The Sydney Morning Herald reports that an insider from Albert Music, AC/DC's long-time Australian record company, has revealed there is plenty of excitement building about a possible new album from the band.

"We're very hopeful," he said, "but at this stage there's nothing official."

AC/DC's New York management is yet to confirm rumors that the band will soon begin recording another album in the U.S. "They work on their own time frame," said the Sydney source.

"When they make a record, it's because they want to."

The band itself is now international, with members scattered across the globe. Malcolm and Angus Young divide their time between Britain and Australia (with Angus also spending time in the Netherlands because he has a Dutch wife). Singer Brian Johnson and Cliff Williams are based in the U.S., while drummer Phil Rudd lives in New Zealand.

"They can all get together pretty quickly though," the source said.

Williams told Spinner.com last month that AC/DC will enter the studio March 1 to begin recording its first new album in eight years. The web site caught up with Williams at the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp in Los Angeles, where he said, "God I'm ready."

As for touring, however, Williams was less sure about the group's intentions. He explained, "If we go out again or when we go out again, you just never know. We've been around a long time, so we're going to get together and get in the studio and I fully expect we will (tour). I don't mean to be so negative about that."

AC/DC recently re-opened its official web site for business, although the site dismissed rumors that the band was playing some secret European shows this winter.

Reports surfaced earlier in January that AC/DC was nearly finished recording its next album, but a spokesperson for the band's Australian label, Albert Records, denied the story.

AC/DC's last all-new set, "Stiff Upper Lip", came out in 2000.