Bonnaroo Band of the Day: Mastodon

Just like last year and the year before, we’re making it our mission to help you get acquainted with as many bands as we can from Bonnaroo‘s impressive 2014 lineup. We’ll start from the bottom and work our way up, paying special attention to the smaller and lesser known acts on this year’s bill. Keep reading for your Bonnaroo Band of the Day…

LEARN

One of the most celebrated American metal bands of the modern era, Atlanta’s Mastadon are, without a doubt, the most high-profile heavy act on this year’s Bonnaroo lineup. Returning to the fest for the first time in six years, this year’s ‘Roo should ring extra special, as the group recently recorded their upcoming sixth album, Once More ‘Round the Sun (due out June 24), right up the road in Nashville. The rockers took their 2008 Bonnaroo outing as an opportunity to premiere new tracks from the then-forthcoming Crack the Skye, and, if we’re lucky, the same will ring true this summer for Sun.

Fans of metal should certainly need no introduction, but, for the layman, here’s what you need to know. Formed in 2000, Mastodon really broke through in a big way with their sophomore concept album, Leviathan. Combining elements of sludge, progressive, alt metal, stoner, groove, and punk, the Grammy-nominated group have evolved year after year, and have racked up a mind-blowing amount of critical accolades and fan praise throughout the last decade and a half. They’ve toured with every important heavy band you can imagine, from Metallica to Deftones to Dillinger Escape Plan, have appeared on countless late night shows, film and video game soundtracks, and have even worked on movie scores. Lyrical ambitious and musically unpredictable, Mastodon’s late night set could serve as a perfect entry point for those new to heavy music, and should be considered a requirement for anyone even mildly familiar with the band.

LISTEN | “High Road”