The Headstones' fourth album arrives in stores today, capping one of the most tumultuous chapters in the band's history.

Chatting with the Sun yesterday, guitarist Trent Carr filled us in on the details:

"Between myself and (drummer) Dale (Harrison), we each had kids. I had relationship problems. (Singer) Hugh (Dillon) had relationship problems. There are other incidents involving drugs that shouldn't be mentioned."

Those incidents mainly involve Dillon, who was confronted by his bandmates last fall about an out-of-control heroin habit.

The Headstones' charismatic frontman has said he was addicted to the drug from 1985 to '89, but indicated he didn't touch the stuff any more. Fact is, said Carr, Dillon "continued to dabble without it being a problem.

"Then, all of a sudden, it was a problem.

"It crept up on us and him. It's like, you know there's a problem, but you say: 'Ah, we can deal with it. We're still functioning.'

"I don't think our future was ever threatened directly, but I think we were all getting sick of the situation. It came to a head, sort of. We also have new management now and that was a big factor in the turnaround as well because management is not going to be putting up with any stuff like that. Our new agreement reflects that attitude.

"As of right now, Hugh has a great attitude about his future and our future. It's all out in the open.... Hopefully it will never become a problem again."

The stress and strain of the past three years has been poured into Nickels For Your Nightmares, the Toronto quartet's first album since 1997's Smile and Wave.

The 14-track collection is edgy and eclectic, opening with a couple garage-punk numbers along the lines of The Stooges' Fun House, ending with a rambling, reggae-tinged title track and featuring several acoustic numbers that make fine use of piano, Mellotron and female harmony vocals -- one of which, Exhausted, sounds similar to (gasp!) the Sixpence None The Richer pop hit Kiss Me.

And some people think the Headstones are nothing but a full-tilt rock 'n' roll band...

"Yeah, people think of us as a three-chord punk band, or a hard-rock band," said Carr, whose band plays the Palace April 18.

"From Picture of Health (the group's 1993 debut) to this record, there's always been a bit of variety. And on this record, it's definitely the most variety that we've had."

Dillon's lyrics allude to the problems he was facing. F--- You, for instance, could be about ditching a romantic partner or kicking a heroin addiction ("I'll stand my ground ... I will get over you"), while the black-humoured Above Ground Swimming Pools pokes fun at Steven Tyler, Ozzy Osbourne, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper and other rock stars who have trumpeted their sobriety.

"It's just poking fun at the 'we're a clean rock band' thing," said Carr. "Like (Aerosmith singer) Steven Tyler doesn't allow any alcohol backstage. It's a little extreme."

To be fair, The Headstones never, ever claimed to be clean-living or saintly.

They are, at least for the moment, happy to be still making music together.

"We're probably in the best spirits we've ever been in," said Carr. "We're all getting along great. We're in pretty good health.

"It's pretty excellent."