The song "Colony of Birchmen" from the band's third album (released in 2006), Blood Mountain, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2007. Blood Mountain was followed in 2009 by Crack the Skye, and in 2011 by The Hunter, which debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and achieved major commercial success in the United States. The Hunter features the song "Curl of the Burl", which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 2012. Mastodon's 2014 album, Once More 'Round the Sun, peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart and features the band's third Grammy-nominated song, "High Road". The band's seventh album, Emperor of Sand, was released on March 31, 2017, and features the band's most commercially successful song to date, "Show Yourself", which peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in June 2017. The followup single, "Steambreather", peaked at number 18 on the same chart in October 2017. The album's opening track, "Sultan's Curse", earned the band their first Grammy award. Emperor of Sand was the band's first album to receive a Grammy nomination; it was nominated for Best Rock Album.
Mastodon was formed on January 13, 2000, after drummer Brann Dailor and guitarist Bill Kelliher moved to Atlanta from Victor, New York, and met bassist/singer Troy Sanders and guitarist/singer Brent Hinds at a High on Fire show. They discovered they had a mutual appreciation of sludge metal bands Melvins and Neurosis, heavy metal legends Iron Maiden, and 1970s hard rockers Thin Lizzy, and shortly thereafter formed Mastodon. In an interview in 2009, Kelliher revealed that the first time Hinds attended a practice with the band, he "showed up so wasted he couldn't play".
The band recorded a demo in 2000, which featured Eric Saner on vocals. Saner left the band for personal reasons after just a couple of months. After recording a four-song demo and a 7-inch picture disc through Reptilian Records, Mastodon landed a record deal with Relapse Records in 2001. Mastodon released the EP Lifesblood in 2001, and its first full-length album, Remission, in 2002, with the singles "March of the Fire Ants" and "Crusher/Destroyer" (which was also featured on Tony Hawk's Underground). On each of Mastodon's first three full-length albums, the last track was an instrumental composition with a title that related to the Elephant Man.
Artist Paul Romano was responsible for all of the band's album art and backdrops up to 2011. The artwork for the band's fifth studio album The Hunter was made by AJ Fosik, a woodcarver who was also responsible for the backdrop the band used live at the time. Oakland-based artist Skinner, who, in his own words, specializes in "psychedelic nightmare paintings", has taken the reins on Once More 'Round the Sun. "It's going to be a work of art for sure. It's going to be very eye-opening", said bassist Troy Sanders before the album's release. "Very striking. It's from another dimension, and a lot of our music is geared toward that idea—taking you to another planet on songs. It's out there, and I think it's incredible."
Studio albums
Remission (2002)
Leviathan (2004)
Blood Mountain (2006)
Crack the Skye (2009)
The Hunter (2011)
Once More 'Round the Sun (2014)
Emperor of Sand (2017)
Hushed and Grim (2021)
EPs
Lifesblood (2001)
Cold Dark Place (2017)
Bedazzled Fingernails
Mastodon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are full of pride
All is proved in time
Lay me down
Stand my ground
Lay me down
Stand my ground
Taking a life
I see it flash before my eyes
Taking a life
I see it flash before my eyes
Rule by the head
Endure test of time
Plant the seed of mind
Lay me down
Stand my ground
Lay me down
Stand my ground
Taking a life
I see it flash before my eyes
Taking a life
I see it flash before my eyes
The lyrics to Mastodon's "Bedazzled Fingernails" emphasize the theme of struggle and pride through the idea of "give and take." The character is struggling with the decisions and actions they have taken, as they "see it flash before [their] eyes." The repetition of "Lay me down" and "Stand my ground" emphasize this internal battle, as the singer seems to be grappling with their own sense of morality and self-determination.
The lyrics also speak about planting the seed of mind, suggesting that our struggles and trials are necessary for growth and evolution. The idea of "enduring the test of time" also underscores this theme, as the singer recognizes that true growth and learning takes time and effort.
Overall, the lyrics to "Bedazzled Fingernails" are reflective and introspective, covering themes of pride, morality, and internal struggle. The repetition and imagery used throughout the song serve to emphasize the character's internal conflict and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Give and take
We engage in mutual exchanges
We are full of pride
We possess a high opinion of ourselves
All is proved in time
The truth is demonstrated over a period of time
Lay me down
I submit myself to a state of vulnerability
Stand my ground
I remain steadfast in my convictions
Taking a life
Causing death to another being
I see it flash before my eyes
The final moments of the life lost, replay in my mind
Rule by the head
We lead with logical and rational decision making
Endure test of time
Our actions must withstand scrutiny over an extended period
Plant the seed of mind
We sow the seeds of knowledge and wisdom
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRANN TIMOTHY DAILOR, TROY JAYSON SANDERS, WILLIAM BREEN KELLIHER, WILLIAM BRENT HINDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Isaak Speyer
Mastodon are the wizards of metal. These guys spasmed out of a heavy metal roar and climaxed into a psychedelic soul fuck of rock and roll. Lovin how Brent managed to save his voice and still hold the throne. Bow to thy holy Mastodon.
PolarOpposite33
Favorite albums of Mastodon #1 Remission #1 Leviathan #1 Blood Mountain #1 Crack The Skye #1 The Hunter
Christopher Combs
They are all #1
Dementional
Same here
Lasse Biørnstad
This song is so amazing that they could have called it "I'm just getting my nails done, hanging out with my girlfriends", and it wouldn't change a thing!
beetheb
This MAY be my favorite Mastodon song, which says a lot in a catalogue full of gems.
Till873
My favourite track of the record!
David Janzi
This is without doubt my favorite from The Hunter. Something about it is just perfect.
Sukon Minuts
I'll admit, when I read the tracklist before the album came out, I cringed at some of the songtitles. They just sounded a bit lame compared to the likes of "The Wolf is Loose" or "Blood and Thunder". But these dudes continue to prove their worth. This album is amazing and I can't wait to see how they're gonna top it.
Justin Mitchell
You judge songs by title?