Kings Of Leon’s drummer Nathan Followill has described their new album as a “fun record”.

Followill said the group had been surprised by how uplifting their new material was after deciding the record the album in New York.

"[It was the] first time we ever recorded in New York City and we thought we'd come out with a darker record because we'd done all our records in either Nashville or Los Angeles where it's a little more chilled out," he told SPIN.

"[But] I'll be damned if we didn't go in there and make a fun record! It's got songs that are beach-y and songs that are a little more like our ‘Youth & Young Manhood’ days.”

Followill, added that he and his bandmates were “super excited” about the follow-up to 2008's 'Only By The Night'.

He also promised that the group would play tracks from the new record when they headline the Bonnaroo festival in June.

Kings Of Leon are also due to headline a one-off concert in London's Hyde Park on June 30.

(by Jason Gregory)