Metal quartet Kittie [ tickets ] returns early next year with its fourth full-length album, "Funeral for Yesterday," and will hit the road for a US tour that launches before the album's release.

The London, Ontario-based act has nailed down a Feb. 20 release date for the new album, "Funeral for Yesterday," which follows the band's 2006 EP, "Never Again."

"This album has so many more dimensions than anything we have ever done before," guitarist/vocalist Morgan Lander said in a press release. "The harmonies are huge and lush, and the guitars are crushing and complex all at the same time. The bass is smooth and complimentary to the ridiculously fast and precise drums and allows the song to just open up. There is so much more going on now musically rather than two guitars playing the same riffs."

Joining Morgan Lander in the lineup is her sister and group co-founder, Mercedes Lander (drums), as well as guitarist Tara McLeod and bassist Trish Doan, who made their recorded debut with the group on "Never Again."

Kittie launches its roadwork behind its new album with a Feb. 9 show in Hartford, CT, and has so far mapped stops in over a dozen cities. The itinerary, which currently stretches into late March, is included below.

"Funeral for Yesterday"--which will be the debut release on Kittie's newly founded label, Kiss of Infamy--was produced by veteran rock producer Jack Ponti (Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper). The set will include a companion DVD featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the recording process. A video preview of the DVD is streaming at Kittie's website.

"This album is sort of a concept album in a way,"Morgan Lander said. "All of the songs were written over a period of about a year and a half and they all revolve around dying, death, and the promise of resurrection. The subject matter is a direct result of what Mercedes and I were going through personally and professionally these past few years--dealing with life on the road, personnel changes, deceit, hopelessness and an overall feeling of 'is this the end.' Death of one kind or another--be it literally, figuratively, or emotionally--has been at the center of our lives these past few years. But you must have death before you have resurrection and I feel the band is in its resurrection stage--a new hope, a new light and a rebirth."