Mastodon (band)

Last updated

Mastodon
Ursynalia 2012, Mastodon 12.jpg
Mastodon performing live in 2012. From left to right: Brann Dailor, Brent Hinds, Troy Sanders and Bill Kelliher.
Background information
Origin Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Years active2000–present
Labels
Members
Past members
  • Eric Saner
Website mastodonrocks.com

Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 2000, the band's lineup of Troy Sanders (bass/vocals), Brent Hinds (lead guitar/vocals), Bill Kelliher (rhythm guitar/backing vocals) and Brann Dailor (drums/vocals) has remained unchanged since 2001. Mastodon has released eight studio albums, as well as a number of other releases. The band's 2002 debut album, Remission , garnered significant critical acclaim for its unique sound. [1] Mastodon's second full-length release, Leviathan , is a concept album based on the novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. Three magazines awarded the record "Album of the Year" in 2004: Revolver , Kerrang! and Terrorizer .

Contents

The song "Colony of Birchmen" from the band's third album (released in 2006), Blood Mountain , was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2007. Blood Mountain was followed in 2009 by Crack the Skye , and in 2011 by The Hunter , which debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and achieved major commercial success in the United States. The Hunter features the song "Curl of the Burl", which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 2012. Mastodon's 2014 album, Once More 'Round the Sun , peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart [2] and features the band's third Grammy-nominated song, "High Road". The band's seventh album, Emperor of Sand, was released on March 31, 2017, and features the band's most commercially successful song to date, "Show Yourself", which peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in June 2017. The follow-up single, "Steambreather", peaked at No. 18 on the same chart in October 2017. The album's opening track, "Sultan's Curse", earned the band its first Grammy award. [3] Emperor of Sand was the band's first album to receive a Grammy nomination; it was nominated for Best Rock Album. Mastodon's most recent album, Hushed and Grim , was released in 2021.

History

Formation, early years and Remission (2000–2003)

Mastodon was formed on January 13, 2000, [4] after drummer Brann Dailor and guitarist Bill Kelliher moved from their home state of New York to Atlanta, Georgia, and met bassist Troy Sanders and guitarist Brent Hinds at a High on Fire show. [5] Dailor and Kelliher previously played in Lethargy and had performed on the Today Is the Day album In the Eyes of God , [6] while Sanders and Hinds had played together in a band called Four Hour Fogger. The four men discovered they had a mutual appreciation of sludge metal bands Melvins and Neurosis, heavy metal legends Iron Maiden, and 1970s hard rockers Thin Lizzy, and began working on music together shortly thereafter. In a 2009 interview, Kelliher revealed that the first time Hinds attended a practice with the band, he "showed up so wasted he couldn't play". [7]

The band recorded a nine-song demo in June 2000, [8] which featured Eric Saner on vocals, [5] and they sold it to fans at early shows. [9] After just a few months, Saner left the band for personal reasons, and the songs from 9 Song Demo were re-recorded with vocals from Hinds and Sanders. [10] In 2001, Reptilian Records released a 7" picture disc containing three of the re-recorded tracks. That same year, Mastodon landed a record deal with Relapse Records, [5] and five more of the re-recorded songs were released as the Lifesblood EP.

Mastodon's first studio album, Remission , was released on May 28, 2002. It featured the song "Crusher/Destroyer" (which was included on the Tony Hawk's Underground soundtrack) and the band's first single, "March of the Fire Ants". [5] Coinciding with a music video for "March of the Fire Ants", a deluxe edition of Remission was released in October 2003. This version of the album contained a cover of the Thin Lizzy song "Emerald" and a bonus DVD featuring a professionally filmed live set recorded at The Masquerade in Atlanta.

Leviathan and Call of the Mastodon (2004–2005)

Brent Hinds, Troy Sanders and Brann Dailor in 2004 Mastodon2004.jpg
Brent Hinds, Troy Sanders and Brann Dailor in 2004

The band's second full-length album, Leviathan , was released in 2004; it's a concept album loosely based on Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick . [11] The band received critical acclaim for Leviathan and the record was named album of the year by Kerrang! [12] and Terrorizer . [13] "Blood and Thunder", which featured Clutch vocalist Neil Fallon, was chosen as one of the most important recordings of the decade by National Public Radio in November 2009; National Public radio coverage described the entire album as epitomizing "a phenomenal decade for metal". [14] Leviathan also ranked second in a list by Metal Hammer of the best albums of 2004. [15]

The band went on tour in support of the album, playing throughout North America and Europe in The Unholy Alliance tour along with Slayer and Lamb of God and later on with Slipknot. [16]

"Iron Tusk", the fifth track on the album, can be found on the soundtrack of the skateboarding video game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland and in 2K Sports video game NHL 2K9 . "Blood and Thunder" is featured in the video games Need for Speed: Most Wanted , [17] Project Gotham Racing 3 [18] and Saints Row , [19] as well as Japanese music games Drummania V2 and Guitarfreaks V2 , [20] and was added as a playable track on all instruments in Guitar Hero: Metallica . It has also been released as downloadable content for Rock Band 3 , with Pro Guitar support also available at extra cost. [21]

Leviathan was followed by the 2006 release of Call of the Mastodon , a remastered collection of the band's first nine songs, as well as a DVD of interviews and concert footage called The Workhorse Chronicles that includes material from the band's early days as a five-piece. The band has stated that they consider Call of the Mastodon to be their first studio album, as its songs were recorded and released prior to Remission. These two releases were the band's last for Relapse Records, as they would later go on to sign with Warner Bros. [22] Mastodon also recorded a cover version of Metallica's "Orion" for a 2006 Kerrang! tribute album marking the 20th anniversary of the release of Master of Puppets . [23]

Blood Mountain (2006–2008)

The band's third studio album, Blood Mountain , was released on September 12, 2006, followed by a tour to support the album along with Tool in Europe [24] and Slayer in Australia and New Zealand. [25] The Mars Volta frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala lent his vocals to the track "Siberian Divide". Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme contributed vocals for the song "Colony of Birchmen".

Mastodon live at Roskilde Festival 2007 Mastodon - Roskilde Festival 2007.jpg
Mastodon live at Roskilde Festival 2007

The band performed the song "Colony of Birchmen" on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien on November 1, their first appearance on network television, to a viewing audience of around 2.4 million people. [26] This song was also featured in the video games Saints Row 2 and Rock Band 2 .

