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)
Ol'e Nessie
Mastodon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Taught by masters
Flight of giving
Be mine always
Here for duration
Miss my sweet love
Times of sailing
Keep me grounded
The lyrics to Mastodon's "Ole Nessie" are open to interpretation, as most lyrics usually are. However, one possible interpretation is that this song is about the singer's relationship with someone or something that they cherish, but cannot hold onto. The opening lines suggest that the singer has been living under some sort of sanction or rule, possibly by their master or a higher power. Despite this, they still feel that they want to give back in some way, either through a gift or by being there for their loved one.
Later in the song, the singer talks about missing their "sweet love," which could refer to a person or to a concept or ideal. There is also a sense of longing for days gone by, represented by the phrase "Times of sailing," which could be a metaphor for any sort of journey or adventure. The final line, "Make us sure of future sanctions," suggests that the singer wants their love or commitment to be validated or made official, possibly as a way to ensure that they will never lose it.
Overall, "Ole Nessie" is a poignant and well-crafted song that speaks to human emotions of love, loss, and longing. It may not have a clear narrative or storyline, but it is still highly affecting in its own way.
Line by Line Meaning
Sanction lived in
Our relationship was governed by rules and regulations
Taught by masters
We learned from experienced individuals how to adhere to these rules
Flight of giving
Our love was a soaring, generous expression of our devotion
Be mine always
I desire your eternal commitment and presence in my life
Here for duration
Our love will persist for as long as we exist
Miss my sweet love
I long for the affection and tenderness of my beloved
Times of sailing
Our relationship has encountered difficulties and challenges
Keep me grounded
Please provide me with stability and a sense of security
Make us sure of future sanctions
May our shared understanding allow us to confidently navigate any obstacles we encounter in the future
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRENT HINDS, BRANN DAILOR, TROY SANDERS, WILLIAM KELLIHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind