As for the new album, McGeoch believes that PIL has "grown in fluency of the songwriting" and that the "evidence is a bit more confidence."

Joyce says that the band is "a little bit harder since [he] has been part of it." Although he admits that PIL's first drummer may have been a little more technical, he reserves himself the position as the more aggressive.

According to McGeoch, PIL tries to give the concert audience "value for money." In this year's tour, that value comes is providing a package that includes Big Audio Dynamite II, Live and Melon. The show hits Boston on April 16.

McGeoch explains that the difference between recording and performing is like "the difference between oil painting and water colors." He believes that part of what "makes PIL a good band is that [they] know the difference between making records and performing live."

The album, That What Is Not, is a tribute to the diversity and talent of the members of the band. Each song features the work of each member in turn. The album begins with the song "Acid Drops," which peaks with the repeated line "who censors the censor, can I do that myself; make up my own mind like anyone else."

The transition between the first three songs ("Acid Drops," "Luck's Up" and "Cruel") is McGeoch's favorite part of the new record. The songs do fit together well musically, but the thematic link seems lacking. The transition flows cryptically from a song about censorship to a song about the many evils of modern times to a song about a girl who sounds like some sort of prostitute. Who knows what McGeoch is really referring to?

Some critics describe "Love Hope" as a "direct throwing-down-of-the-gauntlet to the Van Halen, Guns N' Roses mind set," and indeed, the techno-pop/heavy metal connection is very hard to imagine.

But the song comes off exactly as described, full metal to the end. It exemplifies the diversity and talent of a band that has been around for 12 years.

If you hate the alternative, techno-pop music that this tape is, then go buy the latest New Kids release. But if you lean toward the alternative side or are just looking for something new, this album packs some welcome surprises.