The band's first single from Blood Mountain, "Capillarian Crest", was ranked No. 27 in Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 100 Songs of 2006. [27] The album itself was ranked ninth in the magazine's best albums of the year chart. [28] The UK's Metal Hammer voted it the best album of 2006 in its end of year critic's poll. [29] The album was voted in at No. 5 by Kerrang! in its end-of-year list, [30] as well as No. 6 and No. 1, respectively, on PopMatters ' Best Albums of 2006 [31] and Best Metal Albums of 2006 lists. [32] About.com rated it the top metal album of 2006. [33] Blood Mountain was also named best album of 2006 in the 10th-anniversary birthday edition (issue 119) of Bizarre . It also came in at No. 2 on Revolver magazine's list of the top albums of 2006. The band was named Artist of the Month for March 2007 at Gametap.com. [34]

Mastodon toured and played numerous shows during this time. The band joined Against Me! and Cursive for a North American tour, with Planes Mistaken for Stars opening for one leg and These Arms Are Snakes the other. [35] A performance in Milwaukee had to be canceled due to illness on the part of Brent Hinds. [36] Mastodon would play the Hove Festival in Norway as well as on the Main Stage of the Download Festival and then the Pitchfork Music Festival. During this time, the band opened for Metallica on the Sick of the Studio tour. The band also played at the 2007 Dubai Desert Rock, [37] the 2008 Bonnaroo Music Festivals [38] and the inaugural Mayhem Festival. Mastodon then toured with Slayer, Trivium, Lamb of God and several other metal bands in 2008 for The Unholy Alliance tour 2008. [39]

The band performed "Colony of Birchmen" at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards live with Josh Homme. After the televised performance, Brent Hinds was reported to have sustained a severe head injury. Blabbermouth.net initially reported that it was the result of a brutal assault, [40] but the police report later suggested that an inebriated Hinds had started a fight with System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian and vocalist William Hudson, also known as Reverend William Burke of Achozen. [41] [42]

"Sleeping Giant" was made available as a downloadable song for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock , "Colony of Birchmen" was included on Harmonix's Rock Band 2 and Volition's Saints Row 2 , and "Divinations" was featured in Madden NFL 10 and Saints Row: The Third . Mastodon contributed a cover version of Harry Nilsson's "One" to the video game Army of Two 's advertisement campaign. The band members are fans of Aqua Teen Hunger Force and in 2007, Mastodon performed the opening song of Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters , "Cut You Up with a Linoleum Knife". [43]

Crack the Skye and Live at the Aragon (2009–2010)

Brent Hinds performing in 2009. Mastodon 15.jpg
Brent Hinds performing in 2009.

Crack the Skye was released on March 24, 2009, as a normal version and a deluxe version (which includes all songs in instrumental versions as well as their normal versions) and entered the Billboard 200 at number 11 a week later. [44] The album is produced by Brendan O'Brien [45] and Scott Kelly of Neurosis returns as a guest musician on the title-track. [46] In a MusicRadar interview, guitarist Bill Kelliher confirmed the album is about an "out-of-body experience", and looks at the concepts of astral travel, wormholes, Stephen Hawking's theories and the spiritual realm. The album follows a quadriplegic who learns astral projection. On his journey he flies too close to the sun, burning his umbilical cord which connects him to his body, and flies into oblivion. At the same time in Czarist Russia, Rasputin and his cult were channeling spirits and brought the quadriplegic to their time. He explains his situation and foretells the assassination of Rasputin. Inevitably Rasputin is assassinated and Rasputin guides him back to his body. The band had debuted three new tracks at the Bonnaroo Music Festival, but did not play any more live shows before the album's release, due to fears of internet distribution and wanting to play the songs to the right audience. [47] Drummer Brann Dailor sings lead vocals for the verses of the song "Oblivion". Mastodon was a headliner at the Scion Rock Fest on February 28, 2009, performing a set containing three tracks from Crack the Skye, the first time these songs were played since being finalized and recorded. On May 15, 2009, Mastodon performed a shortened version of "Oblivion" on the Late Show with David Letterman .

Bill Kelliher live at Sonisphere Festival in 2009 Bill Kelliher, Mastodon, Sonisphere 2009.jpg
Bill Kelliher live at Sonisphere Festival in 2009

To support their new album, Mastodon toured with Metallica on the latter part of the 2009 European leg of their World Magnetic Tour. [48] In Fall of 2009, they embarked with Dethklok on the "Adult Swim Presents" tour along with Converge and High on Fire. On October 17, 2009, they recorded a DVD documenting the tour at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. [49] [50] Mastodon played the alternative music festival Big Day Out, touring across Australia and New Zealand in January and February 2010.

On October 29, 2009, they performed "Divinations" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon .

On November 4, 2009, Mastodon released their third EP, titled Oblivion . [51]

Teaming up with bands Deftones and Alice in Chains, Mastodon went on tour in September 2010 in the United States and Canada. The tour was called Blackdiamondskye, a portmanteau of the three bands' latest albums ( Black Gives Way to Blue , Diamond Eyes , and Crack the Skye).

Film director Jimmy Hayward contacted the band during their 2009 tour of Europe and expressed how much listening to Blood Mountain had helped his creative process while finishing a screenplay, and he offered Mastodon a chance to score the film he had been working on - Jonah Hex . In an interview with Paste magazine, bassist Troy Sanders said that Hayward "called us out of the blue as a fan. It was the most beautiful, authentic way to collaborate." [52] Mastodon used scenes from the film as inspiration during the writing and recording process, and the instrumental soundtrack, Jonah Hex: Revenge Gets Ugly EP , was released on June 29, 2010, through Reprise Records. [53]

In 2010, the band was confirmed as being part of the soundtrack for Namco Bandai Games' 2010 remake of Splatterhouse. The game's protagonist can also be seen wearing a Mastodon T-shirt in certain flashback cutscenes.

On March 15, 2011, Mastodon released their first live DVD/CD, titled Live at the Aragon , through Reprise. The recording features the entire performance of their fourth studio album, Crack the Skye , along with songs from their previous records.

