Mastodon

Emperor Of Sand finds Mastodon returning to a deeply imaginative and complex conceptual storyline which ponders the nature of time. Threading together the myth of a man sentenced to death in a majestically malevolent desert, the band conjures the grains of a musical and lyrical odyssey slipping quickly through a cosmic hourglass." Emperor of Sand is like the grim reaper," says drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor. "Sand represents time. If you or anyone you know has ever received a terminal diagnosis, the first thought is about time. Invariably, you ask, 'How much time is left?'"<br/>"We're reflecting on mortality," adds bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders. "To that end, the album ties into our entire discography. It's 17 years in the making, but it's also a direct reaction to the last two years. We tend to draw inspiration from very real things in our lives."<br/><br/>Emperor Of Sand was recorded at The Quarry Recording Studio in Kennesaw, just outside Mastodon's hometown of Atlanta, with producer Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Neil Young, AC/DC, Rage Against The Machine), who first worked with Mastodon on their 2009's seminal album Crack The Skye.<br/><br/>Over the course of the band's recorded output, they have fearlessly continued to push themselves towards greater creative heights. Each studio album has united an ever-expanding worldwide legion that have come to expect the unexpected twists and turns that have elevated Mastodon into one of the most respected and influential creative forces in rock music.