MASTODON To Release 'Emperor Of Sand' Album In March; Cover Artwork, Track Listing Revealed

According to Apple's iTunes store in Australia, Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON will release their new studio album, "Emperor Of Sand", on March 31 via Reprise Records.

The track listing for the effort 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

The lead song, "Sultan's Curse", which was previewed Wednesday night on MASTODON's official web site, can already be purchased via the Australian iTunes store.

MASTODON's follow-up to 2014's "Once More 'Round The Sun" album was once again helmed by famed producer Brendan O'Brien, who first collaborated with the band on their 2009 groundbreaking concept album "Crack The Skye".

MASTODON recorded the new disc at the Quarry in Kennesaw, Georgia before moving to Henson Studios in Los Angeles for the mixing stage.

MASTODON drummer-singer-lyricist Brann Dailor recently told Rolling Stone that the band's new album grapples with themes of mortality and was inspired by seeing close friends and family diagnosed with cancer in recent years.

"Time is a very big theme of the album," Dailor said. "How much time do we have left? What are we doing with our time?"

"I get a little movie going in my head about a situation and I start writing about that," he added. "I try really hard to make it personal and relatable and not too esoteric. It's embarrassing to write lyrics. I'm a drummer, and I sing a little bit. Together we tackle these things and we figure it out — how to be this vocally driven band that has three people singing that don't want to sing."

He went on to say: "It's about going through cancer, going through chemotherapy and all the things associated with that. I didn't want to be literal about it. But it's all in there. You can read between the lines."

Regarding the musical direction of MASTODON's next album, guitarist Bill Kelliher told GuitarMania: "It's a little bit of the same as the last album, but I think it goes even deeper in certain areas — a couple of more psychedelic parts, a little more technical parts. There are a couple of new places we haven't gone before. So it's just kind of a continuation of the last record to me, but even deeper."

MASTODON has confirmed a spring U.S. headline tour, which will kick off 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.