October 9, 2024

Stereobuzz Music Magazine

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MASTODON ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM — EMPEROR OF SAND —TO BE RELEASED MARCH 31ST VIA REPRISE RECORDS

(COURTESY WARNER MUSIC) Internationally celebrated heavy rock icons  MASTODONare proud to announce the title, track-listing, and release date of their eighth studio album, Emperor Of Sand — the follow-up to their universally praised 2014 album Once More ‘Round The Sun. The album will be released on March 31st via Reprise Records. Emperor Of Sand will be available for pre-order beginning today at www.mastodonrocks.com. Thedeluxe pre-order package will contain the album on double 180-gram vinyl housed in a gatefold jacket along with a bonus Color-In-Your-Own vinyl jacket, plus an exclusive box of Mastodon colored pencils. In addition fans will also receive a digital copy of the entire album on March 31st, along with an instant download of the album track Sultan’s Curse.” Emperor Of Sand will also be available digitally and on CD. Click hereto view the typically stunning album artwork by Alan Brown in a glorious, full 360-degree view. Alan Brown, aka Medusawolf, created the cover and inside gatefold images. Click here to learn more about the artist.

 

Emperor Of Sand finds Mastodon returning to a deeply imaginative and complex conceptual storyline that ponders the nature of time. Threading together the myth of a man sentenced to death in a majestically malevolent desert, the band conjures the grains of a musical and lyrical odyssey slipping quickly through a cosmic hourglass. “Emperor of Sandis like the grim reaper,” says drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor. “Sand represents time. If you or anyone you know has ever received a terminal diagnosis, the first thought is about time. Invariably, you ask, ‘How much time is left?’” “We’re reflecting on mortality,” adds bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders. “To that end, the album ties into our entire discography. It’s 17 years in the making, but it’s also a direct reaction to the last two years. We tend to draw inspiration from very real things in our lives.”

 Emperor Of Sand was recorded at The Quarry Recording Studio in Kennesaw, just outside Mastodon’s hometown of Atlanta, with producer Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Neil Young, AC/DC, Rage Against The Machine), whofirst worked with Mastodon on their seminal 2009 album Crack The Skye.

 Over the course of Mastodon’s career, the band members have fearlessly continued to push themselves towards greater creative heights on their recorded output. Each studio album has united an ever-expanding worldwide legion of fans who have come to expect the unexpected twists and turns that have elevated Mastodon to become one of the most respected and influential creative forces in rock music.

 “Mastodon are the greatest metal band of their generation – no one else comes close.” Rolling Stone

 “The coolest band in rock!”Drum! Magazine

 “Chances are you could use heavier rock in your life, and Mastodon’s riff-heavy epics are as friendly to non-metalheads as they are to heshers.” New York magazine

Mastodon kick off a Spring U.S. headline tour in support of Emperor Of Sand beginning April14th in Missoula, MT, with support from Eagles of Death Metal and Russian Circles. The tour also includes stops at several festivals, including the Carolina Rebellion Festival on May 5th.

 Each pair of tickets purchased online for Mastodon (excluding festival dates and the May 6th Philadelphia show) includes a choice of a physical or digital copy of Emperor of Sand. Ticket purchasers will receive instructions via e-mail on how to redeem the album on March 31st. Tickets are on sale now. Please see below for all tour dates and visit www.mastodonrocks.com/tour to purchase tickets.

 

VIP Upgrade Packages are available for all headline U.S. dates and will include:

 

Mastodon Ultimate VIP Upgrade Package (30 packages per show):

*Meet & Greet with selected members of the band

*Individual photo with the band

1 Signed setlist

1 Exclusive Mastodon poster

Exclusive VIP laminate

Early Entry to the venue (where available)

 *Not all members of the band will participate in the Meet & Greet or photo

 

Mastodon VIP Upgrade Package (75 packages per show):

1 Signed setlist

1 Exclusive Mastodon poster

Exclusive VIP laminate

Early Entry to the venue (where available)

 

Click here to purchase your Mastodon VIP Packages:  

 

Tour Dates:

# indicates festival date. All other dates are headline shows.

 

04/14   Missoula, MT                Wilma Theater

04/15   Seattle, WA                  Paramount Theater

04/16   Portland, OR                Roseland Theater

04/18   San Francisco, CA       The Warfield

04/20   Los Angeles, CA          The Palladium

04/21   Phoenix, AZ                 Comerica Theatre

04/23   Salt Lake City, UT        Complex

04/24   Denver, CO                  Fillmore

04/26   Kansas City, KS           Uptown Theater

04/27   St. Louis, MO               Pageant

04/28   Birmingham, AL                        Iron City

# 04/29            Jacksonville, FL                        Welcome to Rockville Festival

# 04/30            Ft. Myers, FL                Fort Rock Festival

05/02   Washington, DC           Fillmore

05/03   Toronto, ON                 Rebel

05/04   Cleveland, OH              Agora Theater

#05/05 Concord, NC                Caroline Rebellion Festival

05/06   Philadelphia, PA          Electric Factory

05/08   Boston, MA                  House of Blues

05/09   Portland, ME                State Theater

05/11   New York, NY               Hammerstein Ballroom

05/12   Pittsburgh, PA              Stage AE

05/13   Chicago, IL                  Aragon Ballroom

05/14   Cincinnati, OH              Taft Theatre

05/16   Detroit, MI                    Royal Oak Theater

05/17   Nashville, TN                Ryman Auditorium

05/18   Memphis, TN                Minglewood Hall

05/19   Dallas, TX                    Gas Monkey Live

05/20   Austin, TX                    ACL Live         

The track-listing for Emperor of Sand is as follows:

 

 

  1. Sultan’s Curse
  2. Show Yourself
  3. Precious Stones
  4. Steambreather
  5. Roots Remain
  6. Word To The Wise
  7. Ancient Kingdom
  8. Clandestiny
  9. Andromeda
  10. Scorpion Breath
  11. Jaguar God