The Hunter (2011–2012)

Troy Sanders with Mastodon at Sonisphere, Stockholm in 2011 Troy Sanders at Sonisphere, Stockholm 2011.JPG
Troy Sanders with Mastodon at Sonisphere, Stockholm in 2011

The Hunter , Mastodon's fifth studio album, was recorded at Doppler Studios in Atlanta with producer Mike Elizondo. [54] The first hints of the new album were given by the band via Facebook in January 2011. [55] Drummer Brann Dailor revealed during interviews the title of the band's new album and described the new material as not so much proggy or riff-oriented and "a little more stripped down". [56] [57] [58]

Meanwhile, the band performed at many major summer festivals. [59] On June 28, 2011, Mastodon released a leftover track from the Crack the Skye sessions, called "Deathbound", through Adultswim.com.

The first taste of The Hunter came in July 2011 when Mastodon released, via YouTube, the song "Black Tongue", set to a video of AJ Fosik creating the sculpture used for the album cover. By August 12, the band had revealed the track listing from The Hunter and debuted "Curl Of The Burl", the first official single from the new album. Mike Elizondo was chosen to produce the album, marking his first time working with the band. It was also announced that a deluxe edition would be released. It featured the bonus tracks "The Ruiner" and "Deathbound" and a different cover.

On September 6, Mastodon released a third song from The Hunter, "Spectrelight", featuring Scott Kelly of Neurosis.

On September 16, the band released a 53-minute custom visualizer with all of the album tracks, 11 days prior to the release of The Hunter. In support of the album a North American headline tour was announced. The album was very well received by fans and the media. It also performed strongly on the official charts, rising to number ten on the Billboard 200. On October 5, 2011, they performed "Curl of the Burl" on the Late Show with David Letterman .

On October 12, a UK tour was announced that will run through February 2012 with fellow bands The Dillinger Escape Plan and Red Fang as support acts. They were at Later... with Jools Holland , where they performed "Black Tongue" and "Curl of the Burl". A seventeen-date European tour was announced that featured dates in Scandinavia, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands and Latvia.

On December 1, "Curl of the Burl" was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Metal/Hard Rock performance. It is the band's second nomination with the first being for "Colony of Birchmen" in 2007.

The record was named "Album of the Year" by Metal Hammer , Classic Rock and Rock Sound .

In January 2012 it was announced that Mastodon and Swedish prog metal band Opeth will tour together in a joint tour across North America. It was named the "Heritage Hunter Tour" after both bands latest releases, The Hunter and Heritage . The bands took turns in the headlining spot. Support came from the Swedish heavy metal band Ghost. [60] On February 11, 2012, the band performed a sold-out show at the Brixton Academy in London, it was the band's biggest headline show ever. [61] Dry Bone Valley" was released on February 13 as the third single of the album. A music video for the song was also released.

On April 21, 2012, to commemorate Record Store Day, Mastodon released two separate records. The first was a split 7-inch with Feist titled Feistodon. Mastodon covered Feist's "A Commotion" and Feist covered Mastodon's "Black Tongue". The pair also released a one of a kind interactive, crossfading music video for the song 'A Commotion'. [62] The second release was a cover of The Flaming Lips' "A Spoonful Weighs a Ton".

The band spent the summer performing at festivals across Europe and South America. It was the last tour in support of The Hunter.

Once More 'Round the Sun (2013–2015)

Mastodon began recording again in early 2013. Guitarist Brent Hinds described the new music as "really eerie" and "very spooky-sounding", and stated that he has written three new songs. [63] On December 3, 2012, the band announced via their Twitter page that they were writing a song for the film Monsters University . [64] However, the song used in the film was the previously released "Island". They were also part of the 2013 Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. On May 6, 2013, the band stated that they are "...Very busy writing and putting songs together for the next studio Mastodon album..." [65] In an interview on July 26, [66] Brann Dailor was reported as saying that the band would "probably [go into the studio] end of September". Mastodon released its second live album, Live at Brixton , in December 2013. [67] The band also played at the 2014 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

Brent Hinds (left) and Troy Sanders (right) in May 2014 Troy Sanders-2-Edit.jpg
Brent Hinds (left) and Troy Sanders (right) in May 2014

On February 27, Brann Dailor told in the interview that their sixth album would be released in summer of 2014, and he also stated that the band would release an EP in winter of 2014. Some of the confirmed tracks were: "Tread Lightly", "Buzzard's Guts", "Scent of Bitter Almonds", "High Road" and "Aunt Lisa". [68]

In an interview with Troy Sanders in Paste magazine released on April 3, he revealed the album was called Once More 'Round the Sun and had 15 tracks. He also confirmed that Mastodon recorded 90 minutes of material, but only 60 minutes of it will be present on the album; the unreleased material possibly might be released on an EP later in 2014. A few more tracks that have been confirmed are: "Diamonds in the Witch House" (which has Scott Kelly from Neurosis on a guest vocal appearance), and "Ember City". [69]

In an interview on April 11, Dailor revealed the album will be released in June. [70]

On April 17, the first single "High Road" was made available for streaming.

On April 26, Bill Kelliher revealed the title of the second single "Chimes at Midnight". [71]

As of June 16, 2014, the entire album is streaming on iTunes. [72]

The album was released on June 24, 2014, through Reprise Records. The album sold around 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 6 on The Billboard 200 chart making it the band's first consecutive top 10 debut, with their previous album, The Hunter, peaking at No.10 after opening with 39,000 copies in 2011. [73]

Emperor of Sand, Cold Dark Place and "Stairway to Heaven" (2015–2019)

On January 18, 2015, it was reported that Brent Hinds was working on a new Mastodon album, showing a picture with him playing the 13 string pedal steel. [74] The same report was later confirmed by Troy Sanders, who stated: "Every record that we do is gonna sound different, because we always want to evolve and create our own musical path. And every record will be different. We do not wanna write the same record twice." [75]

On March 12, 2015, Mastodon released a new track called "White Walker", which appears on the Game of Thrones: Catch the Throne Vol. 2 mixtape to promote the fifth season of the HBO TV series Game of Thrones . Dailor, Hinds, and Kelliher also appeared in episode 8 of the season as wildlings. [76] This mixtape will also feature songs by various other acts, ranging from Killswitch Engage to Snoop Dogg. [77] Hinds and Kelliher once again returned to Game of Thrones as wights among the White Walker army for the season 7 finale episode, "The Dragon and the Wolf". [78]

