Internationally celebrated heavy rock icons MASTODON are 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. Alan Brown, aka Medusawolf, created the cover and inside gatefold images.
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
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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/
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
For further tour and ticket info visit: www.mastodonrocks.com/tour
Lastly, Mastodon have created an entirely new line of Emperor Of Sand merch. A variety of ultra-cool bundles are now available through the Official Mastodon Store. Click hereto view all options.
The track-listing for Emperor of Sand is as follows:
01. Sultan’s Curse
02. Show Yourself
03. Precious Stones
04. Steambreather
05. Roots Remain
06. Word To The Wise
07. Ancient Kingdom
08. Clandestiny
09. Andromeda
10. Scorpion Breath
11. Jaguar God
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