Divisive three-piece Gossip is set to release its next record Music For Men in Australia on Friday 19 June. We last saw Beth Ditto and co. around these parts in December 2007 for club shows and a headline slot at Meredith Music Festival. On that visit, they were buzzing from the success of NME-worshipped third album Standing In The Way Of Control.

Its follow-up has been produced by ZZ Top-chanelling studio gun Rick Rubin, whose recent successes include Metallica’s Death Magnetic. “There’s a shit-load of love songs in there,” Ditto told NME. “Writing down the tracklisting, we had about 14 songs and seven had the world ‘love’ in the title. I had no idea I was so romantic.”

One thing’s for sure: the frontwoman’s talent for stirring up fiery opinion remains undiminished. Gossip is set to announce a world tour to coincide with the release of Music For Men – can we expect Australia to get a look-in?

Music For Men is out 19 June through Sony Music.