Embrace drummer Mike Heaton has revealed the band is demo-ing dozens of tracks in a bid to produce their best album ever.

The popular Brighouse band, whose 1998 debut album The Good Will Out topped the charts, have been lying low since their 2006 release This New Day.

Last week, frontman Danny McNamara posted a blog which vowed the indie five piece would produce ‘a landmark album of fearless melody and fearless music’ and said they would not be rushed into releasing it.

But speaking to WoW at the Centre Stage charity event in Leeds, Heaton revealed the band were currently working through up to 100 different tunes and were hopeful their sixth studio album would be out next year.

The indie five piece are currently holed up in a West Yorkshire studio and Heaton said while they were hopeful for a 2012 release they would not be rushed.

“It’s got to be the absolute best before it comes out, but we’ve got some definite tracks for the album already,” he said.

“It’s a great move forward, great energy, great power and great soul.

“Songwriting wise it’s gone through the roof and playing wise, I think the break’s been great as we’ve done other things.

“I’ve been doing the drum school and Micky (Dale’s) been doing his other band, Talk To Angels.

“And Rick (McNamara’s) in the production seat, he’s producing the album, he’s had four years experience producing some really great young bands.

“He’s done an amazing job helping us to push the album forward.”

Heaton said while the band’s time off had been great he was gagging to get back on stage.

He said: “We’re just really eager now.