Mastodon

The famous progressive metal band Mastodon was formed in late 1999 when ex-players of Lethargy band – drummer Brann Dailor and guitarist Bill Kelliher – met bassist Troy Sanders and guitarist Brent Hinds at a High on Fire show. They realised they had a lot in common (especially concerning music tastes), and soon after the show they formed the band Mastodon. Later in their interviews the band members would often recall how difficult it was to start rehearsing, because everyone would show up completely wasted. Nevertheless, alcohol was never a burden, and by the year 2000 Mastodon’s four-song demo, recorded at Reptilian Records, was ready to see the light. Their efforts were highly appraised by Relapse Records that offered Mastodon a record deal in 2001. Later that year, the guys released a five-track EP, Lifesblood, drawing large attention to the band. The mass reception got even more positive when Mastodon’s first full-length album Remission hit the shelves in 2002. It proposed a fine blend of mathematics, arrangements and attitude, complex enough to attract the fans of the genre.

Their second full-length album Leviathan was released in 2004. Being a concept album, it received critical acclaim and was named album of the year by Kerrang! And Terrorizer. The record was also ranked a second best album of 2004 by Metal Hammer. Followed was The Unoly Alliance Tour along with Slayer and Slipknot.

On their third record, Blood Mountain, Mastodon has put more emphasis on clean, melodic vocals, and the storyline of the songs, still being aggressive and harsh; fans liked it even more, which resulted in the best album title of 2006 in the UK Metal Hammer. Being a niche band, Mastodon received the mainstream appreciation after their tracks became part of various videogame soundtracks, including Guitar Hero III, Rock Band 2 and Army of Two. Continuing the tradition of breaking the tradition, the band introduced new sound and ideas in their fourth full-length album Crack the Skye, 2009, leaving the material references behind, and concentrating on the concepts of astral travelling, wormholes and spiritual realms.

Year 2011 happened to bear two fruits from Mastodon tree. One is their first live DVD entitled Live at the Aragon, featuring the entire performance of their fourth studio album, and their fifth LP, released through Roadrunner Records, and called The Hunter, in honor of Brent Hinds’ brother who unexpectedly passed away while hunting. Mastodon is a band with unique sound, hyper-creative ideas and a barrage of thoughtful lyrics. In some ten years they overcame themselves five times, never to repeat their own material and always offering something new to the lovers of the genre.