30 Seconds To Mars Prepping Fourth Album

Last we heard from 30 Seconds to Mars, the band was battling rumors about a potential break while celebrating a record-setting
 December live show in New York.

But after a few months of radio silence, not only are 30STM not taking time off, they're forging ahead with their fourth album. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, singer Jared Leto said the group's "excitedly working in the studio."

In fact, Leto said he's been quietly toiling away writing and recording "constantly" as he crafts the band's future. He's clearly been busy, as the singer revealed that he's written 50 songs and is finalizing a list of producers for the as-yet-untitled effort, including M83's Morgan Kibby.

"She came by and was playing some synths and doing some programming," Leto said of a recent visit from the French electronica group's keyboard player. "She's a real talent. We're working with some interesting people." Leto is once again producing, though in addition to potentially working with Kibby the band is reuniting with legendary producer Steve Lillywhite.

No street date has been set for the follow-up to 2009's This Is War, but in a release announcing the new album Leto promised that the sound would be a "dramatic departure from the past ... very orchestral, narrative, interactive and even more electronic than previous projects". The trio — which also includes Shannon Leto and Tomo Milicevic — are laying down the tracks in their Los Angeles studio, named "ICAASS," for International Center for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences of Sound, while also incorporating "site specific recordings" in such varied locations as India, Africa, Yosemite, the California desert and Europe.

After teaming with Kanye West for the War track "Hurricane," Leto told RS that he'd love to work with Eminem this time around, as well as Bjork, the Cure's Robert Smith and Sigur Ros.

Following their record-setting string of 309 shows on the War tour, the group will not play any gigs in 2012, but will broadcast a live performance from their studio on April 27th via Leto's new website, VyRT.net. The gig will feature old favorites, previews of new material, a sneak peek at their new documentary, "ARTIFACT," acoustic jams and some fan Q&A. Digital "tickets" for the show are available on the vyRT site.