The band's seventh studio album, Emperor of Sand , was released on March 31, 2017. [79] The theme for the album was cancer, inspired by Troy's wife who was diagnosed with cancer, and Bill's mother who lost her life to cancer. It details the story of a traveler banished to the desert by an emperor, in effect giving him a death sentence. The story is a metaphor for someone diagnosed with terminal cancer. [80] The first single, "Show Yourself", was released in February, and had peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in June, making it the band's highest-charting song to date. [81] The second single, "Steambreather", peaked at number 18 on the same chart in October. [82]

Mastodon also released an EP titled Cold Dark Place on September 22 of the same year. [83] It was a four-song EP, featuring three songs recorded during the Once More 'Round the Sun sessions, and one track recorded during the Emperor of Sand sessions. The first single for the EP, "Toe to Toes" was released on September 1, 2017. [84] Brent Hinds stated that the inspiration behind some of the songs recorded for Cold Dark Place , which he wrote, were inspired by a nasty breakup that he had endured. Describing the sound of the record, Hinds stated that "I wrote some pretty dark, beautiful, spooky, funky, ethereal, melancholy music, which also sounds like the Bee Gees a little bit." [85] On December 1, the band released a revised version of the 12-part "The Making of Emperor of Sand" documentary via their official YouTube channel. [86] Mastodon were announced to be on a co-headlining Summer 2018 Tour with Primus spanning across North America lasting from May to July. [87] In 2019 they released a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" dedicated to the memory of their dear friend and manager, Nick John.

Medium Rarities and Hushed and Grim (2020–present)

On July 31, 2020, Mastodon released a new song titled "Fallen Torches" and announced a compilation album of rare material titled Medium Rarities , which was released on September 11, 2020. [88]

On June 17, 2021, the band announced a partnership with livestreaming company Dreamstage to present a live acoustic set in their hometown of Atlanta at the Georgia Aquarium on July 15, with $1 from each sale of a ticket/merchandise package going toward supporting the aquarium. [89]

Mastodon released their eighth studio album Hushed and Grim on October 29, 2021. [90] The album is produced by David Bottrill, who has worked previously with such artists as Peter Gabriel, Muse, Tool, and Rush. [91]

Characteristics

Musical style

Brann Dailor's (pictured) fill-heavy drumming style is influenced by jazz and progressive rock, characterized by complex, atypical rhythmic structures (including irregular stopping and starting). He also attributes his style to band practice as a teenager, claiming that practicing with the guitarist instead of the bassist influenced his style. Ursynalia 2012, Mastodon 03.jpg
Brann Dailor's (pictured) fill-heavy drumming style is influenced by jazz and progressive rock, characterized by complex, atypical rhythmic structures (including irregular stopping and starting). He also attributes his style to band practice as a teenager, claiming that practicing with the guitarist instead of the bassist influenced his style.

Mastodon has been described as progressive metal, [92] [93] [94] alternative metal, [95] [96] [97] sludge metal, [98] [99] stoner metal, [98] [94] psychedelic metal, [100] experimental metal, [101] and groove metal. [102] James Christopher Monger of AllMusic describes Mastodon as "one of the more notable new wave of American heavy metal acts, a genre spawned in the mid-'90s" and says that "Mastodon's innovative, lyrically astute blend of progressive metal, grindcore, and hardcore helped position the band as one of the preeminent metal acts of the early 21st century." [98] The band's earlier material such as the EP Lifesblood was described as "In the Eyes of God-era Today Is the Day [...] butting heads with the more technically demanding school of Relapse-style hardcore/metalcore (e.g., Dillinger Escape Plan or Burnt by the Sun, although Mastodon is much less hyper)." [6]

Bassist Troy Sanders stated about their musical style:

We don't consider ourselves a metal band. We recognize there is a lot of metal in us, but we also want to believe we have a lot of rock 'n' roll in us, and we have a lot of progressive rock in us, we have bits and pieces of thrash and punk, and psychedelic-ness sprinkled throughout. A lot of times for me personally, just having the metal tag itself seems kind of limiting on us because we have such an appreciation for all styles of music and we like to incorporate bits and pieces of those into our songs. But we also recognize all the different subgenres and the millions of times people say, "Oh, what do they sound like?" and you say something, I understand that. But, it doesn't affect how we create anything at all. [103]

Scott Kelly of Neurosis has appeared to perform guest vocals on a track on every Mastodon album from Leviathan (2004) to the compilation Medium Rarities (2020).

Mastodon's musical style has evolved much from their earliest pre- Remission releases to The Hunter . Their early work is significantly heavier and more abrasive than their later work, primarily or exclusively using harsh vocals, more distorted instruments, and more atypical song structures. The release of Mastodon's third studio album, Blood Mountain , which incorporates both clean and harsh vocals, marked a shift in the vocal styles used, with subsequent albums favoring clean vocals almost exclusively.

Lyrical themes

Over its first four albums, Mastodon had specific concepts in mind, specifically the classical elements of fire, water, earth, and aether. [104] [105]

Remission does not deal with a particular theme but it is loosely based on the theme of fire. Songs like "Crusher Destroyer", "Where Strides the Behemoth" and "Ol'e Nessie" deal with the theme of fictional creatures.

Leviathan is about the novel Moby-Dick . It centers around the main characters and their thoughts during the story. [106]

Blood Mountain is about a man who is searching for the "Crystal Skull", which is on top of the "Blood Mountain". According to bassist Troy Sanders, "It's about climbing up a mountain and the different things that can happen to you when you're stranded on a mountain, in the woods, and you're lost. You're starving, hallucinating, running into strange creatures. You're being hunted. It's about that whole struggle." [107]

Crack the Skye deals with many different themes. The title, as well as some lyrical content, is a tribute to Skye, the younger sister of drummer Brann Dailor, who committed suicide at the age of fourteen. Themes touched on within the album include "dark magic(k), astral travelling and the role of Rasputin in the downfall of Czarist Russia". [108]

The Hunter does not deal with an entire concept like their earlier work. The title is a tribute to Hinds' brother, Brad Hinds, who died of a heart attack on December 4, 2010, while hunting. [109]

