Linkin Park prep new album

Linkin Park are currently at work preparing their fourth studio album, it has been reported.

Co-frontman Mike Shinoda confirmed that the band have decided on a producer, but are keeping the information under wraps at present.

Shinoda told Billboard: "I feel like we've been writing a lot. I'd say we've got about half the music done, though I shouldn't say halfway because who knows how long the next batch of songs will take. But all the material's just kind of coming together."

According to Shinoda, the new album is due to be released in 2010, and is promised to be a fresh departure from previous releases.

"It's not going to be Hybrid Theory or Minutes to Midnight. And if we do it right, it'll have a cutting edge sound that defines itself as an individual record separate from anything else that's out there."