Mastodon isn't back with new music just yet, but they are back with pickles… and that's fun. Mastodon has teamed up with Kelly's Death Pickles for four different styles of pickles, each with their own corresponding artwork for each band member (seemingly modeled after Kiss' four solo albums).
Special shout out to bassist Troy Sanders for his Troy Sanders Diller Be Dilled pickles, if only because it gives us hope that there could be new Killer Be Killed at some point. Is that a stretch? Absolutely. Am I retracting it? Nope. Let me feel hope. Get 'em here.
As for new Mastodon, it looks like the band may have been in the studio recently. Mastodon drummer and vocalist Brann Dailor recently posted a video from West End Sound of a drum kit he's using, which prompted one fan to ask if new Mastodon is in the works. Dailor only responded "something like that." So… maybe?
Mastodon recently hinted at new material and a "new configuration" of Crack The Skye, so Dailor's studio presence might have something to do with that as well.
"Fifteen years ago today, we unveiled Crack The Skye," wrote Mastodon back in March. "A time where we experimented with sounds and styles previously unexplored on a Mastodon album. We're deeply thankful for our fans, who have embraced our continuous drive to venture into new realms and challenge ourselves with every album.
"Maybe we are cooking up some new stuff up in the background?… but that's our little secret… In the meantime, revisit the album and share your favorite songs, riffs, melodies and moments with us, we love hearing from you! Who knows, maybe there's a new configuration of the CTS album on the horizon…
"Also, we're celebrating another big anniversary, 20 years of Leviathan! We are playing that record in its entirety on the Ashes of Leviathan Tour with our buddies Lamb of God who are also celebrating a special anniversary! It's gonna be an amazing tour! Tickets are on sale now, see you in July/August!"
Lamb Of God and Mastodon will hit the road this July and August to play their 2004 albums Ashes Of The Wake and Leviathan in full. All dates will be opened by Kerry King and Malevolence, except for a few in the middle featuring Kerry King and Unearth. Get the full list of dates below and get your tickets here.
7/19 Grand Prairie, TX Texas Trust CU Theatre
7/20 Austin, TX Germania Insurance Amphitheater
7/21 Houston, TX 713 Music Hall
7/23 Jacksonville, FL Daily’s Place
7/24 Orlando, FL Orlando Amphitheater
7/25 Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
7/27 Raleigh, NC Red Hat Amphitheater
7/28 Richmond, VA Virginia Credit Union LIVE!
7/30 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
7/31 London, ON Budweiser Gardens
8/1 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
8/3 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
8/4 Manchester, NH SNHU Arena
8/6 Bangor, ME Maine Savings Amphitheatre
8/8 Reading, PA Santander Arena (w/ Unearth, no Malevolence)
8/9 Cleveland, OH Jacobs Pavilion (w/ Unearth, no Malevolence)
8/10 Sterling Heights, MI Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre @ Freedom Hill (w/ Unearth, no Malevolence)
8/13 Moorhead, MN Bluestem Center For The Arts Amphitheater
8/15 Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome
8/16 Penticton, BC South Okanagan Events Centre
8/17 Kent, WA accesso ShoWare Center
8/18 Portland, OR Theater of the Clouds
8/21 Los Angeles, CA The Kia Forum
8/23 Phoenix, AZ Arizona Financial Theatre
8/24 Rio Rancho, NM Rio Rancho Events Center
8/25 El Paso, TX El Paso County Coliseum
8/27 Magna, UT The Great Saltair
8/29 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
8/31 Omaha, NE The Astro Amphitheater
