MCR head into studio for new album

My Chemical Romance have gone back into the studio in Los Angeles to start work on their fourth album.

Having finally finished a lengthy world tour in May 2008 in support of 2006 album The Black Parade, the band immediately began writing songs for their next record.

Breaking away from the idea of their last LP, singer Gerard Way revealed that the new record is not a concept album.

"At this point, the best way to describe the new album is My Chemical Romance being the purest, most distilled version of itself," he announced in a statement. "No bells and whistles, as the focus has been on melody and songwriting. If it doesn't work in a room with just the five of us, we aren't trying to make it work in the studio with effects and string sections.

"Making The Black Parade allowed us the departure we needed to see what worked and what didn't, experiment, and add a lot of elements we never would have. Sometimes you need to leave to come back home. To me, it feels like the culmination of everything we have learned as songwriters and players.

"What we're bringing from Black Parade to the new album is that sense of creative spark, where anything can feel possible, except distilled into a three minute, 30-second song."

Guitarist Ray Toro added: "I can say, hands down, this is our best record yet. We've gotten even better as songwriters and musicians, and we cannot wait for people to hear what we came up with. It's all of the best characteristics of the band finally on one record."

The band are currently working with veteran producer Brendan O'Brien, who has previously produced for Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen and Aerosmith among others. A release date for the new album is yet to be confirmed.