OK, so if it wasn’t already the worst kept secret in the music industry that Depeche Mode plan to release a new album next year, then it certainly reached that status when the synth-pop legends called a news conference for this morning. 

Martin Gore and co used the press conference, according to Consequence of Sound, to confirm rumours of a new album for 2013. The group revealed that they’d been working with producer Ben Hillier (Gore will also produce), and that the album should be 20 tracks long, and released in Spring. The group also used the conference to premiere some new music from the album – while Gore reportedly referred to the at-this-point-untitled record as a cross between Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion.

Yesterday evening, the group announced details of a world tour. You can check out those dates here.

Update: You can now hear audio of that song, below.