Modest Mouse have officially announced their eighth studio album, An Eraser And A Maze, set for release on June 5 via Glacial Pace Recordings. The band has also unveiled the project’s eccentric, high-octane opening track, ‘Picking Dragon’s Pockets’.

This upcoming record marks a significant milestone for the group, serving as their first full-length release in five years, following the 2021 album The Golden Casket. The new single, ‘Picking Dragon’s Pockets’, introduces the album with a sharp, captivating guitar riff that quickly evolves into a glitchy, anthemic chorus, reflecting the band’s signature ability to critique a complex, often self-destructive world.

A Collaborative Evolution

An Eraser And A Maze was produced by frontman Isaac Brock, alongside a powerhouse team of collaborators including Jackknife Lee, known for his work with U2 and The Killers, as well as Suzy Shinn and Justin Raisin. According to the band, the album is designed to sonically encapsulate every era of their storied career.

Reflecting on the creative process, Brock noted a shift in his approach to songwriting. “For this one, I turned off my filter and just let it all happen,” he explained. “Thoughts, emotions, feelings, all that stuff… you’re like the soup, and it’s not always easy to pick out the ingredients. I don’t dwell on things much. I don’t grieve much. I’m not sure I’m a person. I feel like I should have more feelings than I do. But then, you know, I’ll sing stuff. And I’m like, Oh, there it is. Oh — it’s in there.”

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Tracklist and Upcoming Appearances

The tracklist for An Eraser And A Maze is as follows:

• 1. ‘Picking Dragon’s Pockets’
• 2. ‘Remember Yourself’
• 3. ‘Life’s A Dream’
• 4. ‘Third Side Of The Moon’
• 5. ‘Dogbed in Heaven/Give It A Skeleton’
• 6. ‘Interlude’
• 7. ‘I Can’t Talk Right Now’
• 8. ‘Speak ‘N Spell’ (Or Not)
• 9. ‘Rotten Fruit’ (feat. Justin Raisin)
• 10. ‘Knocked Down By Waves’
• 11. ‘Absolutely Necessary Never’
• 12. ‘Song About Nothing’
• 13. ‘Stoner Party’
• 14. ‘Look How Far’
• 15. ‘Impossible Somedays’

In addition to the new music, the band is scheduled to perform at Bonnaroo on Sunday, June 14.