Mastodon is an American heavy metal band formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 2000, known for three-way lead vocals and concept albums that reach far beyond sludge. Leviathan (2004) and Crack the Skye (2009) are the pillars; founding guitarist Brent Hinds departed in March 2025. Shop Mastodon vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Mastodon formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 2000 around Brent Hinds, Bill Kelliher, Troy Sanders, and Brann Dailor (Sanders and Dailor had previously played together in Today Is the Day). They signed with Relapse Records for their early catalog and moved to Reprise/Warner Bros. for Blood Mountain (2006) and subsequent material. Their progressively ambitious conceptual approach to album-length work (Crack the Skye, 2009 addressing astral projection and Hinds's brother Brad's death; Hushed and Grim, 2021 addressing the death of their longtime manager Nick John) has positioned them as a defining contemporary progressive heavy metal band. Brent Hinds left the band in March 2025 with public acrimony around his departure. They have won one Grammy Award (Best Metal Performance for Sultan's Curse, 2018).
Mastodon's sound combines progressive heavy metal, sludge metal, progressive rock, hard rock, alternative metal, stoner metal, and avant-garde metal with extensive instrumental virtuosity, the band's distinctive multi-vocalist approach (three different members contributing lead vocals), and conceptual approach to album-length work.
Relapse Records and Reprise/Warner Bros. pressings of the Mastodon catalog have been issued in extensive color variant editions and limited deluxe pressings, with collector demand.
Listeners new to Mastodon typically start with Crack the Skye (2009) or Leviathan (2004).
