Pearl Jam Announce First New Studio Album in Seven Years

Gigaton, the band’s 11th LP, arrives March 27 amidst a world tour

January 14, 2020January 17, 2020 Ron Hart 0 Comments Dance of the Clairvoyants, Eddie Vedder, Gigaton, IDLES, Jeff Ament, Matt Cameron, Mike McCready, Monkeywrench Records, Paul Nicklen, Pearl Jam, pearljam.com, Pixies, Produced by Josh Evans, Stone Gossard, White Reaper

Pearl Jam Gigaton, Monkeywrench/Republic 2020

According to Oxford, a gigaton is “a unit of explosive force equal to one billion (10⁹) tons of trinitrotoluene (TNT).”

It’s a unit of measurement scientists use to keep track of the massive amounts of water falling off the melting icebergs of our planet’s northernmost top.

For Pearl Jam to call their 11th album Gigaton, illustrated by a gorgeously haunting photograph of water pouring off an ice wall for its cover art, is to understand what makes them the most crucial American rock band of my generation. The photo is an image captured by Canadian photographer, filmmaker and marine biologist Paul Nicklen, entitled “Ice Waterfall.” Taken in Svalbard, Norway, this image features the Nordaustlandet ice cap gushing high volumes of meltwater. It’s easily the most striking cover image to ever grace a Pearl Jam record.

When Eddie wants to make a statement he makes it. And given the glacial pace (all pun intended) of the way by which PJ works in the studio in recent years, it will be very interesting to see which direction he and the band take on Gigaton. All we can do at press time is speculate with regard to how the new album sounds, as no track listing nor first single has been announced just yet.

What we do know is that Gigaton will be released via Monkeywrench Records/Republic Records on March 27, 2020 in the US. Internationally, the album will be released and distributed by Universal Music Group. Produced by Josh Evans and Pearl Jam, Gigaton marks the band’s first studio album since GRAMMY award-winning Lightning Bolt.

Gigaton is available for pre-order now at www.pearljam.com. The first single, “Dance of the Clairvoyants”, will be released in the coming weeks.

“Making this record was a long journey,” explains Mike McCready in a statement on the band’s website. “It was emotionally dark and confusing at times, but also an exciting and experimental road map to musical redemption. Collaborating with my bandmates on Gigaton ultimately gave me greater love, awareness and knowledge of the need for human connection in these times.”

Pearl Jam are hitting the road the day after St. Patrick’s Day on a North American tour through April before heading overseas in June. Tour dates below.

03-18 Toronto, Ontario – Scotiabank Arena
03-20 Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Tire Centre
03-22 Quebec City, Quebec – Videotron Centre
03-24 Hamilton, Ontario – FirstOntario Centre
03-28 Baltimore, MD – Royal Farms Arena
03-30 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
04-02 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
04-04 St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
04-06 Oklahoma City, OK – Chesapeake Energy Arena
04-09 Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
04-11 Phoenix, AZ – Gila River Arena
04-13 San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena
04-15 Los Angeles, CA – The Forum
04-16 Los Angeles, CA – The Forum
04-18 Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
04-19 Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
06-23 Frankfurt, Germany – Festhalle @
06-25 Berlin, Germany – Waldbühne @
06-27 Stockholm, Sweden – Lollapalooza Stockholm
06-29 Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena @
07-02 Werchter, Belgium – Rock Werchter
07-05 Imola, Italy – Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari &
07-07 Vienna, Austria – Wiener Stadthalle %
07-10 London, England – Hyde Park
07-13 Krakow, Poland – Tauron Arena %
07-15 Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Arena %
07-17 Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion %
07-19 Paris, France – Lollapalooza Paris
07-22 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome %
07-23 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome