Mastodon is a heavy metal band hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 2000 the band’s lineup included Troy Sanders on bass, Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher on guitars, and Brann Dailor on drums with all members (minus Kelliher) performing vocals. They all, however, perform vocals when playing live. Throughout their musical history, Mastodon has released seven full length studio albums with their debut release of Remission in 2002. In 2007 they were nominated for a Grammy for Best Metal Performance of their song “Colony of Birchmen” which was their most popular single off of their 2006 album Blood Mountain.

Through a recent press release Mastodon has announced the release of a new animated music video for their song “Clandestiny” off their current studio album Emperor of Sand.

The video opens in the final frontier aka outer space in which their name Mastodon is emblazoned in red while a flying saucer hovers above. Soon the drum beat the opened the video is joined with a guitar lick and the red Mastodon label shrinks while the word Clandestiny comes into view almost as if the music and animation are playing off each other.

Soon a giant rocket flies off of our great blue and green planet and soars off onto what appears to be the planet Mars. A heavy drum motif comes in and the animation follows with the colonization on the red planet to such a point no red surface is visible. The video is brilliantly animated and shows an interpretation of how we might continue our destructive path as a civilization: sucking out all the resources, ruining the natural state of whatever land we happen to stroll onto. The video was directed, edited, produced, animated, and edited by the brilliant Ariel Costa also known as BlinkMyBrain. Costa is known for his unique interpretations of music into music video and has worked with the likes of Led Zeppelin, Green Day, The New York Times, and Spotify. Check out the video below.

Mastodon will also go on a co-headline tour with with Primus. Check out below to see if they’ll be near you!
Mastodon – Primus Co-headline tour dates:
May 06            Denver, Co          Red Rocks Amphitheater
May 08            Oklahoma City, OK     Criterion
May 09            Houston, TX         White Oak Music Hall (All Them Witches support)
May 10            Dallas, TX           Southside Ballroom (on sale 2/3)
May 11            Austin, TX           360 Amphitheater
May 12            Rogers, AR         WAL-MART Amphitheater
May 14            Birmingham, AL       BJCC Theater (on sale 2/3)
May 15            Nashville, TN          Municipal Auditorium
May 16            Atlanta, GA           The Fox
May 18            Portsmouth, VA       Ntelos Pavilion
May 19            Charlotte, NC          Metro Amphitheater
May 20            Raleigh, NC          Red Hat Amphitheater
May 22            Reading, PA         Diamond Credit Union Theater @ Sandtander
May 23            Buffalo, NY           Art Park Amphitheater
May 25            Glen Falls, NY         Cool Insuring Arena
May 26            Providence, RI         Bold Point Park
May 27            Portland, ME          Maine State Pier                      
May 29            Boston, MA          Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
May 30            Philadelphia, PA         Penns Landing
June 01           Asbury Park, NJ       Stone Pony Summerstage
June 02           Baltimore, MD         Pier 6 Pavilion
June 03          Coney Island, NY        Ford Amphitheater @ Northerly Island (Brooklyn)
June 05          Columbus, OH        Express Live! (outdoors)
June 06           Chicago, IL           Huntington Bank Pav. – Northerly Island
June 08          Pittsburgh, PA          Stage AE (outdoor stage)
June 09            Sterling Heights, MI     Michigan Lottery Amphitheater @ Freedom Hill
June 10            Indianapolis, IN         Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn
June 12            Cincinnati, OH        PNC Pavilion @ Riverbend
June 14             Minneapolis, MN     The Myth
June 15              Bonner Springs, KS  Providence Medical Center Amphitheater
June 16               Camdenton, MO           Ozarks Amphitheater
June 18            Lincoln, NE          Pinewood Bowl (on sale 2/3)
June 21             Bonner, MT       Kettlehouse Amphitheater
June 22            Seattle, WA         Marymoor Park
June 23            Bend, OR         Les Schwab Amphitheater
June 25           Troutdale, OR         Edgefield
June 26            Jacksonville, OR      Britt Pavilion
June 28              Avila Beach, CA     Avila Beach Amphitheater
June 29             Berkeley, CA       Greek Theater
June 30             Lincoln, CA         Thunder Valley Casino
July 02            Salt Lake City, UT      Salt Air Pavilion
July 03            Las Vegas, NV      Downtown Event Center
July 05            Los Angeles, CA      Greek Theater
July 06            San Diego, CA       Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theater
July 07            Phoenix, AZ         Comerica Theater
Aug 18            Springfield, IL           Illinois State Fair (w/ Halestorm, others TBC)

Photo credit: Boston Lynn Schulz