Billy Howerdel has every reason to be anxious.
Yet the co-founder, lead guitarist and main composer of A Perfect Circle is feeling strangely fine on the eve of the release of his band's sophomore album, Thirteenth Step.
In 2000, Howerdel -- a guitar tech for such bands as Nine Inch Nails, Fishbone, Tool and Smashing Pumpkins -- saw his project with Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan explode when its first CD, Mer de Noms, became one of the fastest-selling debut albums of all time.
"I don't feel the pressure to copy that success," says Howerdel during a recent stop in Quebec City as part of APC's recent cross-Canada jaunt.
"I never want to try to relive anything ... Not that I'm a Buddhist in any way, but if I can accept a pleasant occurrence -- or a bad one -- and acknowledge it and move on, then I don't get worked up about stuff either way."
Released tomorrow through Virgin, Thirteenth Step is a slight departure from the harder, sludgier sound of the band's previous release.
It's a more progressive album, the heaviness coming from the moody and almost epic drama of Keenan's songwriting rather than a sonic assault.
"One thing we set out to do was to make it sound more organic," says Howerdel.
"That was the only thing, production-wise, I was trying to achieve ... The songs kind of write themselves. If I'm in control of it, I'll just let it do its own thing and not push too hard."
Howerdel admits Thirteenth Step was a more challenging record to make as Keenan had a very focused vision of what he wanted to accomplish with the album.
Whereas on Mer de Noms, Keenan recorded 12 of 13 songs presented to him by Howerdel, the creative process was much more hit-and-miss this time around.
"There was a lot of stuff he didn't want to do," says Howerdel.
"Before, I think he just responded to the music. This time I think he had more of an idea what he wanted to do lyrically. That's why we credit him with executive producer. He definitely made the executive decisions as to what the final product would be.
"I still did the slave work in the studio though," he says laughing.
Not only has A Perfect Circle grown musically, the band's dynamic has changed dramatically with the departure of guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen and bassist Paz Lenchantin (who went on to join and then leave Billy Corgan's band, Zwan) and the arrival of former Marilyn Manson bass player Jeordie White (a.k.a. Twiggy Ramirez) and guitarist James Iha, formerly of the Pumpkins.
Iha, who has been a member for less than three months, says he has enjoyed playing with the alt rock supergroup despite only having two weeks to rehearse before the band set out on tour.
"They're an awesome band and they have really interesting music," he says.
"I was a fan of the first record and I think they've grown since that one. This is a different kind of record. It's more of a soundtrack feel. The songs are really good, he (Keenan) sings great, the lyrics are great. It's APC mach 2."
Though Iha is on a one-year contract, he has not ruled out the possibility of playing on the next APC record if asked.
"Yeah, I'd definitely be interested."
But for now, A Perfect Circle --which played a sold-out Mac Hall show two weeks ago -- is busy supporting Thirteenth Step. The current tour has them in Europe this month before embarking on a U.S. and Japanese tour later this year.
It's likely the band will hit Calgary again in the spring.
"We had a really good show there," Howerdel says.
