The Strokes 'like a house of cards'

The Strokes admit they are "like a house of cards".

The 'Juicebox' group say it has taken them five years to bring out fourth record, 'Angles', because they have a fragile working relationship and are affected by "typical rock band bull***t".

Guitarist Nick Valensi explained: "This band is like a house of cards - when one thing falls, the whole thing collapses.

"It's just typical rock band bull***t - the cliches that keep a group of people who have something special from wanting to continue it."

The group scrapped initial sessions for the album, then remade it themselves almost from scratch - with the results seeing them write songs as a group for the first time, rather than singer Julian Casablancas taking charge.

Nick said to Rolling Stone magazine: "This is the first one where we are truly working democratically. It's taken a long time because this is a new model for us."

Second guitarist, Albert Hammond Jr., added: "It was like we were starting from scratch. But with a lot of history. It's confusing to do that."

Looking to the future, the band - which also includes bassist Nikolai Fraiture and drummer Fabrizio Moretti - have vowed to take less time to record the follow up to 'Angles'.

Albert added: "We want to come back strong but slowly, so we can grow live and also make new music. We want to release albums quicker."

'Angles' will be released on March 22, 2011.