Mastodon Biography

Mastodon is a Grammy-nominated heavy metal band from Georgia, formed in 2000. Their musical style blends progressive metal with various influences, resulting in a unique sound. The group released seven studio albums, the latest being Emperor of Sand, which came out in March 2017. Additionally, in 2015, the band made an appearance on the iconic TV series Game Of Thrones, starring as wildlings.

Early Years & Breakthrough

In early 2000, the four members met at a High on Fire concert and discovered they had common music taste. Shortly after that event, they formed the group and began recording. In 2001, they gained a contract with Relapse Records. One year later, the band’s first album, Remission astonished the critics. While it wasn’t a concept album, it kept a coherent main theme of fire and referenced to the tragic story of the Elephant Man. In 2004 Mastodon released a concept album, Leviathan, loosely based on the novel Moby Dick, which gained critical acclaim.

Continuous Success & Ascension

In 2006, the band released Blood Mountain and was joined by Tool in their promoting tour. One of the singles, Colony of Birchmen, featured vocals from Queens of the Stone Age’s lead singer. Moreover, the song was included in the video games Saints Row 2 and Rock band 2. In 2009, Mastodon released their fourth album, Crack the Skye, which depicted an “out-of-body experience”. The record peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200.

The Hunter, Mastodon’s next album, came out in the summer of 2011. It was declared “Album of the Year” by Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Rock Sound. The band’s second non-concept album spawned the hit single Curl of the Burl, which earned a Grammy nomination. In 2014, the band released One More ‘Round the Sun. The 11 tracks were created around the theme of “death”.  It was another huge success and generated another Grammy-nominated song, High Road.

Photo source: RollingStone