Speaking in an interview with Oliver Spencer, the drummer detailed some of the band’s process in recording the album and exactly when it should be available.

In the interview he said: “We’ve just recorded our latest album. I think we do one every 10 years or so. Yes. So expect the next one to come from the grave! The album comes out in January [2024].”

The timeline adds up considering it was reported that the band was recording in Jamaica some time last year (2022). In an interview, guitarist Pete Doherty said: “We have just been in Jamaica, me and Carl, and we’ve got a new album on the way.”

Drummer Powell has previously spoken a lot about the next Libertines album, as he has said: “The good thing is everybody’s been writing. Obviously, we’re not going to try and reinvent the wheel… but I think we can push the boat out a little more while still bringing something that has the same emotional integrity and dynamism that the audience craves when they come to a Libertines show.”

About the next album, Doherty during a performance at Glastonbury told the crowd: “There are lots of things on the table – some really good, strong and melodic rock’n’roll songs.”

Frontman Carl Barat has also previously spoken about the next album, as he said: “Sonically, we want to do something we haven’t done before… I think we’ll be looking to do something with a different energy than before. But we’re not at that stage yet.”

The band started work on the new album in 2019, as the band expressed interest in taking the album into many different musical directions with Pete Doherty likening the album’s potential sonic diversity to Sardinstra by The Clash – he said: “Carl wants to do a ‘Sandinista’ thing with all these mad ideas that we’ve got, so we’ll have all these freestyle things and folky things, then there’s the more traditional Doherty/Barat songs,”

One new song has been detailed by the band; a track named ‘Shiver’ which the band seem particularly fond of. About the song, Doherty said the track has “got a real sentimental hark back”, which must mean a stylistic return to old-school Libertines tracks. Co-frontman Barat was in agreement, claiming “Yeah, ‘Shiver’’s great. I was listening to that last night, actually.”

At the 19th Zurich Film Festival’s Sounds section, musician Peter Doherty will present the World Premiere of PETER DOHERTY: STRANGER IN MY OWN SKIN. In addition to this highlight, the Sounds section offers even more music film screenings: https://t.co/48VgjSWH37 pic.twitter.com/qYRRxVusfd

— Zurich Film Festival (@zurichfilmfest) August 29, 2023

Stranger In My Own Skin will be presented by Doherty and feature a live performance during the Zurich Film Festival which runs from the 28th of September through to the 8th of October. The film will document the singer’s rise to fame with the band The Libertines but also feature the drug addictions that plagued Doherty’s career, causing lengthy absences away from the band and legal troubles.

The film will debut at the festival as part of the Sounds section, launching last year, and examines subject matter with a musical theme or soundtrack. Stranger In My Own Skin will premier alongside various other films centred around music, including a biopic on Anita Pallenberg, Catching Fire-The Story Of Anita Pallenberg.

Speaking about the premier of the documentary, Zurich Film Festival artistic director Christian Jungen said, “the biopic chronicles the British rock star who, after reaching the pinnacle of his career, sinks into the depths of a serious drug addiction. His wife, director and musician Katia deVidas, followed the wild life of The Libertines frontman at close quarters for over 10 years. We’re looking forward to welcoming them both to Zurich.”

The documentary follows the 2022 release of Doherty’s memoir A Likely Lad, chronicling the musician’s frank and honest experiences with the turbulent aspects of his career. The memoir offers an intimate look at Doherty’s self-destructive behaviours, addictions and stint in prison due to the burglary of fellow Libertines musician Carl Barat’s house.

Doherty formed The Libertines with Barat in the late 1990s in London and gained world-wide success in 2002 with the release of their debut album, Up The Bracket. Doherty himself quickly rose to prominence within the band, with scores of critics praising the frontman for his song-writing abilities. Continuing addiction to drugs caused much friction within the band and led the other members to remove Doherty on more than one occasion.

Although the band officially went on hiatus in 2004, while Doherty sought treatment for his addiction, The Libertines reformed at various times throughout the years, remaining active and releasing an album (their last to date), Anthems For Doomed Youth in 2015.

In between his time with The Libertines, Doherty also formed the band Babyshambles, releasing three studio records and Pete Doherty And The Puta Madres-formed by Doherty and members of his touring band. The band has released a single eponymous studio album in April of 2019.

Doherty will be performing a handful of shows in France this autumn. Tickets can be found here. You can purchase his book here.

Pete Doherty Tour:

30/09/2023 – Theatre Alexandre Dumas – Saint-Germain–en-Laye, France
17/10 – Olympia – Arcachon, France
21/10 – Grande Salle, Chateau Rouge – Annemasse, France
22/10 – La Cooperative de Mai – Clermont-Ferrand, France
23/10 – La radiant-Bellevue – Caluire et Cuire, France
25/10 – 6MIC – Aix-en-Provence, France
26/10 – La Belle Electrique – Grenoble, France
27/10 – Le Bikini – Ramonville St Agne, France

Otherwise known by his nickname Mr Razzcocks, the late drummer passed away on Tuesday 6th September 2022; a cause of death is yet to be known. The Libertines took to social media to pay tribute to their former band member; alongside a picture of the band, The Libertines included the following heartfelt statement, “Paul Dufour, our much loved drummer from the early days, passed away last night. We are all in great shock and sadness. Sending love and thoughts to Paul’s friends and family. It was honour to play with you Mr Razzcocks. Forever in our hearts x,“

Paul Dufour, our much loved drummer from the early days, passed away last night. We are all in great shock and sadness. Sending love and thoughts to Paul’s friends and family. It was honour to play with you Mr Razzcocks.

