Manic Street Preachers have announced a new release, and it's a bit special: they've use lyrics left by Richey Edwards and collaborated with Steve Albini on a new LP due early next year.

The band posted the following missive on ManicStreetPreachers.com earlier today:

"Hello everyone

We thought you would like to know that we have been making music.

We have been in the studio with Mr Steve Albini recording live – to tape – analogue – no digital hiss – no Pro Tools – no safety nets. Quite scary, daunting but invigorating. All the songs we are recording are lyrics left to us by Richey. Finally it feels like the right time to use them (especially after the last 18 months being so amazing with Send Away The Tigers). Musically, in many ways it feels like a follow up to the Holy Bible but there is also an acoustic side – tender, romantic, nihilism, 'Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky' esque. It’s a record that celebrates the genius of his words, full of love, anger, intelligence and respect. We have to make this great. Wish us luck.

We hope to release the record next April or May. The working titles are Journal for Plague Lovers or I Know I Believe In Nothing But It Is My Nothing.

Love

Nicky, James and Sean."

We'll leave you with that Top Of The Pops performance to whet the appetite...