Pearl Jam to enter the studio

Pearl Jam are "close to hitting the studio" to record their ninth studio album, according to Rolling Stone. The grunge rock stars plan to self-release the album without a label in the US.

There is as yet no indication as to whether the band will release the album outside the country. "The new record feels good so far — really strong and uptempo, stuff we can sink our teeth into," frontman Eddie Vedder told the magazine.

The album will be the first time Pearl Jam have worked on with producer Brendan O'Brien, who has also worked with Stone Temple Pilots, The Offspring, Audioslave, Velvet Revolver, AC/DC, The Living End and many others, since 1998's "Yield". Their last studio album, which was self-titled, was released in 2006.