside Festival, Germany
June 22-24 - Hurricane Festival, Germany
June 26 - Mitsubishi Electric Halle, Dusseldorf
June 27 - Royal Arena, Copenhagen
July 1 - TRSNMT, Scotland
July 4 - Open’er, Poland
July 6 - Rockwave Festival, Greece
July 8 - Rock Werchter, Belgium
July 12 - NOS Alive, Portugal
July 13 - Madcool Festival, Spain
July 24 - Forest Hills Stadium, Queens, New York
July 27 - TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts 
July 28 - Anthem, Washington, DC
July 31 - Petersen Centre, Pittsburgh, PA
August 1, Masonic Temple Theatre, Detroit
August 5 - Air Canada Centre, Toronto
August 8 - OYA Festival, Norway
August 9-11 - Way Out Festuval, Finland
August 11 - Flow Festival, Finland
August 14 - Sziget Festival, Hungary
September 6 - Manchester Arena
September 7 - Manchester Arena
September 9 – The O2 Arena, London
September 10 – The O2 Arena, London
September 12 - London, O2
September 15 – Birmingham Arena
September 16 - Birmingham Arena
September 18 – FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield
September 19 – FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield
September 24 – Dublin, 3Arena
September 25 - Dublin, 3Arena
September 27 – Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
September 28 - Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena

Article images: Rex