LAMB OF GOD / MASTODON

Appearing near the dawn of the 21st century, Atlanta's Mastodon established themselves as one of the most original and influential American metal bands. Their wide-angle progressive approach encompasses stoner and sludge metal, punishing hardcore and metalcore, neo-psych, death metal, and more -- sometimes in the span of a single song. The group's playing style incorporates heavy, technically complex guitar riffs, lyric hooks, long, melodic instrumental passages, and intricate, jazz-influenced drumming with syncopated time signatures. Their second album, 2004's Leviathan, was a concept offering based on Moby Dick, Herman Melville's iconic novel of whaling and obsession, and proved the band's commercial and critical breakthrough. Since its release, the record has attained status as one of the most important albums in heavy metal's history. 2011's concept album The Hunter reflected the band's embrace of prog, channelling disparate influences ranging from King Crimson to Opeth. 2017's Emperor of Sand netted two charting singles, debuted inside the Top Ten on the Top 200, and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Album, while the single "Sultan's Curse" took a Grammy home for Best Metal Performance. Never staid and always restless, Mastodon embrace change readily, and employ its more useful lessons without regard for musical trends, production techniques, or popular or critical approval. Change and evolution (their raison d'être) are as much a part of their musical identity as their personnel.