MASTODON Becomes One Of First Mainstream Acts To Accept Bitcoin Payments

BitPay, the world's leading bitcoin payment processor, today announced a partnership with Warner Bros. Records artist MASTODON, making them the first major label band to accept bitcoin through BitPay. MASTODON's new album, "Once More 'Round The Sun", is scheduled for release on June 24, and will be available for purchase with bitcoin at www.mastodonrocks.com/bitcoin.

"BitPay is honored to partner with Warner Bros. Records artist MASTODON. Having a major label artist embrace bitcoin is a definite sign of bitcoin's growth and expansion into the world of music," said Tony Gallippi, BitPay's co-founder and executive chairman.

"We're excited to work with fellow Atlanta natives BitPay for our new album," said MASTODON in a statement. “We want to give our fans as many options to buy our new album as possible, and are happy that bitcoin can be one of those choices."

"Once More 'Round The Sun" track listing:

01. Tread Lightly
02. The Motherload
03. High Road
04. Once More 'Round The Sun
05. Chimes At Midnight
06. Asleep In The Deep
07. Feast Your Eyes
08. Aunt Lisa
09. Ember City
10. Halloween
11. Diamond In The Witch House (feat. Scott Kelly of NEUROSIS)

MASTODON singer and bassist Troy Sanders told Paste Magazine about the "Once More 'Round The Sun" cover artwork: "It's... a work of art for sure. It's... very eye-opening, very striking. It's from another dimension, and a lot of our music is geared toward that idea — taking you to another planet on songs. It's out there, and I think it's incredible."

Regarding the new MASTODON album title, Sanders told Paste Magazine: "The idea was generated before we recorded the title track on the record, but the title was thought up many months ago.

"After we finished the two-year touring cycle on our last record, 'The Hunter', we were kind of gearing up to go back to our rehearsal space in Atlanta. And we were starting the effort, the time, the blood, the energy, the months of driving, the recording and the long process between recording and the release day.

"In a nutshell: we're fortunate enough to do this again, but there's this feeling of this yearly cycle. It's not a bad thing. We get to go tour a bunch, we get to record a bunch of songs we love. It's embracing the positive — the wonderful side, to be able to have the same four dudes who love doing what we do so much. And like anything in the MASTODON world, it's open to interpretation."

Asked what it's been like working with Raskulinecz on the new album, MASTODON guitarist Bill Kelliher told Metal Hammer magazine: "It's something that we totally need — a cheerleader to get our asses in gear. There he is saying, 'Come on, you're MASTODON… you're one of the biggest bands in metal… Smash that hammer down and write some heavy shit. It's time to do or die!' He's that kind of a guy."