If Richard Patrick and Brian Liesegang are sick of being labeled Trent Reznor's underlings, they sure have a funny way of showing it. Six years removed from their stint as touring members of Nine Inch Nails, the twosome is still fighting to get out of Reznor's shadow and establish their own identity as Filter. With that in mind, it's particularly odd that the band would pine for two former NIN collaborators to help tweak their sophomore record, due out sometime between this fall and next spring.

Currently, Patrick and Liesegang are in a Chicago loft/studio, along with some Macintosh computer hardware, recording what Patrick deems "more sensitive and heartfelt" songs with plans to sugarcoat the tracks this spring with multiple mainstream knob-turners Flood, Alan Moulder, "Short Bus" mixer Ben Gross and possibly Butch Vig.

As NIN historians know, Flood co-produced and Moulder engineered "The Downward Spiral," an album recorded after Patrick and Liesegang departed NIN. Both producers have an impressive resume; in addition to NIN, Flood has worked with U2, Depeche Mode and Erasure; Moulder with the Smashing Pumpkins and Elastica.

The eclectic selection of producers is a testament to Filter's evolving sound and Patrick's maturity. Today, Patrick has officially buried his angst in favor of a more maudlin approach. "I'm 28 and when a 25-year-old man is walking around the earth he usually wants to take on the world, but I want to enjoy it more," confesses Patrick. "I have just had a lot more life experiences that have made me realize I have many more emotions than just rock."

Thus far, Filter has recorded ten songs, almost all entirely penned by Patrick. In the studio, a drum machine supplants a flesh-and-blood percussionist, but Matt Walker -- who ably replaced a fired Jimmy Chamberlain on the Smashing Pumpkins' recent tour -- pounded skins on the last Filter tour. That, however, will not be the case on the band's next tour.

"I want to record with Matt, but I don't know if I want to tour with him," says Patrick. "I need a real go-getter. [Matt] is a married guy with a baby. Plus, he's working with three bands. He is actually going to stay in the studio for a while [working with the Cupcakes] because he's been touring non-stop for three years."

Patrick used Filter's demanding tour schedule, approximately 380 shows in support of "Short Bus," to polish his band's sound and add credibility in the eyes of NIN pundits. "After the f