British band Portishead were so exhausted after a world tour, it has taken the group 10 years to return to the recording studio.

The band is preparing to release new LP, Third, next month (Apr08).

But guitarist Adrian Utley feared it might never be finished, admitting the band "went into meltdown" after promoting their 1998 album Portishead He says, "There were times when I thought - this is not going to happen.

There were times there when I thought ‘we’re not going to be able to do it, or I’m going to die trying.’"