The writing process for "This Will Destroy You", the band's eponymous debut studio album, was initially a slow and fragmented one. The band members were all living in different cities within Texas, due to work and school commitments, and so could only meet irregularly. Chris King said to "Rock Sound", " was a struggle; when we did meet up, sometimes the ideas would come flowing, but at others we'd just stand there for the whole time staring at each other." In February 2007 the band began recording with producer John Congleton at a studio in Texas owned by the country music singer Willie Nelson, a process that took several months.