If you had to guess what type of music the Constantines played by looking at the cover of their new record, it would be a no-brainer. Designed by bass player Dallas James Wehrle, Tournament of Hearts' sleeve depicts a boulder-filled incline. We're talking rock here, folks. On the eve of a North American and European tour, the Toronto-based group is excited about hitting the road again.

The highway veterans have played Vancouver six times in the past three years, including two sold-out shows at Richard's on Richards with the Weakerthans last April. "I don't want to say that the focus is on the live performance, but as a band we tend to describe ourselves as a live entity," says guitarist Steve Lambke on the phone from his Toronto home, where he's recuperating from a five-date Canadian stadium mini-tour supporting mainstream U.S. rockers the Foo Fighters.

Apparently, Foo bassist Nate Mendel caught the band by chance at a gig in Los Angeles, and after a stretch of complex negotiations and music-industry politics, the Cons were asked to join the Foo's touring machinery. Was it any fun?

"It was great," enthuses Lambke. "There were still a lot of people coming in as we played, but the folks that were there were really responsive. When we clapped our hands, they clapped their hands. They cheered at the end of the songs and didn't boo us."

Making the leap from Richard's to the Pacific Coliseum seems more plausible when you consider the strength and power of the Constantines' new material. Tournament of Hearts is the band's most effective release yet. Recorded on Pro Tools at Hallamusic in Toronto with the engineer Jeff McMurrich, the album deftly captures the dynamic synergy of their passionate live shows. Touching on punk, jazz, and country, with a nod toward the complexity of progressive rock-minus the self-indulgence, robes, and flowing manes, of course-Hearts is a varied listen whose treasures are revealed with repeated plays.

"Work and love will make a man out of you," sings lead vocalist Bryan Webb on the country-shuffle number "Soon Enough". In fact, work and love are themes that run through the gritty disc's 10 songs. "Working Full-Time", for example, explores a humanistic view of the daily grind and the toll it takes; Loverboy will never sound the same again.

Currently signed in the States to Sub Pop, the Constantines are now officially free agents here at home; their Canadian label, Three Gut Records, has closed its doors with the release of Tournament of Hearts, ending an impressive run of independent-rock releases. For now, though, it's all about the road for the Cons. Just don't expect these blue-collar rockers to hit the Richard's stage this Friday (October 14) in the suits that grace the CD booklet's inner artwork. "I wish," says Lambke with a laugh. "But I've only got one suit. You can't be affording to get it sweaty every night and spill beer all over it ."