Once More 'Round the Sun , like its predecessor, is not a concept album. It features themes such as relationships, struggles and hardships. The album was based on the various events that took place in each band member's lives the year before the album release. [71]

Emperor of Sand mainly deals with the themes of death and survival and is about a desert wanderer faced with a death sentence. The lyrics were inspired by the friends and family members of the band who were diagnosed with cancer. [110]

Hushed and Grim has to do with grief, guilt, and the afterlife. Mastodon pays tribute to the memory of longtime friend and manager Nick John with their first ever double-album and a surrounding death mythology. According to drummer and co-vocalist Brann Dailor, in this mythology “When you die, your soul inhabits the heart of a living tree. You have to experience the seasons the way that a tree does through a whole calendar year. That’s the way you have to say goodbye to the natural world. And in that time, you reflect on the pillars of the life that you lived. You get to atone for things that you’ve done.” [111]

Visual art

Artwork

A Mastodon backdrop in 2006, showcasing an elaborate painting, using the Leviathan artwork by the painter Paul Romano Mastodon live 2006.jpg
A Mastodon backdrop in 2006, showcasing an elaborate painting, using the Leviathan artwork by the painter Paul Romano

Artist Paul Romano was responsible for all of the band's album art and backdrops up to 2011. The artwork for the band's fifth studio album The Hunter was made by AJ Fosik, a woodcarver who was also responsible for the backdrop the band used live at the time. Oakland-based artist Skinner, who, in his own words, specializes in "psychedelic nightmare paintings", has taken the reins on Once More 'Round the Sun. "It's going to be a work of art for sure. It's going to be very eye-opening", said bassist Troy Sanders before the album's release. "Very striking. It's from another dimension, and a lot of our music is geared toward that idea—taking you to another planet on songs. It's out there, and I think it's incredible." [69]

Live presentation

Following their first tours in the early 2000s, Mastodon have performed at many major festivals such as Download, Roskilde, Coachella, Bonnaroo, Big Day Out, Rock Werchter, Pinkpop, Metaltown, Ottawa Bluesfest, Sonisphere and Soundwave. When performing the band has traditionally had a fairly lo-fi visual presentation. However, during the band's "Crack The Skye Tour" (2009–2010), they used a large screen behind the drumkit showing a visual show.

Legacy and reception

The "sludge/stoner/alternative metal outfit" Mastodon, as labeled by AllMusic, is "one of the preeminent metal acts of the early 21st century". [98] The BBC stated about Mastodon: "They might be bonkers of lyric, full of fantasy mumbo jumbo, but the band is unashamedly committed to its complex-of-composition craft, and the results have frequently stunned ever since their 2002 debut, Remission. They are the most ambitious, most fearless, most fun heavy metal band to have breached the mainstream since the genre oozed its way out of The Midlands in the 1970s." [112] Alternative Press has stated: "Mastodon are one of the all-time great hard rock groups." [113] Rolling Stone stated: "Mastodon are a bunch of doom-haunted, myth-obsessed, meat-and-potatoes Southern badasses who have become the most important new band in metal." [114] Playboy [115] wrote: "one of Mastodon’s greatest talents: the ability to take traditional metal fans along with them into other musical realms, and also appeal to more mainstream rock fans but give them some doses of metal."

Members

Current members

Former members

Session and touring musicians

Former session and touring musicians

Discography

Studio albums

Awards and nominations

Danish Metal Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2009Crack the SkyeBest International Metal Album [117] Won

Grammy Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2007 "Colony of Birchmen" Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance Nominated
2012 "Curl of the Burl" [118] Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Nominated
2015 "High Road" Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance Nominated
2018 Emperor of Sand Grammy Award for Best Rock Album Nominated
"Sultan's Curse" Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance Won
2022 "Pushing the Tides" Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance Nominated

Kerrang! Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2009"Oblivion"Best VideoWon
2012 The Hunter [119] Best AlbumWon

Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2007 Blood Mountain Album of the Year [120] Nominated
Brent Hinds & Bill Kelliher Golden Gods Award for Best Shredder [121] Won
2012The Hunter [122] Golden Gods Award for Best Album Won
2017MastodonBest Live Band [123] Won

Metal Storm Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2004LeviathanBest Alternative Metal Album [124] Won
2009 Crack the Skye Best Alternative Metal AlbumWon
"Divinations"Best Video [125] Nominated
2011The HunterBest Sludge/Stoner Metal Album [126] Won
2014Once More 'Round the SunBest Sludge/Stoner Metal Album [127] Won
2017Emperor of SandBest Progressive Metal Album [128] Nominated
2021Hushed & GrimBest Progressive Metal Album [129] Won

Revolver Golden Gods

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2012Brann Dailor Golden Gods Award for Best Drummer Nominated

Related Research Articles

<i>Leviathan</i> (Mastodon album) 2004 studio album by Mastodon

Leviathan is the second album by American heavy metal band Mastodon, released in 2004 on Relapse Records. It is Mastodon's first concept album, loosely based on the 1851 novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. The songs "Iron Tusk," "Naked Burn," and "Blood and Thunder" were released as promotional singles, and music videos were created for "Iron Tusk," "Blood and Thunder," and "Seabeast". Three magazines awarded the album Album of the Year in 2004: Revolver, Kerrang! and Terrorizer. In 2009 and 2015 MetalSucks named Leviathan the best metal album of the 21st century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brann Dailor</span> American drummer and singer

Brann Timothy Dailor is an American musician, best known as a member of heavy metal band Mastodon, in which he is the drummer and one of three vocalists.

<i>Remission</i> (Mastodon album) 2002 studio album by Mastodon

Remission is the debut album by American heavy metal band Mastodon. It was released on May 28, 2002 through Relapse Records. A deluxe edition was released on October 21, 2003.

<i>Call of the Mastodon</i> 2006 compilation album by Mastodon

Call of the Mastodon is a compilation album of early recordings from the American metal band Mastodon. It was released on February 7, 2006, by Relapse Records.

