Foals say making new album Holy Fire was 'liberating'

Foals are [L-R] Edwin, Jimmy, Yannis, Walter and Jack

Foals have described the process of writing their third album Holy Fire as "liberating".

The Oxford five-piece debuted the first single taken from the album Inhaler on Zane Lowe's show (5 November).

They also announced they would play London's Royal Albert Hall on 28 March next year.

"It's an honour to be playing there," said front man Yannis Philippakis. "We're going to pull out all the stops."

The band's third album will be released on 12 February.

The band start a short UK tour of small venues at the end of November, starting in Sheffield.

Their 2010 album Total Life Forever was nominated for the Mercury Prize, which was eventually won by The xx.

Sessions for Holy Fire began in Sydney, before being completed in north-west London with producers Flood & Moulder.

Speaking to Zane Lowe, front man Yannis Philippakis said: "I wouldn't say the track is exactly definitive of what's to come on Holy Fire.

"We worked on this record for a long time. We're excited for people to hear it.

"Once we've done something it feels wrong to reinhabit it. Sometimes it's heavier riffs like this. We've gone to places on this record that are fresh that we can get excited about."