The album's earlier sessions were marred with slow progress due to lineup changes and frontman Richard Patrick's decision to construct his own studio for recording.

After the release of Filter's 1995 debut Short Bus, which was created entirely by frontman Richard Patrick, Brian Liesegang, and a drum machine, the band toured in support of the album throughout 1996.

In order to do this, a live band was recruited, consisting of Geno Lenardo on guitar, Frank Cavanaugh on bass, and Matt Walker on drums.

[8] Prior to formal recording sessions for a new album, the two wrote and released a few songs on movie soundtracks, most notably the electronic rock track "(Can't You) Trip Like I Do" with the Crystal Method, which proved to be a turning-point for the two.

[10] Once preparations were complete, Patrick met up with, and started early sessions with music producer and sound engineer Rae DiLeo.

[6] Lenardo initially was unable to return, as he had gotten married and had children and was living a life that was contrary to Patrick's requirements for him in the studio.

[13] Gillis oftentimes had to re-record his drum tracks multiple times due to Lenardo altering the guitar parts of the songs.

[14] Other collaborators included D'Arcy Wretzky, former bassist of the Smashing Pumpkins, who provided vocals for the chorus of the track "Cancer".

[16] Described as being "firmly within the industrial-metal tradition",[2] the record expands on the grunge-influenced industrial rock sound of Short Bus with electronic textures and elements from folk, worldbeat and psychedelia.

[2] Entertainment Weekly's Steven Mirkin regarded the record as "derivative", while noting the band's "attention to melody and craft" to be refreshing.

[23] Greg Kot of Rolling Stone thought that the album "rehashes the Jekyll and Hyde dynamics that have become alternative rock's creative downfall."

Nevertheless, Kot further stated: "With Short Bus, Filter sounded like the latest and lightest in a long line of industrial-rock bands, but Title of Record expands the possibilities.