<i>Blood Mountain</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Mastodon

Blood Mountain is the third full-length studio album and major label debut by American metal band Mastodon. The recording of the album finished in April 2006 and it was released on September 12 in the UK and September 12, 2006 in North America through Reprise Records. The album in full could be streamed at the band's MySpace page a few days prior to the release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Sanders</span> American bassist and singer (born 1973)

Troy Jayson Sanders is an American musician, best known as the bassist and one of the vocalists of heavy metal band Mastodon. He is also active in the supergroups Killer Be Killed and Gone Is Gone and is the current touring bassist for rock band Thin Lizzy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Hinds</span> American guitarist and singer

William Brent Hinds is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the Atlanta, Georgia heavy metal band Mastodon, in which he shares guitar duties with Bill Kelliher and vocal duties with Troy Sanders and Brann Dailor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colony of Birchmen</span> 2007 single by Mastodon

"Colony of Birchmen" is a single by American heavy metal band Mastodon. It was featured on the group's third album, Blood Mountain. The song features backing vocals from Josh Homme, lead singer of the alternative rock band Queens of the Stone Age and former guitarist of Kyuss.

<i>Crack the Skye</i> 2009 studio album by Mastodon

Crack the Skye is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Mastodon, released on March 24, 2009, through Reprise, Sire and Relapse Records. The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200, selling 41,000 copies in its first week. In Australia, the album debuted at number 19. It had sold 200,000 copies in the US as of September 2010, making it one of their highest-selling albums to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oblivion (Mastodon song)</span> 2009 single by Mastodon

Oblivion is the second single from Crack the Skye by American progressive metal band Mastodon. It is their second-most successful single and song from Crack the Skye, reaching #30 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart; however, it has since been surpassed by "Curl of the Burl," which peaked at #16. It is the opening track on the band's live album Live At The Aragon.

<i>Jonah Hex: Revenge Gets Ugly EP</i> 2010 soundtrack album (EP) by Mastodon

Jonah Hex: Revenge Gets Ugly EP is the official score for the 2010 film Jonah Hex directed by Jimmy Hayward and starring Josh Brolin. It was composed by American heavy metal band Mastodon and film composer Marco Beltrami. It was released digitally on June 29, 2010, through Reprise Records.

<i>Live at the Aragon</i> 2011 live album by Mastodon

Live at the Aragon is a live CD/DVD by the metal band Mastodon. It was released on March 15, 2011. It was filmed on October 17, 2009 during a Mastodon live show in the historic Aragon Ballroom of Chicago, part of their world tour to support their fourth album, Crack the Skye. It features Crack the Skye at its entirety as well as other Mastodon songs from Remission, Leviathan and Blood Mountain, their first, second and third records respectively. To promote the album the band released the live versions of "Oblivion", "Ghost of Karelia" and "Crack the Skye" on YouTube. The DVD also features the Crack the Skye film, which is the album in video format, in its entirety.

<i>The Hunter</i> (Mastodon album) 2011 studio album by Mastodon

The Hunter is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Mastodon. Released through Roadrunner Records on September 26, 2011, in the UK and one day later in the US via Reprise Records, The Hunter is their first release with producer Mike Elizondo. In its first week of release in the UK, the album reached number 19 on the UK Albums Chart and position number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart selling over 39,000 copies in the first week. As of December 2011, The Hunter has sold over 75,133 copies in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curl of the Burl</span> 2011 single by Mastodon

"Curl of the Burl" is a single by American heavy metal band Mastodon from their fifth studio album, The Hunter. It was released August 16, 2011, as the second single from the album. The single was the band's most successful song on the Mainstream Rock Songs chart at release, peaking at No. 15. It would eventually lose its title to Emperor of Sand's "Show Yourself". It was nominated for a 2011 Grammy award in the category Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance.

<i>Once More Round the Sun</i> 2014 studio album by Mastodon

Once More 'Round the Sun is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Mastodon. It was released on June 24, 2014, via Reprise Records. On April 17, 2014, Mastodon released the album's first single, "High Road". On June 16, 2014, the album was made available for streaming on iTunes. Once More 'Round the Sun sold around 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the band's highest-peaking album on the chart and their second consecutive Top 10 debut after their previous album, The Hunter, peaked at No. 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Motherload</span> 2014 single by Mastodon

"The Motherload" is a song by American progressive metal band Mastodon. The song was released as the third and final single from the band's sixth studio album, Once More 'Round the Sun.

<i>March of the Fire Ants EP</i> 2003 EP by Mastodon

March of the Fire Ants EP is a promotional EP by American heavy metal band Mastodon. The song "March of the Fire Ants" is the second track of the band's debut studio album, Remission (2002).

<i>Live at Brixton</i> (Mastodon album) 2013 live album by Mastodon

Live at Brixton is the second live album by metal band Mastodon. It was released in December 2013 as a digital only release, and on April 19, 2014, as a Record Store Day exclusive Vinyl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show Yourself (Mastodon song)</span> 2017 single by Mastodon

"Show Yourself" is a single by American progressive metal band Mastodon, off of their studio album Emperor of Sand. It peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in 2017, making it their highest-charting song to date.

<i>Medium Rarities</i> (Mastodon album) 2020 compilation album by Mastodon

Medium Rarities is a compilation album by American metal band Mastodon. It was released digitally and on limited edition vinyl on September 11, 2020 via Reprise Records. The album is a collection of rare tracks that include covers, instrumental versions of previous songs, and live recordings. Its opening track, a new song titled "Fallen Torches", was released on July 31, 2020. The song features Scott Kelly from Neurosis for his final guest appearance with Mastodon before his withdrawal from the public eye that was not announced until August 2022.

