SMALL FACES

Australian teen trio Silverchair, having just graduated from the 10th grade, will begin work on its second album next month. The follow-up to its 2-million selling debut “Frogstomp” is expected to be released late this year or early next year. . . .

Veruca Salt, on the heels of a new EP produced by grunge guru Steve Albini, is heading to Hawaii to record its second album next month with metal maven Bob Rock, who produced, among others, Metallica’s last album. . . .

Top techno bands the Orb, Orbital, Chemical Brothers and Meat Beat Manifesto are among those set for a two-day festival at Big Bear, June 21-22, presented by rave producer Chaotica. Meat Beat Manifesto, meanwhile, has signed with Trent Reznor’s Nothing Records, with the double-disc “Subliminal Sandwich” due June 4. . . .

Neil and Tim Finn’s “Finn Brothers” has been licensed for the U.S. by Discovery Records, which will release the Split Enz/Crowded House alums’ album on June 18. Meanwhile, Crowded House has a best-of coming from Capitol, with three new songs, due in July. A new album from the band is also in the works.