Goth rock band The Cure have confirmed that they are releasing new music after almost two decades.
The Just Like Heaven hit-makers teased a short clip of new single titled Alone on social media on Tuesday, along with close-up black and white images of a stone statue's face.
The snippet of the new symphonic ballad features drums and an electric guitar, over which Blackpool-born frontman Robert Smith, 65, can be heard singing the lyrics: "This is the end of every song that we sing. The fire burned out to ash, the stars grow dim with tears."
It will have its full premiere on Mary Anne Hobbs' BBC Radio 6 Music show at midday on Thursday.
The band, which formed in Crawley, West Sussex, in the 1970s, have been hinting at a comeback for years.
Their last album 4:13 Dream was released in 2008 and failed to set the music charts alight, peaking at number 33 in the UK, before dropping to number 69 the following week and then out of the charts altogether.
A second record was teased for the following year but failed to materialise.
In 2018, Smith suggested he had a touch of writers block, telling the Guardian: “I’ve hardly written any words since then. I think there’s only so many times you can sing certain emotions. I have tried to write songs about something other than how I felt but they’re dry, they’re intellectual, and that’s not me.”
Despite their commitment to the recording studio, the six-piece have continued to tour and in 2022, Smith announced that their 14th album would be titled Songs Of A Lost World.
Its presumed release date is November 1 after posters, postcards and projected images promoting the album in places such as Crawley and Blackpool included the date in Roman numerals.
The band, known for tracks including Boys Don't Cry, Friday I'm In Love and The Lovecats, has both older fans and a large younger following, with about 17 million monthly listens on Spotify.
They were left delighted by the latest turn of events and rushed to share their thoughts on what they’ve heard so far of The Cure’s latest offerings on social media.
“Wow! Robert’s voice is on fire!! Sounds SO f….. good!!!” declared one person in the comment section of the band’s post on Instagram.
“Ahh, can’t wait. My heart shrinks every time I hear those words. Thank you so much,” penned another, followed by an emoji of hands forming a heart.
“I’m crying with happiness” put in a third.
While a fourth was already fully invested, begging: “Yes! Give us more!!!”
