Taproot [ tickets ], which last month kicked off a summer run in support of its sophomore album, has extended the outing through the end of August.

The Detroit-based alt-metal quartet's club jaunt is now due to wrap up with a hometown show on Aug. 28. The last nine dates on the outing will feature S.T.U.N. [ tickets ] in the opening slot.

Taproot's follow up to "Gift," its 2000 debut, landed in stores last October. Titled "Welcome," the new set features 12 tracks that the group recorded in Los Angeles with producer Toby Wright (Alice in Chains, Korn) and mixed with Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Foo Fighters).

Frontman Stephen Richards paid more attention to crafting melodies for the tracks on "Welcome" than he did during the "Gift" writing and recording sessions, according to the band's bio sheet.

"I wanted to write songs that would last a long time," Richards said. "Songs that would get stuck in people's heads."

The differences between the "Gift" and "Welcome" recording sessions didn't end there, the singer went on to explain.

"'Gift' took us seven weeks, from pre-production to completed recording. We took ten times as long to make 'Welcome' and I think the hard works shows."

Richards attributed the lengthier timetable to Wright's involvement, saying that the producer held the group to a high standard.

"The first time out we were just naive kids, making a record in a hurry so we could go out on Ozzfest," he said. "This time, it just seems like all the pieces have come together in the most beautiful way imaginable. When we sat back and listened to the finished album, I was just so moved. I'm so proud of this band. I'm so proud of this music."

Los Angeles punk outfit S.T.U.N. joins the tour on Aug. 14, following its stint on the Vans Warped Tour. The group is supporting its debut set, "Evolution of Energry," which surfaced in June.