New Red Hot Chili Peppersalbum in the works

Funk-rock monsters the Red Hot Chili Peppers are gearing up to record new material after a two-year hiatus, says drummer Chad Smith.

This will be the Chilis’ first release since 2006’s Stadium Arcadium, and comes after the sensational departure of guitarist John Frusciante last year.

Along with singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea, the arrival of new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer will push the band in exciting new directions. “Josh is a real creative force,” Smith has told MusicRadar. “He’s going to play guitar, he’s going to write music, he’s going to sing and play keyboards … I think people are really going to like what we do.”

Recording will begin in July, according to Smith, and the band have already written about 20 new songs. They will again work with uber-producer Rick Rubin, who has overseen every Red Hot Chili Peppers album since 1991’s acclaimed Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

Band members have been busy during the Chilis’ hiatus, with Smith drumming for rock supergroup Chickenfoot, while Flea has recently collaborated with the likes of Slash and Thom Yorke.

Frusciante has also been busy with his solo career and a collaboration with the Mars Volta’s Omar Rodriguez Lopez