The Cure's Robert Smith says new album is "dark" and "incredibly intense"

Last month The Cure revealed that they had been working on their first new album in 10 years, after 2008's 4:13 Dream. Late last year Smith revealed the induction news inspired him and the band to start working on new material.

On Friday (29 March) the group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor. The Cure's arrival at the induction ceremony went viral over the weekend after Smith replied pretty bluntly, but hilariously, to the red carpet interviewer.

Speaking to Rolling Stone after the induction ceremony, Smith revealed, "for the first time in 20 years, we went into a studio — we actually went into the studio where they did "Bohemian Rhapsody", funnily enough. It’s a great studio in the middle of nowhere. We just played music for three weeks. And it’s great. I know everyone says that. But it really is fucking great. It’s so dark. It’s incredibly intense. And I’ve waited 10 years to do something that means something."

Ahead of their busy festival season, The Cure vocalist also added, "I’m not sure how much of it we’ll play this summer at festivals. It’s not really festival music. The songs are like 10 minutes, 12 minutes long."

Smith also revealed an insight into how many tracks they made when recording, "We recorded 19 songs. So I have no idea what to do now. The others are saying, "Triple album!" I’m saying, no let’s not. I’ll pick six or maybe eight songs and do like a single album. But I think it will delight our hardcore fans. And probably really, really infuriate everyone else."

News of their new album arrives close to the 40th anniversary of their debut album, The Grinding Halt. When asked how soon the new album will be arriving, Smith replied, "We’ll finish it before we start in the summer, and it’ll be mixed through the summer. And then so release date, I don’t know, October? Halloween! Come on!"