Mastodon

Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, active since 2000. The group’s core lineup consists of Troy Sanders on bass and vocals, Brent Hinds on lead guitar and vocals, Bill Kelliher on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, and Brann Dailor on drums and vocals, with Eric Saner and João Nogueira also listed among its members. The band records on Trampled Under Hoof Music, Inc. and is associated with alternative metal, hard rock, heavy metal, progressive metal and sludge metal.

Career

The band releases eight studio albums and several other recordings. Its debut album, Remission (2002), receives critical acclaim for its distinctive sound. Leviathan (2004) is a concept album based on Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick and is named Album of the Year in 2004 by Revolver, Kerrang! and Terrorizer. The third album, Blood Mountain (2006), includes “Colony of Birchmen”, which is nominated for Best Metal Performance at the Grammy Awards in 2007.

Later albums and recognition

Later releases include Crack the Skye (2009), The Hunter (2011), which debuts at number 10 on the Billboard 200 and includes the Grammy-nominated “Curl of the Burl”, and Once More ’Round the Sun (2014), which reaches number six on the Billboard 200 and features “High Road”, also nominated for a Grammy. Emperor of Sand (2017) includes “Show Yourself”, the band’s most commercially successful song, which reaches number four on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart. Its opening track, “Sultan’s Curse”, wins the band its first Grammy, and the album is also nominated for Best Rock Album. Hushed and Grim follows in 2021.