R.E.M.'s new album will feature "more ballads" but also "straight ahead rockers".

The 'Orange Crush' band recorded their 15th album in Berlin earlier this year and manager Bertis Downs last week revealed the title of the record would be 'Collapse Into Now', and has now also described its sound.

He said: "We're very happy with the record. They made it in Berlin over the summer and then finished up in Nashville just a couple of weeks ago, so we expect to put it out in the spring. It has more ballads but also lots of straight ahead rockers.

"I would say it is certainly as good as the last one. It has different kinds of songs on it."

The record was produced by Jacknife Lee - who worked on the band's last album 'Accelerate', as well as having previously worked with artists including U2, Snow Patrol and Editors- and sessions for the album took place in Portland and New Orleans in the US as well as Berlin.

Guitarist Peter Buck - who is part of the band alongside singer Michael Stipe and bass player Mike Mills - recently gave an insight into the recording of the album, saying: "We compromise. I basically said. 'I'm not going to do a song more than three times; if we can't get a magical take in three takes, then let's just walk away from it.'

"It's a good feeling, because you have to do it, as opposed to, 'oh we can always come back to it tomorrow.'"