Dave Gahan has claimed that Depeche Mode are "the biggest alternative band out there".
The singer told KROQ presenters Kevin & Bean that the group had evolved from being misunderstood to influencing other acts.
"We've been that band that nobody understood, then we've been the band that everybody tried to imitate, and suddenly we were the band that everybody says, oh, we were influenced by," Gahan said.
"Anyone that's got any kind of coolness whatsoever seems to like Depeche Mode. I know I'm blowing our own trumpet, but we're still kind of like the biggest alternative band out there somehow."
Speaking about the band's forthcoming album Delta Machine and its lead single 'Heaven', Gahan said: "Being an electronic band, primarily, you can really experiment a lot and the songs take on different arrangements, tempos, feels, before we find something.
"The song we found to drive this record was the single 'Heaven'. It was like a shot in the arm. I was like, 'Ahh, I can't wait to sing that song'.
Delta Machine will be released on March 25 in the UK and March 26 in the US. The album will be followed by a series of European and US live shows.
Watch the video for 'Heaven' below: