Bruce Springsteen is gearing up to release a new album with the E Street Band -- his 24th -- and a source tells the Hollywood Reporter it's The Boss' "angriest" yet.


"He gets into economic justice quite a bit," says an earwitness who's heard some of the music. "It's very rock'n'roll. He feels it's the angriest album he's ever made. Bear in mind, though, that [Springsteen] wrote and recorded the majority of the album before the Occupy movements started, so he's not just setting headlines to music."


Produced by Ron Aniello ( Patti Scialfa, Jars of Clay), the album, which was recently played for label execs, is described as veering into "unexpected textures -- loops, electronic percussion… an amazing sweep of influences and rhythms, from hip-hop to Irish folk rhythms." The as-yet-untitled effort is said to be "terrific."


While no release date has been set, Springsteen is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the music conference portion of South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 15, fueling speculation that an album may coincide with the appearance. The boss and the E Street Band, who lost two members ( Danny Federici and legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons) in 2011, have also announced a round of U.K. tour dates set for June, listed below.

June 21: Sunderland, England (Stadium of Light)
June 22: Manchester, England (Etihad Stadium)
June 24: Isle of Wight, England (Isle of Wight Festival)
July 14: London, England (Hard Rock Calling)

(Additional reporting by Jillian Mapes, Billboard)