In that period, the 33-year-old megastar said she suffered a "year of anxiety" in which her marriage fell apart.

While her voice has lost none of its power, the new single's lyrics reveal a deeper vulnerability, with every chorus opening with the soaring refrain "go easy on me, baby" sung over a simple piano riff.

The multi-million selling singer has not been forgotten, despite her years out of the limelight, with fans racking up more than 18 million views of the song on her official YouTube page in the 10 hours since it was released.

Her much-anticipated new album "30" will be put out on November 19, the "Hello" singer announced on Wednesday, AFP reported.

Recording began three years ago, she wrote on Twitter, at a time when her life was "a maze of absolute mess and inner turmoil". 

Given that Adele has sold millions of albums and won a slew of awards, including an Oscar and 15 Grammys, the release is arguably the most anticipated of the year. 

She broke a five-year silence with an interview for Vogue, published last week, that spoke of living like a recluse as she battled with anxiety. 

"I've learned a lot of blistering home truths about myself along the way. I've shed many layers but also wrapped myself in new ones," she wrote in the Twitter post.

"I've finally found my feeling again. I'd go as far as to say that I've never felt more peaceful in my life." 

The music video, which starts with Adele leaving a house with 'For Sale' and 'Sold' signs on it, is a showcase for the emotional power ballad about recovering and learning lessons after disappointment in love. Adele sings as she drives, her memories and songsheets swirling around her, and the video breaks into warm colour after beginning in black-and-white.

On Wednesday, Adele told fans she was "finally" ready to release "30", which she described as her "ride or die throughout the most turbulent period of my life".

"I was certainly nowhere near where I'd hoped to be when I first started it nearly 3 years ago," she said in a statement posted on Twitter.

"Quite the opposite actually. I rely on routine and consistency to feel safe, I always have. And yet there I was knowingly - willingly even, throwing myself into a maze of absolute mess and inner turmoil."

Earlier this month, fans had speculated new music from Adele was imminent after mysterious "30" signs appeared on buildings around the world.

"When she releases music, not only does it generate a lot of sales around her work, but it acts as a halo towards British music... it gets people into stores, buying online, streaming as well," said Gennaro Castaldo, spokesperson for record labels association BPI, quoted by Reuters.

"It gets the media very excited ... She's one of the few kind of global superstars that can actually achieve that sort of impact."