Hot Chick Playing Mastodon On Drums Is Best Video Of The Week

If there’s one thing that the internet has taught us, it’s that people never tire of seeing beautiful women shred. I’m confident enough with my masculinity to say that Brann Dailor is a handsome man, but self-described “drum goddess” Lux looks a hell of a lot better playing Mastodon’s “Blood and Thunder” than he does.  Thanks internet, and good job, Lux.

[via Metal Injection]

Video: Mastodon Slip The UK Their “Tongue”

Anyone concerned that Mastodon might not be able to pull of material from The Hunter live can rest assured that they’re doing just fine so far. After performing “Curl of the Burl” a few weeks ago on Late Night with David Letterman, the band played album opener “Black Tongue” on UK show Later… with Jools Holland. So now we know how at least two songs from the album sound. You’ll be able to hear even more of the new album live starting next week when the band kick off their tour with The Dillinger Escape Plan and Red Fang.

Mastodon Premiere New Song Online

Earlier today, a new Mastodon song called “Black Tongue” leaked online. Later in the night, though, Mastodon posted the song themselves on their YouTube account. While we’ve heard a snippet of “Black Tongue” before, now we get to hear the song in its entirety. Plus, the video includes footage of AJ Fosik creating the sculpture that appears on the cover of The Hunter. It’s a cool look into the creative process to see the making of the sculpture/album cover (which is the first Mastodon cover not created by Paul Romano).

Our first impression of the song? It kicks ass. Any thoughts about producer Mike Elizondo (Gwen Stefani, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent) making the band softer can be thrown out the window. It’s a perfect combination of the meaty riffs from Leviathan and the more proggy side of their last two albums. “Long before I had done any stuff with Dr. Dre, most of my early band experiences were in metal bands,” Elizondo told Rolling Stone. “It just became one of those things where I put it out there that I was interested and waited to see if anyone took me seriously.” The article also confirms something we knew after hearing three songs earlier this month. The album, unlike their first four, doesn’t have an overarching concept – it’s just the band letting loose and, in their words, “having fun.” That means there won’t be any of the lengthy prog of Crack the Skye, but why would they want to do that again right after that album?

Along with the new song, Mastodon also revealed when their new album will be released. The Hunter is set to come out on September 27. And so the countdown has begun.

Mastodon Give First Taste Of New Album With New Trailer

Mastodon have just posted a video teaser of a new song called “Black Tongue” on their website. Though it’s only a minute of the song, it still serves as our first taste of their new album The Hunter. Just like the cover artwork (which marks the first time Paul Romano) hasn’t been involved, the snippet of the song is a bit of a separation for Mastodon. It doesn’t seem as progy as stuff on Crack The Skye, nor as aggressive as their earlier stuff. Nonetheless, we very much like what we hear.

Give the sample a listen for yourself. The trailer for the album and “Black Tongue” can be seen up top. An exact date for The Hunter is unknown at the moment, but will definitely be released sometime this Fall.

Mastodon And Adult Swim Unleash “Deathbound”

As promised, “Deathbound,” an unreleased Mastodon song from the Crack the Skye sessions, made its premiere today. While the song wasn’t available for free download on Adult Swim’s website as of yet, it should be imminently. The song also comes with a video, which is straight up awesome. Blending Mr. Rogers Neighborhood with Jim Henson-like puppets gone wild, it perfectly fits both Adult Swim and Mastodon’s  sensibility. After all, this is the band that appeared in the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie, and Brent Hinds isn’t beyond having some fun either. As for the song, it’s heavier than anything that was on CTS, and although it was recorded during those sessions, it could be a taste of what’s to come when The Hunter comes out later this year.

In Adult Swim’s words: Mastodon and Adult Swim have been working together for a long time. We asked them for a song for our Adult Swim Singles Program (fun fact: not a dating service). When they sent us this incredible jam, we knew we had to make a video for it. So we called our friends at Authority Films, and of course, the first thing they thought was “puppets!” Just watch.

Adult Swim To Give Away Unreleased Mastodon Song For Free Download

Did you love Mastodon’s Crack The Skye but feel that seven tracks just weren’t enough? Well thanks to Adult Swim and Kia, you’ll get to hear a recorded gem that didn’t make it onto the record for FREE. That’s right, starting tomorrow you can go to Adult Swim’s download page and get the previously unreleased song.

