By Divine Right is officially a band.

The Toronto group used to be Jose Contreras and a rotating cast of musicians, but the personnel on the last two albums is essentially the same -- a first in the band's 15-year history.

"We're the only lineup that's lasted more than a year. I think the fact I've been working with him for five years is a miracle," says guitarist Colleen Hixenbaugh.

By Divine Right has been an entity since 1989 when Contreras started his musical love project, writing all the songs himself. On the group's latest effort, Sweet Confusion, the newlywed Contreras loosens the reins and allows other members to contribute songs and sing lead. That's a major change from their previous four records -- not that critics have noticed.

"For me in Canada the reviews on the record all say the same thing, they all say hippy, slacker, stoners and I'm not a hippy, slacker, stoner," Hixenbaugh says. "It frustrates me they keep that early label they gave Jose 10 years ago; none of them have sat down and gotten to know us as a new band. We're a band and this is a band record."

The album is more reflective of the quintet's live shows, which are straight-up rock affairs. Past albums such as 1997's All Hail Discordia and 1999's Bless This Mess featured lighter moments that didn't truly capture what the band was about, believes Hixenbaugh, an American who formerly played in indie-rock group Elf Power.

Between albums and tours, band members are all involved in other projects, both musical and non-musical. Hixenbaugh owns a knitting company and spends her down time on the road making hats, scarves, bikinis and ponchos. "I could probably knit a guitar," she laughs.

Some of Hixenbaugh's designs are on display at the merch table at every show. You can check out her goods and the band Tuesday at the Zoo when they play with the Waking Eyes.