Massive Attack have revealed that Guy Garvey has been writing songs that could feature on their new album.

3D, whose real name is Robert Del Naja, described Garvey as “a great writer, a great thinker.”

Speaking about the songs he had written, Del Naja said: "It's about being able to sing something beautiful and romantic and still being aware of someone tugging at you saying, 'This is what is really going on mate."

Del Naja told BBC Newsbeat that the follow-up to their 2003 studio album '100th Window' should be out next year.

He said that people should expect an album that conveys the band's anger at the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

"There's always inspiration in there but we've always been very cautious about how to write a song and a protest song is always difficult,” he explained.

"When it works, it can be beautiful but when it doesn't, it can be quite feeble and patronising or silly. Instead, it can be about how you transmit ideas and share information on stage.

"But, whether you want it to drive the record, that would be quite difficult."

(by Jason Gregory)