Winnipeg post-punkers The Weakerthans are ready to put their names to an Epitaph.

No, the band led by singer-guitarist John K. Samson isn't calling it quits. Quite the opposite, in fact -- they're taking a big step up the punk-rock ladder.

After issuing its last two albums on a local label, the band is poised to ink a deal with influential California punk label Epitaph, sources close to the deal have confirmed to The Sun.

Weakerthans vocalist John K. Samson wouldn't confirm or deny the information yesterday -- but acknowledged he will be issuing a press release later this week.

"It's certainly still a rumour, but we'll be signing a record contract with someone very soon," he said.

According to sources close to the deal, the band's forthcoming album, Reconstruction Site, will be released by Anti, a prestigious boutique subsidiary of Epitaph. Other artists on the label include Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Tom Waits and Merle Haggard. Reportedly, Epitaph owner Brett Gurewitz -- also the guitarist for punk legends Bad Religion -- approached the group after seeing them perform in Los Angeles last year.

The Weakerthans -- Samson, guitarist Stephen Carroll, bassist John Sutton and drummer Jason Tait -- have been in Toronto for the past month laying down tracks with producer Ian Blurton for the upcoming album and will return next month to finish it. Samson hopes it will be released in summer.

Recording with Blurton "was just a natural choice," he said. "We had talked about other people and we kind of looked at each other and said why don't we go with Ian. I think because we had worked with him before we were willing to let him have more input."

The band's first two albums, Fallow and Left and Leaving, were released by local activist label G7 Welcoming Committee. The Weakerthans relationship with the label is fine, and they will continue to work together to promote the back catalogue, which is apparently not part of the Epitaph deal.

"I suppose it's just a natural move to try something new, to work with some new people," Samson said. "We have a great working relationship with G7, and that relationship will continue. A label as interesting and smart as G7 doesn't treat music as widgets. The work we have done with G7, as long as it's still relevant, they'll still be working on it, and we'll be working with them."