Relient K in the Studio

Relient K is currently recording the follow-up to 2004’s “mmhmm,” their third consecutive Gold album, with producer Howard Benson.

Once they wrap up recording, the band will head out on the fourth annual Nintendo Fusion tour, which will hit 40 cities nationwide between September 27th and November 11th. "We're kind of like Laffy Taffy," says Relient K lead vocalist/guitarist Matt Thiessen when asked to describe the as-yet untitled album, due out this coming November. "It's the same flavor but we try to stretch it a little bit. It's still melodic, it's still rock 'n' roll, still a lot of dynamics - there're times when it's heavy, there're times when it's real chilled with piano and what-not. But at the same time, we're trying to write a bit differently, lyrically."

There are numerous other differences between the upcoming album and Relient K's four previous records. "We wanted to work with Howard," explains Thiessen, "Howard's done a lot of records that I listen to." It also marks their first full-length album featuring bassist John Warne and Jon Schneck, who plays guitar, banjo and bells - although the two appeared on the band's Apathetic EP, released in late 2005. With original guitarist Matt Hoopes and drummer Dave Douglas completing the lineup, Relient K is now a quintet with each of the members contributing vocals - so expect even more of the band's trademark harmonies this go-round.

This is also the first album they've recorded with the luxury of a pre-production period, and with the band now living "all over the place," as Hoopes describes, pre-production time was a necessary luxury. "Matt and Dave still live in Ohio. Me and Jon Schneck live in Nashville, about three blocks away from each other," says Hoopes. "And John Warne, our bass player, lives in Denver, so it's a little crazy."