Simple Plan have recorded five songs for the follow-up to their 2002 release No Pads, No Helmets . . . Just Balls. Bob Rock (Metallica, Motley Crue) is producing the album, which is due in October.

"He's done so many good records," says singer Pierre Bouvier, "and they always sound so huge."

Bouvier and Co. worked on the songs in their native Montreal between their winter and summer tours. "We figured we hadn't been home in a long time," he says. "It's good for us to be able to see our parents and friends."

Up-tempo rockers "Shut Up," "Perfect World" and "Me Against the World" -- which Bouvier describes as the "heaviest song we've ever done" -- are among the first batch of songs. Also tracked are "Crazy" ("more of a slow vibe") and the acoustic-guitar-driven "Welcome to My Life."

Simple Plan will play two more summer shows (July 29th in Troy, Pennsylvania, and August 7th in Valdosta, Georgia) before they head back into the studio to complete the album by the first week of September. They will then kick off a European tour with fellow Canadian Avril Lavigne September 26th in Munich.