New Arctic Monkeys album nearly finished

Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders told U.K. tabloid the Sun this week that the band is "nearly finished" working on the follow-up to its 2006 debut, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Helders said that the band has taken a different approach to recording this time, explaining, "With the last one everything was already written and it was just a case of recording. But with this we've been writing while we've been in (the) studio which I always thought would be difficult." Helders added that the group's sophomore effort will be "definitely different" from its first, saying, "We're all better at playing our instruments. It's as simple as that really. It's a bit louder and a bit faster in places but we've still got the slow bits as well."

The new album will feature the recording debut of bassist Nick O'Malley, who replaced founding member Andy Nicholson last year.

The British quartet also plans to spend more time in America in 2007, although Helders said, "We're not that bothered about breaking America. We've had enough success as far as we're concerned and we just want to maintain it."

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not was released to critical acclaim in the U.S. and near-hysteria in the U.K. The CD sold more than a million copies in England and won the country's prestigious Mercury Music Prize earlier this year.

The band is nominated for two Grammys this year, in the categories of Best Alternative Album and Best Rock Instrumental Performance.