*Relapse Records; Artwork by Skinner*

Arcadea The Exodus of Gravity marks the return of Mastodon drummer and vocalist Brann Dailor’s synth-driven side project, with the new album set for release on August 22.

The record is the follow-up to Arcadea’s self-titled 2017 debut and explores a more upbeat, electronic direction. “There’s something hopeful and uplifting about it from a musical aesthetic,” Dailor shares. “The object was to get a little more dancey and a little more fun.”

While the debut leaned heavily into progressive rock elements, Dailor says The Exodus of Gravity embraces a fresh approach. “As much as we liked how proggy the last Arcadea album was, it reminded me of what I already do in Mastodon,” he explains. “We wanted to explore the idea of doing something different. So, I wanted to concentrate on groove and dance and embrace the electronic aspect of it.”

The album’s lead single, “Fuzzy Planet,” is out now and accompanied by a video available on YouTube.

Meanwhile, Mastodon’s latest studio album, Hushed and Grim, was released in 2021. The band has been working on new material following the March departure of founding guitarist Brent Hinds.

This article is a rewritten summary based on original reporting by [ABC Audio]