Muse have officially started work on their new album

Drummer Dom Howard shares picture from studio

It will be out of this world: Now they're a supermassive international sensation, free of a record deal and with new management, Muse are in the best position to do whatever the hell they want. From game-changing live shows and 'ultra-HD' concert movies to a shamelessly taste-free operatic sound and setting fire to the London 2012 Olympics - bands don't come much more bat-shit mental than Muse. It looks the band have hopes for their work to cross mediums. As well as having no one but themselves to answer to when it comes to their musical output, the future could see Muse releasing their own movies - just like Metallica did with Through The Never. Muse now have the perfect team to do what they bloody well choose.

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Friday 3rd October 2014 by Andrew Trendell | Photos by Splash

Tags: Muse

Here's the news all Muse fans have been waiting for - the band have finally, officially started work on their next album.

Last week, drummer Dom Howard excited fans by teasing them with the message 'seven day countdown until album number seven'.

It was obviously too soon to mean the release of the record, but on his newly launched Instagram account, Howard has shared a picture of him at his kit with the caption 'the set up has started!'

In a series of tweets earlier this month, frontman Bellamy described the new album's central themes as "deep ecology, the empathy gap and World War 3." There may be high levels of irony in this part. He also revealed that his disdain for guitar solos has mellowed on the new album, and mentioned a "sequel" to Origin Of Symmetry track 'Citizen Erased'.

“@ZetaSyndrome: @MattBellamy didn't you say once that guitar solos are uncool?” yes, but I may have to contradict myself on the next album
— Matt Bellamy (@MattBellamy) September 18, 2014

“@SykesErased: @MattBellamy Have you any idea of what themes that will speak the new album?” Deep ecology, the empathy gap and world war 3
— Matt Bellamy (@MattBellamy) September 18, 2014

“@FromDesolation: @MattBellamy will you play Citizen Erased in the next tour?” yes, and it's sequel...
— Matt Bellamy (@MattBellamy) September 18, 2014

The band have previously spoken about how the record will be 'rockier', 'more raw' and much more back to basics than the synth and classical-inspired sounds on their more recent albums.

Last month, frontman Matt Bellamy has taken to Twitter to answer questions from fans about the new band:

@Cylux yes, going well. We hope to have it ready for next summer.
— Matt Bellamy (@MattBellamy) July 21, 2014

@Tanb013 yes. It's gonna get heavy.
— Matt Bellamy (@MattBellamy) July 21, 2014

Not only that, but Bellamy went on to say that he and the band's friend and filmmaker Tom Kirk were going through over 15 years of footage to release online - potentially to tie in with the band's anticipated 20th anniversary:

Archiving 15 years of footage with @Nowherethomas at Dom's house. pic.twitter.com/XhBceyWWob
— Matt Bellamy (@MattBellamy) July 21, 2014

All sorts of tape labels 'Dom in hospital/guitar hit him/bologna 2004', 'Torquay concert 2000' & my favourite 'girl pukes on bus in Turkey'
— Matt Bellamy (@MattBellamy) July 21, 2014

@KBee1992 we will. YouTube will be inundated soon! Just found a classic tape, labelled 'Dom wets himself in Finland'
— Matt Bellamy (@MattBellamy) July 21, 2014

The played a number of shows in the US and South America this year, but bassist Chris Wolstenholme told Gigwise that they had no plans to play any European festivals in 2014. Fans await news of the 20th anniversary tour they teased at last year, but the band have been quiet about any potential plans to mark the occasion.

Below: 11 things to expect from Muse's upcoming seventh album