The Chicago-based trio spent seven weeks co-producing Sci-Fi Crimes with Brian Virtue (Jane's Addiction, 30 Seconds to Mars, Deftones) in Nashville, Tennessee. Chevelle are currently on the road all summer long with Staind and Shinedown where they are previewing some of their new material, alongside hits from their previous releases.

Sci-Fi Crimes is the follow up 2007's smash album Vena Sera. Formed in 1995, the Chicago-based band has remained a staple in the rock scene with six Top 5 Modern Rock hits under their belt, including the #1 songs "Send the Pain Below" and "Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)" as well as fan favorites, "The Red" and "The Clincher". The band is made up of Pete Loeffler (vocals, guitars), brother Sam Loeffler (drums), and brother-in-law Dean Bernardini (bass).

A quick glance at the title of their new album may give their legions of longtime fans pause. Sci-Fi Crimes Song titles like "Roswell" and "Highlands Apparition"? Have the same guys who delivered 2004's dynamically crunchy This Type of Thinking (Could Do Us In) and the melodic heaviosity of 2007's Vena Sera gone conspiracy-theory flaky, wearing tinfoil hats and praying to Mr. Spock?

"Much as I love the Flaming Lips, we're not going off in that direction," laughs singer/guitarist Pete Loeffler. "If anything, this record represents a natural progression in the band's maturity and sound. We really wanted to take the time to write about some of our experiences and feelings since our last tour, both during and in the time afterwards."

In fact, the title Sci-Fi Crimes was inspired by some off-road adventures with one "friend," whom Pete describes as "this really off-the-wall character, who was driving us around, who believes so whole-heartedly in aliens and UFOs that the subject just really piqued my interest."

Chevelle's new album is the work of a band taking stock of itself after a strenuous decade of recording and touring ("Weird to think we're a 'veteran' band; I'm kind of shocked by how long we've been going," Pete muses) and, especially, a blistering tour schedule behind Vena Sera.