GODSMACK PREMIERE “BATTLE OF THE DRUMS”
LIVE VIDEO FROM NEW ALBUM ‘LIVE AT MOHEGAN SUN,’ OUT NOW
Band Launches Rise of Rock World Tour 2026
With Stone Temple Pilots & Dorothy, as well as global festival appearances
Today, Godsmack unveil the long‑awaited video for “Battle of the Drums,” the band’s iconic percussion showcase and one of the most celebrated moments in their three‑decade career. Driven by overwhelming fan demand, the video arrives as the latest highlight from their new album Live at Mohegan Sun, a thunderous, career‑spanning performance that captures the band’s unmatched live chemistry and the full weight of a legacy built across 20 million albums sold, 27 Top 10 singles, and 13 No. 1 hits. With its explosive energy and emotional resonance, Live at Mohegan Sun stands as both a celebration of the band’s history and a bold step into their next chapter—available now via Primary Wave HERE.
Live at Mohegan Sun continues to build momentum, with the album’s first single, the live version of “When Legends Rise,” newly debuting on the Active Rock Radio charts—marking the first time a live track has done so since 2020. The achievement underscores the deep connection between Godsmack and their audience, as fans have rallied around the band’s live recordings—long regarded as the purest expression of their sound—and propelled them into rare air at rock radio. Watch/share the official “When Legends Rise” live single HERE and video HERE.
Frontman Sully Erna calls the “Battle of the Drums”—a live spectacle perfected over decades—one of the night’s most meaningful moments. “It’s an intricate piece. Me and Shannon have worked on it for decades and really perfected it into a spectacle.” He continues, “Live at Mohegan Sun captures a moment we’ll always carry with us—the energy, the connection, and the gratitude we feel for the fans who’ve taken this journey with us. Releasing this album as we launch the Rise of Rock World Tour feels powerful. It honors where we’ve been while pushing us forward into what’s next.”
“Battle of the Drums” has long been a defining moment of Godsmack’s live show, originating in the mid‑1990s when founder Sully Erna was still behind the kit and evolving into a full‑scale rhythmic duel after Shannon Larkin joined the band. What began as Erna playing congas alongside early drummers grew into a high‑octane spectacle featuring two full drum kits, rotating risers, and a display of precision and power that earned admiration across the rock world—including praise from Rush legend Neil Peart. Now immortalized on Live at Mohegan Sun, the performance stands as one of the film’s most emotional highlights, showcasing the rare chemistry between Erna and Larkin and serving as a tribute to the classic lineup of Erna, Larkin, Tony Rombola, and Robbie Merrill. Widely considered a fan‑favorite centerpiece of the band’s live set, its official release arrives in direct response to years of audience demand, giving fans the chance to relive one of Godsmack’s most electrifying moments again and again.
The premiere of “Battle of the Drums” arrives at a pivotal moment for Godsmack as they kick off the Rise of Rock World Tour, returning to the stage today at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL for the tour’s opening strike before the headlining amphitheater run begins May 10 in Bristow, VA with Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy joining select dates. With major festival appearances including Sonic Temple, and Rocklahoma, a deep catalog powering their setlists, and Live at Mohegan Sun reinforcing their reputation as one of hard rock’s most formidable live acts, Godsmack step into a new era on the road with revitalized momentum—channeling three decades of success into a touring year that promises to be one of the biggest of their career.
Godsmack Live at Mohegan Sun, cover artwork.
Fans around the world who are unable to attend one of the group’s global tour dates, can join Godsmack for a live, interactive global watch party when Live at Mohegan Sun streams exclusively on Stagepilot on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The event will feature the full concert film along with a special Q&A session with frontman Sully Erna—giving fans everywhere the chance to experience the show and connect with the band in real time. Tickets for the Godsmack global watch party on Stagepilot are available now: HERE.
Live at Mohegan Sun is available now in digital and physical formats including Double Vinyl, Blu-Ray, and CD, with international CD and LP editions arriving June 26 HERE.
GODSMACK — LIVE AT MOHEGAN SUN:
Out Now on CD & LP: U.S. HERE
Intl. on June 26 HERE
Watch “Battle of the Drums” HERE
Godsmack ‘Live at Mohegan Sun’ Global Livestream on Stagepilot: May 28 HERE
Media assets HERE
Above: Godsmack Live at Mohegan Sun is out now on digital
and physical formats including Double Vinyl, Blu-Ray, and CD.
