Mumford & Sons have a new album well on the way, and they now unveil a taster in the form of first single 'Believe' - an instant download with all album pre-orders and a significant deviation from the modern 'folk rock' style that made them famous.

Mumford & Sons 2015 promo
Mumford & Sons return with new single 'Believe'

'Believe' is taken from third album 'Wilder Mind' and already gives us some idea that we shouldn't expect material like what we saw in debut album 'Sigh No More' and 2012's number one 'Babel'. This album has been recorded at Air Studios in London and has been produced by James Ford, whose previous work includes that of Arctic Monkeys, HAIM and Florence & The Machine.

More: Read our review of 'Babel'

Comparing the new single to notable songs like 'The Cave', 'Little Lion Man' and 'I Will Wait', it's clear that, with 'Believe', the Grammy winning four-piece have moved into more classic songwriting territory while, at the other end of the scale, going towards more of a pop aesthetic musically. It opens with a dreamy, minimalist sound before introducing heavy, riff-orientated guitars. They do maintain that traditional feel, however, with strong repetition and a memorable melody.

Listen to the 'Believe' audio here:

Marcus Mumford insists that the change is 'a development, not a departure', and one wonders if he has taken inspiration from working alongside guitar legend Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens of Carolina Chocolate Drops, Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith and My Morning Jacket lead singer Jim James on T Bone Burnett produced Bob Dylan tribute album 'Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes', released in November 2014. 

And while we're on the subject of My Morning Jacket, the Kentucky band will join Mumford & Sons for their 2015 Gentlemen of the Road Stopover festival, performing on the Iowa stopover with The Flaming Lips, The Maccabees and others. Dawes have also been announced to hit Iowa as well as New Jersey, Scotland, Washington and Colorado. Other artists on the 2015 line-ups include Foo Fighters, Ben Howard, Primal Scream and The Vaccines.

More: Mumford & Sons to headline Reading & Leeds Festival

'Believe' will be released on April 27th 2015, while album 'Wilder Mind' is out on May 4th 2015 via Gentlemen of the Road/Island Records.