Even without touring, Mastodon is finding a way to aptly celebrate its 20th anniversary this year.
The Atlanta-based hard rock band will release the collection “Medium Rarities” on Sept. 11 on CD and digital outlets, with a pink vinyl edition to follow on Oct. 16. Among the, well, rare inclusions are a new track, “Fallen Torches,” which the band recorded in 2019.
The rest of the release will offer covers, soundtrack contributions, instrumentals and live recordings, including Feist’s “A Commotion,” Metallica’s “Orion,” the soundtrack cuts “White Walker” (“Game of Thrones”) and “Cut You Up with a Linoleum Knife” (“Aqua Teen Hunger Force”) and instrumentals of “Toe to Toes” and “Halloween.” Of the material, 14 of the 16 tracks have never been previously available on streaming platforms.
The new song, “Fallen Torches,” recorded in Atlanta and featuring guest vocals from Scott Kelly of Neurosis, was supposed to support the band’s European tour. But instead, Mastodon turned their attention to “Stairway to Nick John,” a tribute to their late manager (proceeds benefit the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research).
Mastodon also wrote, recorded and produced the new song “Rufus Lives” in Atlanta, which will appear in the upcoming “Bill & Ted Face the Music” movie, expected to be released Aug. 28.
Medium Rarities Tracklisting:
1. Fallen Torches (Previously Unreleased)
2. A Commotion (Feist Cover)
3. Asleep in the Deep (Instrumental version)
4. Capillarian Crest (Live)
5. A Spoonful Weighs A Ton (The Flaming Lips Cover)
6. Toe To Toes (Instrumental version)
7. Circle of Cysquatch (Live)
8. Atlanta (Feat. Gibby Haynes)
9. Jaguar God (Instrumental)
10. Cut You Up With A Linoleum Life (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)
11. Blood & Thunder (Live)
12. White Walker (Game of Thrones)
13. Halloween (Instrumental version)
14. Crystal Skull (Live)
15. Orion (Metallica Cover)
16. Iron Tusk (Live)
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