Chicago’s YAKUZA have begun demoing new material in the band’s hometown at Semifour Studios for the band’s forthcoming new album, tentatively titled ‘Transmutations‘ and scheduled for a late 2007 release through Prosthetic Records. Sanford Parker (Pelican, Minsk, Rwake), who made a guest appearance on the band’s last release, ‘Samsara,’ will be handling production duties when the band begins recording February 28.

“This time it’s all about variety, each song has its own personality with the album covering a much broader spectrum,” frontman Bruce Lamont said. “The extremes are really drastic: super schizoid-brutal to almost reflective and minimal. Just like with ‘Samsara,’ we’re looking at this album as a whole. I don’t want to say the album will be an ‘experience’ per-se because that sounds too hippie-ish, but it’s gonna be one of those things that you have to listen to start to finish.”

YAKUZA has been also been added to the Chicago date of the upcoming tour featuring Genghis Tron and labelmates KYLESA at the Beat Kitchen and the band will be previewing new material at the show.