MASTODON Scores Its Third Top 10 Album With 'Emperor Of Sand'

"Emperor Of Sand", the eighth studio album from internationally celebrated heavy rock icons MASTODON, has entered Billboard's Top Album Sales chart at the No. 1 position, making this not only the best-selling album of the week over all other entries, but also the band's biggest sales debut in their history. In addition, "Emperor Of Sand" topped the Billboard Alternative Albums, Rock Albums, Hard Music Albums and Physical Albums charts, plus the No. 1 vinyl album of the week, completing MASTODON's biggest debut of their career. "Emperor Of Sand" debuts at the No. 7 position on the Billboard 200 chart with 43,000 units and 41,000 in traditional album sales. This is MASTODON third Top 10 album, following 2014's "Once More 'Round The Sun" (No. 6) and 2011's "The Hunter" (No. 10).

MASTODON had the biggest international debut of its career with first-week chart position highs in multiple countries. "Emperor Of Sand" also reached the Top 10 in Canada (No. 2),Australia (No. 3),Finland (No. 4),Sweden (No. 5),Norway (No. 6),Ireland (No. 7),and New Zealand (No. 9).

Thrilled with this achievement, the band has offered this statement: "We want to thank all of our fans for running out and picking up a copy of our new album 'Emperor Of Sand'. The support you guys have shown us has been unbelievable. The album is an important and emotional one for us and it makes us very happy that it is connecting with you. We're excited to play it for you on tour!! See you soon!"

"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),who first worked with MASTODON on their seminal 2009 album "Crack The Skye".

MASTODON kicks off a spring U.S. headline tour in support of "Emperor Of Sand" on April 14 in Missoula, Montana, with support from EAGLES OF DEATH METAL and RUSSIAN CIRCLES. The tour also includes stops at several festivals, including the Carolina Rebellion on May 5.

"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 sand' is 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."