"I've become a big fan of classical music," says ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead singer-guitarist Conrad Keely. The Austin rockers, known for ritualistically trashing their guitars onstage, have turned down the feedback on their fourth album, Worlds Apart, due January 25th. In its place: lots of pretty instrumental lulls, violins, piano and even a choir.

Lyrically, however, the group remains edgy. The album's title track, a Pogues-style punk-folk romp, features Keely ripping apart soccer moms, apathetic voters, religion and, most succinctly, his fellow rock musicians, whom he refers to as "materialistic fucks."

"These musicians are supposedly my peers," he says. "But they all seem vapid and devoid of meaning to me."

Leading up to Worlds' release, Trail of Dead will be busy breaking stuff across the U.S.

Trail of Dead tour dates:

10/26: Detroit, Magic Stick
10/28: Chicago, Metro/Smart Bar
10/29: Madison, WI, The Annex
10/30: Minneapolis, Triple Rock Social Club
11/1: Denver, Bluebird Theater
11/2: Salt Lake City, Urban Lounge
11/4: Vancouver, Commodore Ballroom
11/5: Seattle, Neumo's
11/6: Portland, OR, Bossanova
11/8: San Francisco, Great American Music Hall 11/9: West Hollywood, CA, The Roxy Theater
11/12: Dallas, Gypsy Tea Room
11/13: Austin, TX, Emo's