It doesn’t take a genius to hear a theme on “Funeral For Yesterday,” the new album from the all-female Canadian metal band Kittie.

The title alone seems to indicate a desire to bury the past and move on. And after eight or so years of easy sailing, Kittie did hit some bumpy spots in the road over the last couple of years.

In early 2005, the band, which formed in 1996 when songwriting sisters Mercedes and Morgan Lander were still teens, endured two blows that would kill many groups: It split from its longtime record label and it lost two members.

But the Landers soldiered on, picking up a new guitarist and new bassist, and starting their own label, X Of Infamy, to release “Funeral For Yesterday.”

The album is a strong step for Kittie, as it retains the death-metal crunch the band is known for but tempers it with slicker production. It’s the sound of growth for a band that’s been around for a decade but is just entering its prime.

And that theme we identified? Turns out we were right on. In an interview with www.shipwreckislandstudios.com, Morgan Lander said the song “Breathe” is about “the death of a relationship and the desire for it to keep going.” The song “Slow Motion” is about “seeing something … that you love die slowly.” The song “Around Your Heart” is about “not wanting something beautiful to end.” And the song “Everything That Could Have Been” is about reflecting on the past and wishing to change it.

“‘Funeral For Yesterday’ … was inspired by the challenges we faced during the darkest time in the band’s career,” Lander told the Web site. “Mercedes and I were without a complete line-up and without a label, and we weren’t even sure whether we were going to be able to continue as a band. The only outlet we had was music, so we continued to write, and out of the despair came some great music.”

Tonight, Kittie will headline a monster all-ages show at the Midtown Ballroom, located at 51 N.W. Greenwood Ave., in Bend. The show starts at 6 p.m., and the bill also includes It Dies Today, Silent Civilian, Bring Me The Horizon, Blessed By A Broken Heart, Illis Amora, It Lays In Ruins, In Her Memory and Empire Of Ashes.

Tickets cost $18 plus service charges in advance and $20 at the door. Advance tickets are available through Ticketswest at www.ticketswest.com and the Safeway at 642 N.E. Third St., in Bend. Charge by phone at 800-992-8499.

Contact: 550-8186 or www .myspace.com/bleedingthoughtspro.

— Ben Salmon