The sixth studio album from Queens Of The Stone Age is one of the year’s most keenly anticipated releases, and for damn good reason.

Aside from being the latest from one of rock’s most visceral and entertaining acts, the latest from Joshua Homme and his outlaws also contains a stunning cast of hired musical mercenaries. Including the tireless Mr Dave Grohl on the drum stool, the equally prolific Trent Reznor, estranged bassist Nick Oliveri, gravelly voiced Mark Lanegan, Scissor Sister Jake Shears, and even Elton John.

The follow-up to 2007’s Era Vulgaris now also has a name, …Like Clockwork is the name of the new album, due in June 2013 through Matador Records (in conjunction presumably with Homme’s own Rekords Rekords). Its the first release for the band on the new label, better known for its indie acts than high-profile rock bands.

More importantly, fans can now get several very brief tastes of what the band’s latest album sounds like.

QOTSA’s official website is now branded with a new logo and several new audio clips (of about 5 sec a serving) that randomly play upon arrival. But rather than sit there and click refresh like a chump, thanks to an enterprising music fan on reddityou can listen to all seven separate audio clips to your heart’s content. More importantly, fans can now get several very brief tastes of what the band’s latest album sounds like.

As Antiquiet points out, the new chronological album name was hinted at quite some time ago, when the band were sending out cryptic messages to key music publications about their forthcoming album, all with the same thematic thread of dealing with time.

UK magazine NME were sent one late last year, as were MOJOand more recently Uncut and Kerrang (you can view the cryptic notes below).

The band are also hitting the road to play a number of festival dates in the lead-up to the album’s release, starting with the Brazilian edition of Lollapalooza this coming Easter weekend. Along with the live dates will be the unveiling of a new touring drummer.

As previously reported, although Grohl replaced original drummer Joey Castillo for the recording of the sixth and latest QOTSA album, it’s been reported that he’s not touring with the band, leaving the drum stool once again unoccupied.

Seems a shame since Grohl has been playing with Homme and fellow Queens member Alain Johannes regularly as part of the all-star Sound City Players, who were officially retired at SXSW last week, but no surprise considering Grohl’s been keeping extraordinarily busy with his Sound City commitments of late.

You can check out the (presumed) artwork below, along with the cryptic notes the band had sent press.


NME

MOJO

Kerrang

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