London band put their wetsuits on to record new album

Vaccines gear up for second album
The Vaccines' second album will "definitely" be released this year. The follow-up to last year's breakthrough debut is set to be recorded in March, with producer Ethan Johns.

"It'll definitely be out this year, without a doubt," frontman Justin Young told NME. "We've definitely got six songs written that we all want to be on the record, but there's other new songs [too]." Although it is more than a month until the band is due to meet with Johns, in Belgium, the Vaccines have booked some studio time in Australia, where they are touring this week. The group wants to "work on ideas", Young said. "I think we're in a good place with it and it's quite exciting."

The Vaccines' March sessions will mark one year since their first album, What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?, debuted at No 4. That record was assisted by Howling Bells producer Dan Grech-Marguerat. For the new one, the Vaccines have turned to a more experienced producer: Johns has worked on records such as Rufus Wainwright's Poses, Kings of Leon's Because of the Times and Laura Marling's A Creature I Don't Know. He also produced one of Young's "favourite records of all time", Ryan Adams' Heartbreaker.

"The reason we wanted to work with Ethan is not because he's a hit manufacturer, but [because] he's a real songs man," Young said. "All his albums are simple, but really well crafted – and it feels like they really breathe. Our first record is quite linear, so it'd be nice to have something with a bit more warmth and maturity, but still sounds like us."

The Vaccines return to the UK in May.