Mastodon are back in the studio working on new material

(Image credit: Jimmy Hubbard)

In August this year, Mastodon’s Brann Dailor reported that the band were gathering ideas for the follow-up to 2017’s Emperor Of Sand.

The vocalist and drummer said they wouldn’t turn their full attention to new music until 2019 – but in an Instagram post, Dailor uploaded a picture of guitarist Bill Kelliher in the studio with the caption: “New music? Yep.”

Along with tagging Kelliher, he also mentioned Brent Hinds, so it would appear not everyone is currently involved in the process... but it’s good to know that work is starting on fresh sounds.

Mastodon will leave the studio early in the new year to head out on the road across the UK, Ireland and Europe for 25 dates.

They’ll be joined by special guests Kvelertak and Mutoid Man, while Scott Kelly from Neurosis will hook up with the tour through February 9 on Brussels.

Promoters for each show will also make a donation to three charities: The TJ Martel Foundation, Hirshberg Foundation For Pancreatic Cancer Research and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in light of Mastodon’s manager Nick John’s death earlier this year from pancreatic cancer.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.