The Rolling Stones are planning to release a new album this year, according to guitarist Ronnie Wood.

Rumours have been swirling about new material from the aging rockers for the last year or two, but they have not released a new album since 2005's 'A Bigger Bang'.

That could change before 2016 is out. Wood said that they had been in the studio recently and had recorded some blues cover versions as well as new songs of their own.

"We went in to cut some new songs, which we did. But we got on a blues streak," he said. We cut 11 blues in two days.

"They are extremely great cover versions of Howlin' Wolf and Little Walter, among other blues people. But they really sound authentic.... When we heard them back after not hearing them for a couple of months, we were, 'Who's that? It's you,'" Wood said. "It sounded so authentic."

Wood said that the songs will be available "this year". 

2016 marks the 54th year of the band, who first formed in 1962.