When Joe left the band in 2005, Geno Lenardo subbed in as the touring bassist until he was replaced by Pete and Sam's brother-in-law, Dean Bernardini.

The band's first studio album, Point #1, was released on a small record label called Squint Entertainment.

Chevelle has since released six more albums: Vena Sera (2007), Sci-Fi Crimes (2009), Hats Off to the Bull (2011), La Gárgola (2014), The North Corridor (2016), and NIRATIAS (2021).

[5] The band started playing small outdoor concerts and clubs around Chicago, Illinois, with Joe being only 14 years old.

[3] The band played small concerts for the next three years until they were signed on to Steve Taylor's Squint Entertainment,[1][2][3] a contemporary Christian music label.

The band recorded with Steve Albini for 17 days in Electrical Audio studios and released its first full-length album, Point #1 in 1999.

[10] The album was well received by Phantom Tollbooth and HM Magazine,[11][12] yet was criticized for its repetitive song structures by Jesus Freak Hideout, a Christian music website.

[7] The band's label at the time was going through legal troubles as Word Records was attempting to wrest control of Squint from Taylor.

[2] Discussing the legal battle, bassist Joe Loeffler stated "we weren't sure if anything was going to happen after that, it was pretty crazy.

[15] Brian O'Neil of AllMusic stated the album "offers uniqueness not often heard in more commercial fare, no mean feat.

[22] Keith Miller of EvangelSociety.org was critical of Chevelle for touring with Ozzfest with bands such as Cradle of Filth, who he claimed incorporated strong Satanic and anti-Christian themes into their lyrics.

[15] Johnny Loftus of AllMusic described the songs on the album as "strong dynamically, but sound predetermined — they don't separate from the general loud rock malaise.

[33] Pete and Sam stated the following on the band's official website: "After three years of non-stop touring and recording, Joe is taking a break to be home with family.

[36] In August 2005, the Loeffler brothers' brother-in-law and longtime friend, Dean Bernardini joined the band as their newest bassist.

[40] On May 9, 2007, during a show in Fort Worth, Texas Chevelle's trailer containing all of the band's equipment was stolen from the hotel at which the members were staying.

[45] The band posted a notice saying, "Most items are labeled 'Chevelle' and if you notice anything suspicious on eBay or other online resellers selling 'authentic' Chevelle items... guitar, basses, drums, amplifiers, risers, backdrops, tee shirts... please call the police..." A month later in an interview, Sam Loeffler stated, "Of the 14 guitars, we got two of 'em, and then we got some amplifiers back and our monitor system.

Sam Loeffler stated, "We have spent a lot of time making these songs something different from past records without losing the core of our passion.

[55] Joe Barresi, who produced Hats Off to the Bull said of the album, "Rather than simply subscribing to a tried-and-true formula, they made a conscious effort to incorporate new sounds and textures into their patented airtight anthems.

[62] Recording and production finished early in 2014, and the band announced on February 1 that the album, to be released April 1, 2014, would be titled La Gárgola (Spanish for "the gargoyle").

[76] In an interview with 105.7 The Point on May 23, 2015, the band stated that after their last show of their tour in St. Louis, they would focus on writing new material, and that future work would be moving in a heavier-sounding direction.

[86][87] In October 2018, Chevelle released a compilation album titled, 12 Bloody Spies, featuring B-sides, covers, rarities, and remixes.

[96] Along with the announcement drummer Sam Loeffler said they have been writing material a year-and-a-half, meaning the process of making this album has taken longer than usual.

[96] In an interview with KCAL 96.7's RadioActive Mike Z. in September 2019, vocalist Pete Loeffler stated: "We went really dark on the last two [albums], really heavy and more metal.

[98][99][100] The song is the lead single from their upcoming ninth studio album, NIRATIAS (an acronym for "Nothing is real and this is a simulation")[101][102] which was released on March 5, 2021.

[107][108] In a March 17, 2021, interview with Loudwire, Pete Loeffler states that despite the band selling over six million albums, they haven't gotten any money out of it.

[146] Albums such as La Gargola and The North Corridor feature a heavier, more riff-oriented sound with lyrical themes influenced by horror.

"[1] According to Lauren Wise of Phoenix New Times, "[Chevelle have] never strayed far from their controlled chaos and somehow gentle rampage or their mix of dark magnetism and gothic pop (think early Tool meets The Cure if you haven't heard radio-dominating hits like "The Red").

"[151] Despite comparisons to Tool, many critics such as Andree Farias and Andy Argyrakis of Christianity Today have stated Chevelle as having a unique sound to their music.

[24][25] Andree Farias of Christianity Today has reviewed Chevelle's first three albums, praising them as "commanding vocals over jolting guitars and chest-thumping bass beats".

"[146] Chevelle's music has also been described as "a kind of controlled chaos, a beautiful darkness, a gentle rampage of aural velocity.