As work continues on their new album, U2 have teased fans that they "might see a few things in September or October" ahead of the resumption of the band's world tour next year.
Bono, The Edge and Adam Clayton were in Valencia last week for the wedding of friend Reggie Manuel and were asked by Facebook fan page U2 en España about progress on the new album, the follow-up to 2014's Songs of Innocence.
"It's not finished yet but you will like it," replied Bono. "In terms of lyrics it is stronger than [1983 album] War; it has more clarity."
As for the tour to support the album, Bono said it was lined up for 2017, before adding cryptically: "You might see a few things in September or October, though." It was announced last month that U2 will appear at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas in late September.
Clayton added that both the new album and tour would be: "Soon... in the next six months."
U2's 2015 iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE tour was hailed as a triumph with global ticket sales totalling $133m.
In an interview with US music business publication Billboard in June, The Edge said the band were "still busting our ass" to release the new album this year. U2 have worked on 50 pieces of music for the record, which is expected to be called Songs of Experience.
While the Edge conceded that "a U2 album plan has been known to be revised", he said the "working assumption" is for a 2016 release.
"This is our ambition," he continued. "It could change, but we're really doing our best to get it out this year."
