Billboard is reporting that, following suit with an earlier move in the UK, Madness has signed with V2 in the US and is looking at a July 19th release date for their new album. The still untitled work will feature the band's original lineup and will consist of ska, punk and reggae covers. The band performed much of this material live last summer when they toured as the Dangermen.

However since the sessions for the record began, original guitarist Chris Foreman has left Madness. Billboard quotes a statement that cites "the petty, time consuming bollocks that goes on in the band" as the reason for his departure. There's no word yet on a replacement.