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)
Trainwreck
Mastodon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yet remain the same
Basking in an afterglow
I did not know
I am here
In shadows island
Lying
All questions exhaust me
Running screaming chanting
For all this land I've seen its worth
Helping all for times sake
It brings me work
Pinned to this world
These lyrics of Mastodon's song Trainwreck portrays a sense of confusion and uncertainty mixed with a hint of hope. The lyrics talk about how the singer's life has changed, yet remains the same. They are basking in the afterglow of something unknown to them, and they have ended up on a shadowy island, which could imply that they are lost or stuck in their lives. The singer seems to be lying down, hopeless and wondering while all the questions that come his way exhaust him. However, the singer is not giving up yet, and he is running, screaming, and chanting for all the land he has seen, indicating that he has seen and experienced a lot in his life. He is trying to help others in times' sake, which gives him work and meaning to his existence. But, despite all these efforts to find purpose and happiness, he feels pinned to this world in frustration.
The song Trainwreck is open to many interpretations as it does not follow a linear narrative, and the lyrics have a vague, dreamy quality. But, one predominant theme that comes through the lyrics is the notion that life is chaotic and unpredictable, and one may feel lost and hopeless at times in this ride. The singer is trying to hold on to the things he knows and feels grounded in them, but the confusion and uncertainty still loom large in the backdrop. The lyrics ultimately speak to the human condition of trying to find meaning in life, despite the existential crises that come our way.
Line by Line Meaning
Life's changed
Although my life has gone through changes, some things have stayed the same
Yet remain the same
These things have remained constant even though my life has changed
Basking in an afterglow
I am enjoying the pleasant feeling that comes after something good has happened
I did not know
I was unaware of this feeling before experiencing it
I am here
I exist in this moment and place
In shadows island
I feel isolated and alone, like I'm on an island in the shadows
Lying
I am not being truthful with myself or others
Hopeless wondering
I am feeling lost and without direction, unsure of what to do next
All questions exhaust me
I am mentally drained from trying to find answers and solutions
Running screaming chanting
I am trying to escape my problems and fears, but also trying to find a sense of strength and power in doing so
For all this land I've seen its worth
I have experienced and explored many different things in life, and recognize their value
Helping all for times sake
I am willing to help others because it gives me a sense of purpose and direction, even if only temporarily
It brings me work
Helping others is a form of work for me, but also gives me a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment
Pinned to this world
I feel trapped and weighed down by the problems and struggles of this world, unable to escape or find peace
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRANN DAILOR, BRENT HINDS, TROY SANDERS, WILLIAM KELLIHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind