Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON will release a rarities collection titled "Medium Rarities" on September 11. The compilation includes one brand new song, "Fallen Torches" (featuring a guest appearance by NEUROSIS's Scott Kelly), which can be heard below, along with a bevy of classic covers, soundtrack contributions, instrumentals, B-sides, and live recordings on one complete package for the very first time. Among an eclectic array of covers, the MASTODON members tackle "A Commotion" by FEIST, "A Spoonful Weighs A Ton" by THE FLAMING LIPS, "Atlanta" by BUTTHOLE SURFERS, and "Orion" by METALLICA. It also features soundtrack cuts such as "White Walker" (from the "Game Of Thrones"-inspired mix tape) and the soundtrack song "Cut You Up With A Linoleum Knife" ("Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters"). Meanwhile, they get under the hood with instrumental versions of "Asleep In The Deep", "Toe To Toes", "Jaguar God" and "Halloween". 14 of these tracks have never been available on streaming services until now. The limited-edition double LP is pressed on pink vinyl. "Medium Rarities" track listing: 01. Fallen Torches 02. A Commotion (FEIST cover) 03. Asleep In The Deep (instrumental) 04. Capillarian Crest (live) 05. A Spoonful Weighs A Ton (THE FLAMING LIPS cover) 06. Toe To Toes (instrumental) 07. Circle Of Cysquatch (live) 08. Atlanta (feat. Gibby Haynes) 09. Jaguar God (instrumental) 10. Cut You Up With A Linoleum Knife 11. Blood & Thunder 12. White Walker 13. Halloween (instrumental) 14. Crystal Skull (live) 15. Orion (METALLICA cover) 16. Iron Tusk (live) "Fallen Torches" is apparently the "heavy" new song MASTODON recorded back in December 2018 but had not released until now. In January 2019, MASTODON guitarist Brent Hinds described the tune to Kerrang! magazine as "a fun listen," while fellow axeman Bill Kelliher said that it was "a basher" and "brutal." Drummer Brann Dailor concurred, telling the publication: "It's as heavy as I've heard us in a while." Dailor recently spoke to Metal Hammer magazine about the progress of the songwriting sessions for 2017's "Emperor Of Sand" album. He said: "It's all over the map. There's some big, big heavy riffs that are happening, so that's what I'm into. And then there's some guitar gymnastics by Brent Hinds that have been some of the most difficult things I've tried to wrap my ahead around and play drums to. So there's some super-progginess coming from him, and some really super, pretty moments. But there's some rockers in there, too. There's some heavy, fast stuff as well. But a lot of it is kind of doomy. But that's where we're at." In May, Kelliher told the "Rock & Roll Beer Guy" podcast that the music he has been writing for MASTODON's next album is "different than 'Emperor Of Sand', but there's definitely a vibe going on… The new record, the stuff I've written, is not quite as notey as that, but it's definitely got more NEUROSIS heaviness, simplified guitar parts. And Brann, he always demos most of the vocal ideas, 'cause he always has melodies, and he's been singing on a lot of it, at least for the demo purposes. The vocals are kind of 'Asleep In The Deep' style — kind of RADIOHEAD-ish almost, real melodic, just a lot of vocal harmonies." "Emperor Of Sand" debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200. That album was nominated for the 2018 Grammy Award for "Best Rock Album," and its opening track, "Sultan's Curse", won the Grammy Award for "Best Metal Performance." Earlier in the year, MASTODON wrote and recorded a new song for inclusion in the upcoming "Bill & Ted Face The Music" movie. "Bill & Ted Face The Music", which reunites Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves in the title roles for the first time since 1991's "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey", is scheduled for a September 1 release.
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