Speaking to BBC Radio 1, The Strokes' Nikolai Fraiture has said that the band's long-awaited fourth album will be out "by March", before the five-piece embark on a world tour.

The bassist stated the record was currently being mixed, and compared the sound to their second and third albums.

"Sonically, I feel it's the album which should have been made between Room On Fire and First Impressions Of Earth," he said, adding that the album echoes the band's "classic sound".

However, Fraiture admitted that initial writing sessions for the album last year had been "weird" following a prolonged break.

In the five years since their last album, four of The Strokes' five members have released solo albums or been part of side projects.

"We didn't really break up but we didn't see each other for a long time," said Fraiture, "when you get back together there is a lot of weird energy flowing around. There are different dynamics in the group in different ways."

This time around, lead singer Julian Casablancas recorded his vocals separately from the band, a different method from the way The Strokes have worked in the past.

Fraiture explained, "Usually we're always in a room and changing stuff and doing it all together. It's all a learning experience."

The as-yet untitled 10-song album was produced by the band in guitarist Albert Hammond Jr's upstate New York studio, after initial sessions with producer Joe Chiccarelli were scrapped.