Forever in our hearts x pic.twitter.com/Y21OU96iYb

— Libertines (@libertines) September 7, 2022

Earlier this year, the indie rockers announced a one-off show celebrating the twentieth-anniversary edition of their debut album. Released in October 2022, Up The Bracket ushered in a new generation of modern popular music and propelled The Libertines into the limelight. The album’s release and The Libertines’ subsequent notoriety marked a resurgence of popularity in the UK rock and alternative music scene; the album’s tracks such as “Time For Heroes” and “Boys In The Band” have since become the cornerstone of indie music.

‘Up The Bracket’ arrived like a raging bull in a tired post-Britpop china shop, introducing The @libertines‘.

In celebration of 20 years since this astonishing debut, it now arrives as a deluxe boxset with double vinyl, cassette & book.@RoughTradeRecshttps://t.co/W6fWHoTaPm pic.twitter.com/mfzVDGsdWK

— Rough Trade (@RoughTrade) June 16, 2022

The Libertines have also confirmed a release date of a special twentieth-anniversary edition of Up The Bracket; the album will be released via Rough Trade Records and will be able to purchase from 21st October 2022. The beloved band’s drummer Powell recently spoke with NME concerning the anniversary release and the band’s hotly anticipated fourth studio album, the band’s upcoming album will follow their third studio album, Anthems For Doomed Youth, released in 2015.

Within the interview, Powell confirms he is more interested in new material than the forthcoming reissue, “My mind is more in line with the opportunity to record a new album than anything regarding 20 years ago. We’ve been playing the majority of the album [‘Up the Bracket’] for 20 years now, so this year for me, is a great opportunity to draw a line under this part of the saga and move on to the next phase.“

The Libertines’ sticksman continued to describe the band’s new music, “The good thing is everybody’s been writing. I’m hoping there’s going to be a whole new fervour and interesting dimension added to how we approach things. Obviously, we’re not going to try and reinvent the wheel and be like Depeche Mode going from rock ‘n’ roll to electronic, but I think we can push the boat out a little more while still bringing something that has the same emotional integrity and dynamism that the audience craves when they come to a Libertines show.“

The Up The Bracket 20th Anniversary Edition is available to pre-order now and will be available on various formats. A statement via Rough Trade describes the upcoming release, “In addition to a remaster of the original Up The Bracket album, produced by Mick Jones (The Clash), the Super Deluxe Edition also includes a remarkable 65 previously unreleased recordings including many original demos, radio sessions and live recordings all helping to chart the making of Up The Bracket, plus a live recording from the 100 club in 2002. It also contains a 60 page book with a forward by Matt Wilkinson, new interviews with the band by Anthony Thornton and many unseen photos and memorabilia.“

Click here to pre-order Up The Bracket 20th Anniversary Edition.

The Libertines will play ‘Up The Bracket’ in full plus a career spanning set of Singles and B sides on 23rd July at Wembley and we’re thrilled to be joined by dear friends @thecribs @ThePaddingtons @LouisDunford and @DJAmazonica.https://t.co/a52BW74Lja#UPTHEBRACKET20 pic.twitter.com/6IY3q2l932

— Libertines (@libertines) June 16, 2022

The band are also set to release a special 20th Anniversary Edition of Up the Bracket on October 21st through Rough Trade. This release will provide fans with a remastered edition of their original album that was produced by Mick Jones, and will come with 65 unreleased recordings, that include original demos, live recordings, radio sessions and a live 2002 recording from the 100 Club. This special release can be pre-ordered here.

‘Up The Bracket’ arrived like a raging bull in a tired post-Britpop china shop, introducing The @libertines‘.

In celebration of 20 years since this astonishing debut, it now arrives as a deluxe boxset with double vinyl, cassette & book.@RoughTradeRecshttps://t.co/W6fWHoTaPmpic.twitter.com/mfzVDGsdWK

— Rough Trade (@RoughTrade) June 16, 2022

Frontman Pete Doherty recently teased plans for a follow-up to 2015’s ‘Anthems For Doomed Youth’, proposing a similarly eclectic mix of genres comparing it to The Clash’s ‘Sandinista’. In a recent statement he said, “We still feel there’s unfinished business and there are more songs to write. But he (Barat) doesn’t want to do it in England, or in France, which he sees as my turf. So the plan is to go to Jamaica and try to make another Libertines record. I don’t know how or when it’s going to happen but I think it will. ‘Sandinista’ still encapsulates it because there are still a lot of ideas. It’s just about getting everyone in a room and getting on with it.”

Watch the official video for their 2002 single “Up The Bracket” here.

Upcoming shows:

JUNE
24 – Pilton, Somerset Glastonbury Festival (sold out)
30 – Bristol O2 Academy (sold out)

JULY
01 – Manchester Castlefield Bowl
23 – London Wembley Arena

AUGUST
05 – Cardiff University Great Hall
06 – Bingley Bingley Weekender
08 – Edinburgh O2 Academy
28 – Portsmouth Victorious Festival

SEPTEMBER
02 – Coventry Godiva Festival