This free download comes just in time as we patiently (?) wait for Mastodon’s new album The Hunter. As we get closer and closer to October (when it’s expected to be released), more new song titles get leaked. Most recently, the song title “Dry Bone Valley” was revealed by the band. However, such updates only make us more antsy to actually hear new material. So while a track from the Crack The Skye recording sessions might not give us a true first taste of the new album, it’ll still be nice to hear (somewhat) new Mastodon music. Plus…it’s FREE, you cheap bastards!

[via Metal Sucks]

Mastodon Confirm New Album Title

Normally we don’t go all out when a band reveal the title to their new album. But as we’ve said previously, the new Mastodon album is one of the most anticipated releases of 2011. Why? Well you can stop reading this piece if you need to even ask that question.

In an interview with MTV Germany this past weekend at the Rock am Ring festival, drummer Brann Dailor and guitarist Bill Kelliher revealed that the band’s follow up to 2009’s Crack The Skye will be titled The Hunter. The two also revealed that though there are no 15 minute songs, the album is “heavier, faster, crazier” and “all over the place.”

The recording for The Hunter, which sees the band working with producer Mike Elizondo at the Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, is supposedly finished. Fingers crossed that Mastodon’s new album will come out within 2011. We, for one, can’t wait to hear it already! You can watch the MTV Germany interview online to hear more about the new album straight from Dailor and Kelliher.

[via Metal Sucks]

Video: Mastodon’s Brent Hinds Supports His Local Bar

Anyone from Atlanta knows that Mastodon’s favorite local watering hole is the El Myr. In fact, Bill Kelliher used to manage the restaurant/bar back in the day. So the band’s Brent Hinds paid it forward by appearing in a pretty amazing ad for the joint that spoofs pharmaceutical ads. Only you can prevent OHP.

[thanks Zena Metal]

Mastodon Confirm New Album’s Producer, Two Song Titles

We’re still a little bummed that Mastodon won’t be collaborating with Dave Grohl on their fifth album. Despite this, we’re still excited for a new album from Mastodon, their follow up to 2009’s Crack The Skye. So any updates about the new album, even song titles, are exciting to hear. The band announced via Facebook that the titles “Blasteroids” and “All The Heavy Lifting” will appear on the new album.

The band also revealed that they will be working with producer Mike Elizondo at the Sound City Studios in Los Angeles (the same studio where Nirvana recorded Nevermind). While he recently produced Avenged Sevenfold’s Nightmare, Elizondo has previous worked with Eminem, Fiona Apple, Maroon 5, and Carrie Underwood. He’s also an acclaimed bassist, keyboardist and song writer. In other words, Elizondo is definitely a… different choice for the Atlanta progressive metal kings.

Despite this unusual choice in a producer, the band previous stated in interviews that the new album will likely be more aggressive than Crack The Skye, surely pleasing many fans. Mastodon has promised to give more updates regarding their as-yet-untitled new album via their website. We’ll also keep you posted if more develops. In other Mastodon-related news, their cover of ZZ Top’s “Just Got Paid” will be featured on the soundtrack to Transformers: Dark of the Moon. The last time Mastodon was on a soundtrack, it was for the sucktastic Jonah Hex, which they wrote the score for.

Mastodon Provide Update From The Recording Studio

If you’re like us, then you’re excited for new music from Mastodon. Thus, we were even happier to read an interview Noisecreep did with drummer Brann Dailor, in which he gives a cool update from the studeio. Currently the band is in the studio working out riffs, while also still in talks with possible producers (though Dailor admitted that they had one person in mind, though couldn’t reveal the name). But what got our attention was Dailor’s comment about the “general vibe” of the material so far, saying:

“It doesn’t seem as proggy. There’s moments, but it seems more riff-oriented. It seems a little more stripped down. [2004's] ‘Leviathan’ was a little more stripped down, and it feels like that to me. Everything always changes once you go in the studio, but at the moment it seems like a really super-heavy Led Zeppelin or something. It has a lot of that [John] Bonham-esque groove to it, but really heavy and dark. I really like playing like that, and when it goes into those parts, I’m psyched.”

Dailor’s description will probably make fans who felt 2009’s Crack The Skye lacked the aggression or rawness of Mastodon’s past albums. We, on the other hand, are just happy to hear that major headway has already been made on the new album. Hopefully it won’t be too much longer till we get to hear new Mastodon music!