After More Than a Decade, Primus is Back with a new album, Green Naugahyde!

After making fans wait eleven long years, rock giants Primus have reunited and are releasing an album of all-new songs this fall. The recording, entitled Green Naugahyde, is set to be released on September 13, just ten days before the band heads out for their nationwide tour. Although Les Claypool himself has gone on several solo excursions and has done some work as a guest artist both live and in the studio, the Green Naugahyde tour will represent the first time the full band has played together formally in public in about a decade.

The new incarnation of Primus features a slightly modified lineup from previous albums – in addition to the essential presence of Les Claypool, guitarist Larry “Ler” LaLonde brings his guitar genius back to the group, and the pair are joined by drummer Jay Lane, whom hardcore Primus fans will remember as one of the original members of of the band. Although Lane left the band before the first formal studio recordings were made, he has wandered in and out of the Primus landscape over the years, and his early work with the band has had a profound influence on their overall artistic direction.

Given the refreshed lineup, the buzz surrounding Primus’ reunion is not only centered around excitement over the new album, but also over the uniqueness of their revamped sound. With the reappearance of Lane, Primus has recaptured some of the raw, gritty energy that made them cult favorites in the first place, and the rapport between the members makes for a charismatic on-stage dynamic. Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, who recently had the opportunity to play a show with Primus, commented that although he has encountered plenty of bands who have copied Primus’ style, none has come close to duplicating their magic.

But it’s not all about nostalgia and digging up gems from the past. Fans who have seen the reworked Primus lineup at recent live shows will have noted that the band is sporting a fresher and more modern musical style with their new songs, an impressive feat considering that they’ve been making music together on and off for nearly three decades. Innovation and experimentation have always been priorities for Les Claypool, and fans are certainly used to the tangents the band can take, especially during live shows. The group seems to have steered clear of any signs of a musical mid-life crisis, though, gingerly avoiding freakishly uncharacteristic moves that would indicate artistic desperation. Their current sound, no matter how rejuvenated, is still undeniably Primus, and those who pine for the good ol’ days of Frizzle Fry and Seas of Cheese will find just as much to love about the new album as first-time listeners will.

The fall tour promoting Green Naugahyde leaves no stone unturned, and fans from coast to coast will have the chance to see Primus rock the stage once again. The bands stops everywhere from Boston to Los Angeles and all points in between, and they’ll be playing two full sets at every venue. It’s Primus like you’ve never seen them before, and it’s a comeback tour you won’t want to miss.