Since basically the release of 2008′s Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay has been discussing its followup. 2009 was the original target, but thanks to a global tour, some plagiarism charges, and a new side-project called Apparatjik, those plans were delayed a bit.

However, as The Sun is now reporting, Coldplay has now officially begun work on its yet-to-be-titled fifth studio album. The U.K. outfit is reportedly held up in a dilapidated north London church with Viva La Vida producer Brian Eno, where they’re “masterminding a brave new direction.”

Frontman Chris Martin is concerned the band are being seen as a huge stadium act and totally inaccessible for their loyal fans.

So he has devised a plan with rock deity Eno and bandmates Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion to record a stripped-down, more acoustic collection in the eerie church.

Additional details come from the newspaper’s “source”: (Is it just me or are all U.K. “sources” super dramatic in their revelations?)

“The band are keen to make hay while the sun shines.

“They have hit a rich vein with their songwriting and feel more creative than ever. Chris had wanted to record a new album while they were on the road but it was just too much.

“They have this work ethic while the going is good to just keep working as hard as possible.”

The band is said to be aiming for a 2010 release with a “tour of smaller venues” to follow.