Mastodon first previewed their upcoming studio album, Emperor of Sand, with “Sultan’s Curse”, a punishing track filled with desert-burnt riffs. New single “Show Yourself”, however, reminds listeners that there’s more than one way to melt a face. The song is nearly poppy in its structure, coming as close to catchy as a progressive metal track really can. But don’t mistakenly think that means it’s somehow less blistering than its precursor, with guitars reaching out above pummeling drums to grab you by the eardrums as the band warns, “You’re not as safe as far as I can tell/ And I can tell/ Only you can save yourself.”
Take a listen below.
The follow-up to 2014’s Once More ’Round the Sun, Emperor of Sand is due out March 31st on Reprise Records. The concept of the record follows a protagonist who “is handed a death sentence from a desert ruler, and then wanders an arid wasteland – a metaphor for illness and doom.” It marks the beginning of what the band promises will be a big year, which includes a spring tour with Eagles of Death Metal and Russian Circles.
