Muse frontman Matt Bellamy has revealed that the group are half way through completing their new album, which will feature a new classical direction.

The singer told BBC 6Music that the follow-up to 2006's 'Black Holes And Revelations' would be released towards the end of the year.

He also said the group hoped to return to performing live in the autumn.

"I'd say we're about halfway there. We're creating a lot of material now and a lot of it's going off in all sorts of directions,” Bellamy said.

"Over the next couple of months I think we're gonna have to start narrowing it down and start saying, 'Right, what are we going to do here?' Because at the moment we're just enjoying totally exploring everything that we've got to offer really, but I think it's going very well."

Bellamy described the album as “symphonic” - and said it included “a full on collaboration with an orchestra”.

He added: "There's definitely a few things on the album which are segueing into each other and it's all very orchestral, but that could take over the album, so it could actually be kind of classical act basically, and move away from rock all together."

"We'll be knocking on Classic FM's door, you know?"

Speaking about the prospects of a tour, he said: "We've got to finish the album first, but I'd hope that we're on for a tour later in the year sometime.

“Probably autumn time or something like that I should think we'll be back on the road."

(by Jason Gregory)