Bassist J.P. Caballero told Pollstar fans can expect a much more "thuggish" vibe from the new songs.
"We turned down the knob on stoniness and we turned up the random thug knob, so expect us to come to your town with switchblades," he said while "playing bumper cars" on the streets of Austin.
The band had arrived in the Texas city at 5 a.m. after driving for a full 22 hours to appear at the Austin City Limits Music Festival September 23.
"We've always been a lot noisier than I think people think we are," Caballero continued. "We did the first record and that was really, really mellow, and we've always been a bit more abrasive than that.
"There are always songs that sound like (pause ...) songs, but it's kind of nice having a little more of a f***ed-up element in there. That's what we're into. Nice paintings with box cutter slashes through them - that's how I've always thought of it."
The group has been touring regularly for the last couple of years, on lengthy support stints for The Shins, The Fiery Furnaces, Grandaddy and others as well as their own headline dates.
This fall's tour - which begins at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall and finishes back home at Los Angeles' El Rey November 19 - is their first major headlining venture.
Singer/guitarist Joel Morales assured Pollstar that fans are in for something special.
"They, hands down, will be the best shows they've been to all year," Morales said. "I guarantee it. I mean, I'm pretty sure."
The packed itinerary includes shows at Detroit's Magic Stick, Boston's Middle East, Stubb's in Austin and more than two dozen other clubs and theatres.
"I don't know if I'd say it's 'major,'" the ever-humble Caballero said. "I'd say it's, you know, just dios. Just a dios tour. I think even if we were playing, you know, the megaloamphitheatredomes, it'd still be pretty homey."
Although dios malos' profile has grown considerably over the last two years - with their self-titled debut album earning honors including a Shortlist Music Prize nomination - the band relies on the same trusty van they picked up for their first tour.
"And we still don't own it," Caballero laughed. "It's been through a couple car accidents, some theft ... all the stuff that happens when you give a band a large vehicle.
"It's a little more reliable than we are. I don't know how much that is, but I think even if we cease, it'll continue to run. It'll be like a Knight Rider / Christine ... it'll just drive around the interstates, just looking for trouble. It's got a really good attitude."
Oregon's Swords will be opening on all dates this fall, and Miguel Mendez - who wrote "You've Got Me All Wrong" from dios malos' first album - will also appear at a few shows, Caballero said.
The new dios malos album, also self-titled, is due for release October 11 on Star Time International. They left their home studio at home this time and recorded the album in Seattle with revered indie producer Phil Ek.