References

  1. "No. 17: Mastodon, 'Remission' – Best Debut Metal Albums". Loudwire. June 6, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  2. Molenda, Michael (August 2015). "Pop Friction: Mastodon Delivers its Highest Charting Album to Date, But That's Not Exactly a Reason for Total Band Bliss". Guitar Player . pp. 28–32.
  3. Lynch, Joe. "Grammys 2018: See the Complete List of Nominees". Billboard . Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  4. Loudwire (January 25, 2017). "Mastodon's Troy Sanders - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Mastodon - Official Relapse Records Band Page". Relapse Records. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  6. 1 2 Allmusic review
  7. "Mastodon Talks Origins". idiomag. April 23, 2009. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
  8. "Mastodon Biography". mastodonrocks.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  9. "Mastodon: How We Ended Up as Band With 3 Singers". www.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  10. "MASTODON: A CONDENSED HISTORY". www.cjlo.com/. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  11. "Where Swims the Leviathan?". Chronicles of Chaos . August 31, 2004. Retrieved August 1, 2008.
  12. "Kerrang! End of year lists". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  13. "Terroriser Albums of the year". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  14. "The 50 Most Important Recordings of the Last Decade". NPR.org . November 16, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  15. "Metal Hammer Albums of the year". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  16. "Mastodon Announce Special London Headlining Performance". Blabbermouth.net . August 20, 2004. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
  17. "Need for Speed Most Wanted Gets Much Music". IGN. August 13, 2008. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
  18. "Soundtrack Samples". Project Gotham Racing. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
  19. "Saints Row Delivers A Sonic Blitz". IGN. August 8, 2006. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
  20. "GuitarFreaksV2 & DrumManiaV2 Official Homepage". Konami . Retrieved August 12, 2008. Specific HTML frames at and
  21. "Rock Band Debuts From Tommy Tutone, Ohio Players & Relient K, Plus Singles From Anberlin & Mastodon". Rockband.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  22. "Mastodon: Collection Of Early Recordings, Three-Hour DVD Due In February". Blabbermouth.net . November 5, 2005. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
  23. "Mastodon Cover Metallica's 'Orion' For 'Master Of Puppets' Anniversary CD". Blabbermouth.net . February 18, 2006. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
  24. "Mastodon: 'Colony Of Birchmen' Video Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net . October 24, 2006. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2008.
  25. "Slayer: Australian Tour Dates Announced; Mastodon To Support". January 4, 2007. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2008.
  26. "Mastodon: 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien' Performance Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net . November 7, 2006. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  27. "The 100 Best Songs of the Year". Rolling Stone. December 8, 2006. Archived from the original on December 14, 2006. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  28. "The Top 50 Albums of 2006". Rolling Stone. December 11, 2006. Archived from the original on January 6, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  29. "Gill: Critics Choice 2006". Metal Hammer . January 16, 2007. Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  30. "Kerrang! End of year lists". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  31. "Best Albums of 2006". PopMatters . December 23, 2006. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  32. "The Best Metal Albums of 2006". PopMatters . December 22, 2006. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  33. "Top 20 Heavy Metal CDs Of 2006". About.com . Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  34. "GameTap Browse hundreds of your favorite video games". February 3, 2007. Archived from the original on February 3, 2007. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  35. "Mastodon, Against Me! Get Tour Off To 'Roaring' Start". Blabbermouth.net . May 2, 2007. Archived from the original on September 24, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  36. "Mastodon: Illness Forces Milwaukee Concert Cancellation". Blabbermouth.net . May 11, 2007. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  37. "Stone Sour, Mastodon Confirmed For United Arab Emirates' Desert Rock Festival". Blabbermouth.net . Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  38. "Metallica, Pearl Jam, Mastodon Confirmed For Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival". Blabbermouth.net . February 6, 2008. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  39. "Slayer, Trivium, Mastodon To Team Up For 'The Unholy Alliance: Chapter III' European Tour". Blabbermouth.net . May 16, 2008. Archived from the original on May 19, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  40. "Mastodon's Brent Hinds Hospitalized With 'Severe Head Injury'". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on September 14, 2007.
  41. Peisner, David (April 22, 2009). "Mastodon: Bang Your Head". Spin.com . Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  42. "Cellador Guitarist Bill Hudson: I Had Nothing To Do With Mastodon's Hinds Getting Injured". BlabberMouth.net. Archived from the original on August 18, 2009.
  43. "Mastodon To Make Big-Screen Debut In 'Aqua Teen Hunger Force'". Blabbermouth.net . September 12, 2006. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
  44. "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  45. "Mastodon Stretches Out On 'Creepy' New Album". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on August 1, 2008.
  46. "Interview: Mastodon on The Unholy Alliance and Crack in The Skye". Thrash Hits. November 7, 2008. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
  47. "Mastodon Debuts Three New Songs At Bonnaroo; Video Available". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on July 1, 2008.
  48. "Metallica.com". Metallica.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  49. "Mastodon to record concert at Aragon Ballroom for upcoming DVD". The A.V. Club . October 15, 2009. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  50. "Dethklok and Mastodon at the Aragon Ballroom". The A.V. Club . October 19, 2009. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
  51. "Mastodon Oblivion EP". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  52. Jacobs, Justin (October 23, 2009). "Mastodon Talks Jonah Hex Score". Paste . Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  53. Suarez, Jessica (June 24, 2010). "Mastodon – "Indian Theme" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum . Retrieved June 28, 2010.
  54. "Mastodon | 'Playing God' Australian video premiere". Mastodonrocks.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  55. "Mastodon announce new album". Facebook . Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  56. "Rock am Ring Video: Mastodon Interview". MTV Festival-Blog. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  57. "Mastodon: First New Songtitles Revealed". Roadrunnerrecords.com. May 23, 2011. Archived from the original on August 20, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  58. Al-Sardar, Ali. "Bill Kelliher and Brent Hinds Name Top 10 Heaviest Mastodon Riffs". Rock Informer. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  59. Bhamra, Satvir. "Motorhead, Mastodon, In Flames and Parkway Drive join Sonisphere line-up". Amplified.tv. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  60. "Mastodon, Opeth, Ghost: North American Tour Dates Announced". BlabberMouth. Archived from the original on February 2, 2012.
