HOT on the heels of last year’s sixth album, Cursed, The Scaramanga Six are about to embark on their most audacious caper yet.

With their ranks swelling to six the Huddersfield band are already champing at the bit with a completely new set of songs and set to fly to the USA to record their seventh studio album.

The album will be recorded by the legendary Steve Albini at his Electrical Audio studio in Chicago this April.

Singer and bassist Steve Morricone, said: “The flights have been booked and we have a letter from Mr Albini to show the US Homeland Security, which means it is definitely happening.

“What’s more, the band have swollen ranks to become a six-piece for the first time in many years with the inclusion of a full second drum kit played by Stephen Stuffy Gilchrist and the piano by Gentleman James Kenosha.

“So that’s a brutal sound with two full drum kits.”

Work is already furiously underway on a barrage of new material and despite the increased numbers, the band are aiming at a more distilled and desolate sound with more space and dramatic tension than ever before.

Steve said: “You may have noticed many new tracks lurching into the set for the first time at recent shows – and there will be more to come.

“It is going to be a very strenuous recording session as we attempt to record and mix the entire album in less than a week, playing mainly as live and aiming to capture the rawness and immediacy of performances.

“We are confident that the result will be up there with some of the great records Mr Albini has engineered (Pixies, Nirvana, PJ Harvey, Wedding Present) over the years.

“Add to all this, the logistical nightmare of getting all of Julia’s shoes into the luggage allowance (as well as a few instruments) and we’ve got a real challenge on our hands – bring it on, we say.

“Rest assured, the end result will sound nothing like as glitzy and jovial as the stage musical Chicago, though we may consider slipping in a cover of ‘If You Leave Me Now’ by power ballad maestro’s Chicago if time allows.

“We’re sure he’ll appreciate that.”

The name of the new long player is as yet undecided but details of this and more new shows throughout the summer will be revealed once the band get through their once-in-a-lifetime ordeal of a recording session.

“We are more excited and creatively focused than ever before – who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” said Steve.

Fans who want a preview of some of the new material ahead of their voyage across the Atlantic should head down to one of their upcoming gigs.

They play Leeds’ The Well, on Saturday, February 25 and on Sunday, March 11 they will be at The Parish with fellow Huddersfield rockers Mr Shiraz.