Pearl Jam Releases New Album: “Dark Matter”

Already heralded as the band’s best in decades, Pearl Jam proudly present their anxiously awaited twelfth studio album, Dark Matter, available now via Monkeywrench Records/Republic Records.

From the kinetic opener “Scared of Fear” through the optimistic exhale of album closer “Setting Sun,” these eleven tracks find the musicians firing on all cylinders.

A surge of energy underscores this body of work amplified by thunderous rhythms, skyscraping guitar solos, and vital vocals. Produced by GRAMMY® award winning producer Andrew Watt, Dark Matter, marks the band’s first release since critically acclaimed Gigaton (2020).

Pearl Jam initially set the stage for Dark Matter with the title track and lead single “Dark Matter.” It surged to #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart, where it remained for 3 weeks, netting the band’s first leader on the respective chart since 1998. It also captured #1 on the Billboard Rock & Alternative Airplay Chart.

The band has staunchly continued their support of independent retailers by offering various, limited-edition galactic color variants of Dark Matter exclusively at select indie retail stores with 8 different colorways in the US and 2 additional for international. Get more info about this HERE.

In celebration of Record Store Day, Pearl Jam held 180 listening parties across 150 US stores and 30 international. Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament from the band made a special surprise appearance at Easy Street Records in Seattle for the event.

The band is also celebrating indie record stores with the release of a special edition of Dark Matter available only at participating stores as part of Record Store Day. Get more information and find stores HERE.

On Tuesday, April 16th, Pearl Jam collaborated with Abramorama to create a unique global theatrical premiere of Dark Matter in over 45 countries and 900 cinemas.

Pearl Jam – Dark Matter – Global Theatrical Experience – One Night Only was an immense success with many cinemas sold out and offering encore screenings of the experience.

The Dark Matter album packaging features light painting art by Alexandr Gnezdilov. Light painting is an artistic form of photography where images are created by adjusting a camera’s exposure for an extended period and using a light source, such as a flashlight, to “paint” in the dark.

The album cover art was crafted using a large self-made kaleidoscope. Each letter visible on the cover was individually captured and handwritten midair with a specially designed flashlight to create the pearlescent effect.

Dark Matter World Tour 2024

In support of Dark Matter, Pearl Jam will head out on a world tour this year, marking the first time the band has announced a new album and tour simultaneously and first time the group has unveiled all worldwide tour dates at once.

Their global tour, hitting nine countries and 25 cities, kicks off at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, and will cover much of North America including shows at Wrigley Field, Madison Square Garden, Fenway Park, and their first hometown performance in six years at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, the world’s first net zero certified arena.

The tour continues with performances in the UK and Europe, including their first performance at London’s brand new and state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, through September, followed by the group’s long-awaited ten-year return to New Zealand and Australia this November.

Special guests Deep Sea Diver (North America Leg 1), Glen Hansard (North America Leg 2), The Murder Capital (UK/EU), Richard Ashcroft (Dublin and London) and Pixies (Australia and New Zealand) will serve as support acts for these dates.

Get tickets for Pearl Jam‘s shows HERE.

More info about Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam is an alternative rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990. The band’s lineup consists of bassist Jeff Ament, rhythm guitarist Stone Gossard, lead guitarist Mike McCready, lead singer/guitarist Eddie Vedder and drummer Matt Cameron.

Thirty plus years of live performances, twelve studio albums and hundreds of official live concert bootleg releases later, Pearl Jam continues to be critically acclaimed and commercially successful. The band has sold over 85 million albums worldwide and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

Since the earliest days, Pearl Jam has used its platform to elevate people and causes that often go unnoticed or underserved.

Much of the band’s philanthropic work is accomplished through its Vitalogy Foundation which to date has raised more than $50 million for organizations supporting issues such as abortion access, climate change and homelessness, and drawing attention to the fight against diseases such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis and epidermolysis bullosa (EB).

In addition to the money Vitalogy donates, the band also donates signed instruments, posters and merchandise to organizations to use for their own fundraising purposes.

Compounding the impact of Vitalogy Foundation, the band has supported Jeff Ament’s Montana Pool Service building skate parks in Montana and South Dakota.

Pearl Jam also lends its voice to notable causes like the West Memphis 3, voting rights and fair ticketing practices. Over the past three decades, the band has a long history of standing up for what it believes in and putting its resources behind those beliefs.

Through its innovative Ten Club and fan engagement, community building, coveted poster designs, and longstanding activism and philanthropy, Pearl Jam continues to have a lasting impact on generations of music lovers.

Watch this space for updates in the Music News category on Running Wolf’s Rant.