Atlanta, Georgia (1999 – present)
Mastodon is an American sludge metal/progressive metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band comprises bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor. They have released six full-length albums to date, expanding their musical borders from early raw sludgy riffs to later psychedelic multi-layered songs, yet maintaining progressive style with unusual time signatures and odd instrumentation.
It was announced, in late 2005, that, having fulfilled contractual obligations to indie label, relapse records, Mastodon had been offered a deal by a major music label, a spot on the Warner Music roster. Despite this, however, relapse records released a DVD, and re-released the band’s only demo.
An album titled Call of the Mastodon, comprising the material recorded for the band’s first and only untitled demo, which featured Eric Saner on vocals, was released in early 2006. A DVD entitled “The Workhorse Chronicles” was released not long after and a full length album, the band’s Warner Music debut, Blood Mountain, was released September 12th, 2006. In an interview with MTV news, Brann Dailor revealed that the band’s sound, on this upcoming release would be decidedly different and more “progressive.” He also expressed excitement over the possibility of the birth of a new “prog movement,” naming bands such as Isis, along with Mastodon, as prospective leaders of said movement.
