Canadian rockers Sloan have begun recording demos for a new album that will have "less of the fruity acoustic songs," according to singer/guitarist Jay Ferguson.

Still, the new disc, which the band hopes to release next spring, won't be entirely heavy, either. "We're not going to turn into Korn or anything like that," Ferguson assured after a recent show at New York's Bowery Ballroom.

Ferguson and bandmates Chris Murphy (bass, vocals), Andrew Scott (drums) and Patrick Pentland (guitar, vocals) formed Sloan in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1991 and released their debut LP, Smeared, the following year. Over the course of five more studio albums, the band demonstrated an ability to jump from catchy power pop to melancholy acoustic ballads to electric rock-inspired tracks.

Despite a leaning toward its heavier tendencies this time around, the band doesn't plan to bring outside musicians to beef things up. "We're xenophobic," Ferguson quipped. "We don't want anybody in our inner circle. I think there's enough ideas and enough stuff going on in our own band."

They are, however, considering bringing back former sound tech and co-producer of last year's Pretty Together, Brenndan McGuire, to produce the new LP.

Due in part to the band's ever-evolving sound, Ferguson could offer little in terms of describing Sloan's next release. "You never know what's going to happen until you start recording," he said. "Just stick with us."