Meltdown

The band went to Los Angeles in October 2003 and worked with Nick Raskulinecz at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys and Chalice Studios in Hollywood. They chose him because they wanted an American sound. Wheeler said they recorded guitar, vocals, drums and bass in that order, the reverse of their usual habit of laying down bass and drums first. Sessions planned to end in November ran into January 2004. Rich Costey mixed the record at Cello Studios and Howie Weinberg mastered it. Wheeler wrote all the songs except Meltdown, which he co-wrote with Hatherley, and Out of the Blue, co-written with Hamilton. Oli Kraus plays cello on Vampire Love.

Meltdown entered the UK chart at number five and was certified gold. Orpheus reached 13 in the UK, Starcrossed 22 and Renegade Cavalcade 33. Clones was used in the credits of the game Star Wars: Republic Commando. The Guardian's Steve Pill called it a festival set list in waiting.