U2's thirteenth album - the first since 2009's 'No Line on the Horizon' - is nearing completion, with bassist Adam Clayton telling 98FM that the foursome want to get the recordings "absolutely right" before Christmas.

Elaborating further, Clayton said: "I think it's a bit of a return to U2 of old, but with the maturity, if you like, of U2 of the last 10 years. It's a combination of those two things and it's a really interesting hybrid.

"We're in the studio, we're trying to get these 12 songs absolutely right and get them finished by the end of November and then we can kind of enjoy Christmas", Clayton continued.

The Edge elaborated further: "We always try to bring out something different, every time we're in the studio. But it's the fans who decide that really."

Coldplay's Chris Martin was spotted entering the Electric Lady Studios in New York with U2 earlier this year, fuelling speculation that he is set to appear on the record - but there's been no official word to confirm or deny these suggestions yet. Either way, we'll be hearing a lot more about U2 in 2014.