Linkin Park have been quiet of late, but with good reason. The band has been hard at work in the studio on their next album and Mike Shinoda has checked in via his website with an update on the progress of their upcoming disc and he's even offered a timeline for its release.

Shinoda stated that the band is "pretty deep" into the writing and record process for the disc, and added, "As most Linkin Park fans know, the sound of each album is usually quite different from the last. The new album is no exception. But as usual, the album’s sound twists and turns as it is created, so any attempt at estimating what it sounds like today would be silly. The moment I tell you it sounds like “X”, the songs will automatically take a drastic turn and evolve into something different within a week. But what I can tell you is I’m inspired. We’re inspired."

He went on to add, "The band is trying all kinds of things we haven’t before. First of all, we’re not in the same studio. All our previous albums (except MTM) were recorded at the same studio; this album is not being done there. All our previous albums were done with a producer at the helm; this album has largely been self-produced. We normally write in an organized and regimented style, recorded into the computer; this album has been the product of a mix of focused experimentation and free form jamming. We’re even tracking parts to tape instead of going exclusively digital."

Shinoda says he's spent endless hours in the studio jamming with his bandmates as they try to find a sound that is "something bold and energetic, something with a balance between chaos and order."

He ended by narrowing the timeline for when fans can expect new music by revealing, "We can't wait for you to hear it this summer."

While not confirmed, the fact that Linkin Park are so heavy into their new album may shed some light on Stone Temple Pilots recent show cancellations as frontman Chester Bennington performs in both bands.

Linkin Park in the Studio:

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