“So, after twelve years of being a band, countless tours around the world and records being released, we have made the decision to take some time to explore other interests in our lives. We’ve all reached a point where we feel like we need to take a step back from the band and pursue other things.

PTW has been an all encompassing, full-time thing for such a long period that this isn’t an easy thing to do. We want to thank everyone who has supported us in anyway, whether it be buying a record or a shirt, to the occasional robbery from time to time. Once again, thanks for everything and we couldn’t have done any of this without you.”

Read past the break for the update on Thursday! Official press release:

New Jersey’s volatile, avant-garde rock band Thursday have entered the studio to record their sixth studio album and follow-up to 2009’s critically acclaimed release, Common Existence.

The band will spend the next few months recording at Tarbox Road Studios in Fredonia, NY with Common Existence and A City by the Light Divided producer Dave Fridmann (MGMT, The Flaming Lips, Mogwai) and plan to release the new album in spring 2011.

“We’ve worked with Dave Fridmann before, but this is definitely the most we’ve ever clicked with him,” says singer Geoff Rickly. “In style, this record feels like a radical departure from our earlier records but in substance it feels like a return. The songs are more vulnerable than they’ve been in a long time. Some of the song titles include “A Darker Forest” and “Little Sparks Against the Sun”… It’s very atmospheric and mood oriented so far.”

Formed in the basements of New Brunswick in 1997, Thursday helped usher in a new style of post-hardcore with the release of their debut album Waiting and 2001’s groundbreaking, fan-coveted Full Collapse. Over the last decade, the band has released the essential albums War All the Time, A City by the Light Divided and Common Existence, influencing bands and recruiting fans from around the world with their signature style of innovative, melodic-hardcore infused rock. Thursday continues to break ground and grow with each release by constantly pushing their boundaries and exploring the depths of their brooding sound.

Since their release of the long awaited Common Existence, Thursday have opened themselves up to a whole new audience of fans by headlining shows with acts like Dillinger Escape Plan, Converge, Bring Me The Horizon, Touche Amore, La Dispute, Young Widows, The Dear Hunter and Fake Problems, all while issuing a not-so-subtle reminder of their relevance in today’s music scene with their hyper-explosive performances and inimitable style of making the ceiling sweat.

In other Thursday related news, singer Geoff Rickly recently re-activated his acclaimed side project United Nations along with members from GlassJaw and Converge to release a 7″ vinyl called Nevermind The Bombings, Here’s Your Six Figures via Deathwish. He will also be singing with groundbreaking punk band Ink & Dagger this summer for a benefit show, “This Is Hardcore,” for the Maks & Zielanski family. More information here: http://miraclesformaks.com/. Lastly, guitarist Steve Pedulla recently scored the soundtrack to the “Malibu Film Fest: Best Feature” winning film, “Yeardley,” which is now available on iTunes.

Stay tuned for more news about the release of Thursday’s much anticipated new album.