  61. "Live: Mastodon, The Dillinger Escape Plan + Red Fang @ London Brixton Academy – 11 February 2012". Thrash Hits. February 16, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  62. "Feist and Mastodon release crossfading interactive new video". The Line Of Best Fit. August 1, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  63. "Mastodon's Brent Hinds Working On 'Really Eerie' And 'Very Spooky-Sounding' New Music". Blabbermouth.net. December 1, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  64. "Mastodon Writing/Recording Track for Upcoming Monsters, Inc. Sequel". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. December 4, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  65. "Mastodon - For those of you who are interested, Yes we..." Facebook. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  66. "Brann Dailor Clarifies Status Of New Mastodon Album, Involvement With 'Monsters University'". Metal Insider. July 26, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  67. Christopher Anthony (October 28, 2013). "Mastodon to Release "Live at Brixton" on December 10th". thefirenote.com. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  68. "Mastodon Near Completion of 'Wild' Summer LP". Spin. February 27, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  69. 1 2 Kane, Tyler (April 3, 2014). "Mastodon's Troy Sanders Talks New Album Once More 'Round the Sun". Paste. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  70. "Mastodon's Brann Dailor on new album: We want it to be at every 15 year old party in the woods". Metal Insider. April 11, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  71. 1 2 "Mastodon's Bill Kelliher Talks 'Once More 'Round the Sun'". Loudwire.com. April 25, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  72. "Drop Everything and Stream the New Mastodon Album, Once More 'Round The Sun In Full". Metal Injection. June 16, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  73. "Mastodon's 'Once More 'Round The Sun' Cracks U.S. Top 10". Blabbermouth.net. April 17, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  74. "Brent Hinds Working On New Mastodon Music". Blabbermouth.net. January 18, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  75. "Mastodon's Troy Sanders: 'We Just Write What We Love, And We Love What We Write'". Blabbermouth.net. January 23, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  76. "Yes, That Was Mastodon On Game of Thrones Last Night!". Metal Injection.net. June 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  77. "Check Out New Mastodon Track 'White Walker'". Ultimate-Guitar.com. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  78. "Mastodon Return to Game of Thrones, Announce Details of New EP". MetalSucks. August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  79. "Mastodon To Release 'Emperor Of Sand' Album In March; Cover Artwork, Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. January 26, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  80. "Inside Masotodon's Dark, Emotional New LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  81. "Mastodon - Chart history". Billboard . Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  82. "Mastodon Steambreather Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  83. "Mastodon To Reportedly Release New Album 'Cold Dark Place' In September". The PRP. August 17, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  84. "Mastodon: 'Cold Dark Place' EP Details Revealed". Blabbermouth. August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  85. "Mastodon's Brent Hinds Teases Release of New Album 'Cold Dark Place'". Loudwire. August 17, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  86. "The Making of Emperor of Sand - Full Length Documentary". Mastodon Rocks. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  87. "New Summer Tour Dates with Primus". Mastodon Rocks. January 29, 2018.
  88. "'Medium Rarities' Out September 11". Mastodonrocks.com. July 31, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  89. "Mastodon to livestream acoustic set at Georgia Aquarium". June 17, 2021.
  90. Remennik, George (September 10, 2021). "Mastodon Announce New Album Hushed And Grim".
  91. "Mastodon tap Tool producer David Bottrill for new album". December 17, 2020.
  92. "Liquid Metal". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on December 12, 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2008. They have admirers in world-class progressive-metal outfits like Isis, Mastodon, and Tool
  93. Reed, Ryan (March 28, 2017). "Mastodon on Real-Life Tragedies That Inspired Harrowing New LP". Rolling Stone . Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  94. 1 2 Roche, Jason. "Primus, Mastodon". L.A. Weekly . Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  95. "Scott Kelly and the Road Home". Boise Weekly . Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  96. "Cursive Ready To Rock On Mastodon Tour". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  97. "Make room for the Badass music issue!". Las Vegas Weekly . April 16, 2009. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  98. 1 2 3 4 Monger, James Christopher. "Mastodon Biography". Allmusic.
  99. Wiederhorn, Jon (May 28, 2019). "17 Years Ago: Mastodon Became a Contender with 'Remission'". Loudwire . Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  100. Micallef, Ken (June 14, 2017). "Mastodon's 'Emperor Of Sand'". Mix Online. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  101. Buchanan, David. "CoS Year-End Report: The Top 100 Albums of '09: 50-26 - Mastodon, Crack the Skye". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved March 20, 2012. Mastodon represents experimental metal in the genre's American 'new wave' at the turn of last decade.
  102. "Mastodon, Against Me! Stop, Smell Roses". Spin . Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  103. "Mastodon's Troy Sanders Talks 'Once More 'Round the Sun'". Loudwire. May 13, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  104. Khan-Anselmo, Alexandra (January 27, 2012). "A chat with Mastodon". Exberliner . Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  105. Stosuy, Brandon. "Mastodon: The Hunter". Pitchfork . Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  106. "White Whale, Holy Grail: Moby Dick and Mastodon's Leviathan". LitReactor. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  107. Lampert, Eva (April 26, 2006). "Beware Of The Cysquatch On New Mastodon Album". Chart . Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2009.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  108. Blackeney, Jerome. "Review of Mastodon's 'Crack the Skye'". BBC Music. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  109. "Biography". Mastodon Rocks. Archived from the original on September 14, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  110. Appleford, Steve (December 19, 2016). "Inside Mastodon's Dark, Emotional New LP". Rolling Stone . Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  111. Law, Sam (September 2021). "How collective grief shaped Mastodon's most grandiose, gut-wrenching album ever". Kerrang .
  112. "Review of Mastodon - The Hunter". BBC Music. September 14, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  113. Ferris, D. X. "File Under: Heavier than metal". Alternative Press.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  114. Hermes, Will (March 17, 2009). "Mastodon: Crack the Skye". Rolling Stone . Retrieved February 4, 2017. Mastodon are a bunch of doom-haunted, myth—obsessed, meat—and—potatoes Southern badasses who have become the most important new band in metal.
  115. "Thrashing Outside Genre Lines: How Mastodon's Experimentation Reaffirms Metal in 2018". www.playboy.com. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  116. "Mastodon - the Making of Emperor of Sand [Full Documentary]". YouTube .
  117. "DANISH METAL AWARDS: I vincitori".
  118. "2011 – 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees And Winners: Rock Field". The Recording Academy . November 30, 2011.
  119. "Kerrang! Awards Winners 2012". Kerrang! . Archived from the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  120. "Lamb of God, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Machine Head Among 'Golden Gods' Nominees - Blabbermouth.net". Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  121. "Bullet for My Valentine Booed at Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards - Blabbermouth.net". Archived from the original on August 15, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  122. ""Metal Hammer" Golden Gods Awards Winners 2012". Metal Hammer . Archived from the original on August 28, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  123. "Winners of Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2017 Revealed". Metal Injection.net. June 12, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  124. "Metal Storm Awards 2004". Metal Storm.net. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  125. "Metal Storm Awards 2009". Metal Storm.net. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  126. "Metal Storm Awards 2011". Metal Storm.net. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  127. "Metal Storm Awards 2014". Metal Storm.net. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  128. "Metal Storm Awards 2017". Metal Storm.net. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  129. "Metal Storm Awards 2021".