Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders has said the band are ready to return to the road in 2009.

Despite not finishing recording sessions for their third album, the group are due to play at the Big Day Out festival in Australia in January.

Speaking to the Daily Star, Helders said: “We thought it’s a bit unorthodox not finishing the album, but why not just do it and think about everything else after, ’cause we’ve never been out in the Australian summer.”

As previously reported, Arctic Monkeys are recording their as-yet-untitled third LP with Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme.

Asked what Helders thought the new material sounded like, the drummer replied: “It won’t be the same again, but that’s all I can really say.”

He also said it was important that frontman Alex Turner embarked on his recent solo project, The Last Shadow Puppets, with Rascals frontman Miles Kane.

“I could see Alex needed to do that album and it couldn’t have happened with the Monkeys. We would’ve spoiled those songs. But it will all kick off again next year,” he added.

(by Jason Gregory)