GODSMACK — RISE OF ROCK WORLD TOUR 2026 DATES:
Thu May 7 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville*†
Sat May 9 – Camden, NJ – MMRBQ Festival – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Sun May 10 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Tue May 12 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Thu May 14 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater
Sat May 16 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Sun May 17 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple*†
Tue May 19 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
Thu May 21 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Sat May 23 – Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheater
Sun May 24 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
Wed May 27 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Fri May 29 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Sat May 30 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Sponsored by Huntsman
Fri Jun 12 – Kansas City, MO – Morton Amphitheater
Sun Jun 14 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
Tue Jun 16 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater
Thu Jun 18 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Sat Jun 20 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Sun Jun 21 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Tue Jun 23 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
Wed Jun 24 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
Sat Jun 27 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
Sun Jun 28 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Tue Jun 30 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
Thu Jul 2 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Fri Jul 3 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater
Godsmack European Festival leg:
Thu Jul 23 – Athens, Greece – Lycabettus Hill+*
Sat Jul 25 – Plovid, Belgium – Hills of Rock Festival+*
Sun Jul 26 – Belgrade, Serbia – Novi Hangar Luka Beograd+*
Tue Jul 28 – Ghimbav, Romania – Rockstadt Extreme Fest+*
Sat Aug 1 – Põhja-Tallinn, Estonia – Tallinn Rock Festival+*
Thu Aug 6 – Villena, Spain – Leyendas del Rock+*
Sat Aug 8 – Relvinha, Portugal – Vagos Metal Fest+*
Sun Aug 9 – Madrid, Spain – Sala Riviera+*
Tue Aug 11 – Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz+*
Thu Aug 13 – Carhaix-Plouguer, France – Motocultor Festival+*
TBA Aug – Sulingen, Germany – Reload Festival+*
Sun Aug 16 – Eindhoven, Netherlands – Dynamo Meta Fest+*
U.S.
Sat Sep 4 – Pryor, OK – Rocklahoma*
Sun Sep 6 – El Paso, TX – Speaking Rock Casino**†
Mon Sep 7 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
Wed Sep 9 – Denver, CO – JUNKYARD
Fri Sep 11 – Las Vegas, NV – Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino**†
Sat Sep 12 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre – KUPD UFest*
Tue Sep 15 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Thu Sep 17 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
Sat Sep 19 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sun Sep 20 – Corning, CA – Rolling Hills Casino and Resort**†
Tue Sep 22 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Thu Sep 24 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
Sat Sep 26 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater – KQXR XFest*
* Festival Performance
** Dorothy Only
+ European Tour
Above: Godsmack (L-R): Shannon Larkin,
Sully Erna, Robbie Merrill, and Tony Rombola.
About Godsmack:
For more than two decades, Godsmack has stood as one of hard rock’s most dominant and enduring forces. The Boston‑bred band has carved out a legacy defined by seismic riffs, anthemic songwriting, and a staggering run of chart achievements that few can rival. With 11 No. 1 singles at mainstream rock radio—including the massive hits “Bulletproof,” “Unforgettable,” “When Legends Rise,” and “Under Your Scars”—the group continues to shape the sound of 21st‑century rock. Their catalog also boasts 20 Top 10 singles, the most of any artist at the format since 1999, along with four GRAMMY® nominations and a Billboard Music Award for Rock Artist of the Year.
Having sold over 20 million records worldwide, Godsmack’s discography spans seven powerhouse studio albums: Godsmack (1998), Awake (2000), Faceless (2003), IV (2006), The Oracle (2010), 1000hp (2014), and When Legends Rise (2018). In 2023, the band entered a new chapter with their eighth studio album, Lighting Up the Sky—a triumphant, emotionally charged record that explores personal battles, fractured relationships, political division, resilience, and redemption. It stands as both a victory lap and a defining artistic statement. Recently, Godsmack reissued their breakthrough major‑label album Awake, and on May 1, the band unleashed their new offering Live At Mohegan Sun—a sweeping, career‑spanning live album capturing the raw power and evolution of their sound. On May 10, they’ll ignite stages across the globe with the launch of their Rise of Rock World Tour featuring special guests Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy. This summer, Godsmack will also storm major festivals worldwide including Welcome to Rockville, Sonic Temple, Rocklahoma, and many more. The new album Live At Mohegan Sun is available now HERE. Experience Godsmack live on the Rise of Rock World Tour 2026 HERE.
Follow Godsmack Online:
Photographer and Editor/Founder of AllMusicMagazine.com. My love of live music has taken me to incredible experiences with the top bands of all time in stadium shows to the smallest venues with equally inspiring musicians. Using the medium of photography and my publication, these memories will last forever.