Mastodon
United States · formed 2000 · last active 2026
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band formed in Atlanta in 2000, fusing sludge and stoner metal with progressive rock, hardcore aggression and jazz-influenced drumming into an ambitious, concept-driven sound. Their breakthrough Leviathan (2004), a song cycle built around Moby-Dick, established them as one of the most original and influential American metal bands of the 21st century, and later records like Crack the Skye (2009) pushed further into psychedelic prog territory. The classic four-piece held together for 25 years until guitarist Brent Hinds split with the band in March 2025 and died in a motorcycle accident that August; three of the four members trade lead vocals, giving the band its distinctive multi-voiced attack.
SCORE PROFILE
Accent numbers counted towards the index. Hover an axis — or hold it on a phone — for what it means.
MEMBERS
- Troy Sandersbass, lead and backing vocals· also in Killer Be Killed
- Brent Hindslead guitar, vocals (2000–2025; deceased)· also in Giraffe Tongue Orchestra
- Bill Kelliherrhythm guitar, backing vocals· also in Today Is the Day
- Brann Dailordrums, percussion, vocals· also in Today Is the Day
CONNECTIONS
- Giraffe Tongue Orchestrasatellitepath →
Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds was a member of Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, the supergroup founded in 2012 by Dillinger Escape Plan's Ben Weinman; Hinds played guitar and backing vocals. source ↗
- Killer Be Killedsatellitepath →
Mastodon bassist and co-vocalist Troy Sanders plays bass and sings in the metal supergroup Killer Be Killed (2012–present). source ↗
- Today Is the Daypath →
Bassist Bill Kelliher and drummer Brann Dailor played on In the Eyes of God (1999) before leaving to co-found Mastodon. source ↗
- Baronesspath →
John Baizley and Pete Adams filled in for Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher on 29 April 2010 when he was unable to perform due to illness. source ↗
- Neurosispath →
Scott Kelly of Neurosis provided guest vocals on multiple Mastodon albums, from Leviathan (2004) through later releases, becoming a recurring guest voice on the band's records. source ↗
- Yakuzapath →
Mastodon's Troy Sanders performs guest vocals on 'Back to the Mountain,' the closing track of Yakuza's 2006 album Samsara. source ↗
- Zoroastersatellitepath →
Brent Hinds of Mastodon guests with a guitar solo and backing vocals on 'White Dwarf' from Voice of Saturn (2009). source ↗
- Baronesspath →
Baroness (along with Between the Buried and Me and Valient Thorr) directly supported Mastodon's US headlining tour in Spring 2010 — a separate fact from the pair's existing collaboration (the April 2010 guitarist fill-in) and artwork edges. source ↗
- Between the Buried and Mepath →
Between the Buried and Me supported Mastodon (along with Baroness) on Mastodon's US headlining tour in February 2010. source ↗
- Cephalic Carnagesatellitepath →
Cephalic Carnage and Mastodon co-billed the 2003 "North American Contamination" tour — a new tie distinct from the pair's existing artwork edge (both used Orion Landau). source ↗
- Convergepath →
Converge and Mastodon were both co-support acts (with High on Fire) for Dethklok's "Adult Swim Presents" tour, Fall 2009 — a co-support tie per ruling 8 (2026-08-07). source ↗
- Dethklokpath →
Mastodon directly supported Dethklok (co-support alongside Converge and High on Fire, High on Fire not an atlas node) on the "Adult Swim Presents" Metalocalypse tour, Fall 2009 — a direct-support tie, companion to the existing converge-mastodon and converge-dethklok edges from the same tour. source ↗
- Dillinger Escape Planpath →
Mastodon's own Wikipedia page: a UK tour announced October 12, 2011, running through February 2012 "with fellow bands The Dillinger Escape Plan and Red Fang as support acts" (Red Fang is not an atlas node). Direct-support tour tie per ruling 8 (2026-08-07). source ↗
- Gojirapath →
Gojira, Mastodon and Kvelertak co-toured Australia in 2012 and reunited for a US tour in October-November 2014. source ↗
- Isispath →
Isis and Mastodon were co-support acts on Tool's 10,000 Days tour, 2006 — a co-support tie per ruling 8 (2026-08-07). Sourced to Tool's own Wikipedia page, which names both as the tour's supporting acts. source ↗
- Opethpath →
Mastodon and Opeth co-headlined the "Heritage Hunter Tour", announced January 2012, with support from Ghost. source ↗
- Primuspath →
Mastodon and Primus co-headlined a North American tour in Summer 2018 (May-July). source ↗
- These Arms Are Snakespath →
These Arms Are Snakes opened for Against Me! and Mastodon in early 2007, per the band's own account; Mastodon's own page independently confirms the same tour, with These Arms Are Snakes opening "the other" leg alongside Planes Mistaken for Stars. source ↗
- Toolpath →
Mastodon toured with Tool in Europe in 2006 in support of Blood Mountain; Tool's own account of its 10,000 Days tour confirms Mastodon (with Isis) as a supporting act. source ↗
- Zeal & Ardorpath →
Zeal & Ardor opened for a co-headline Opeth and Mastodon tour beginning in 2021. source ↗
- Author & Punisherpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Orion Landau: Author & Punisher's "Beastland" (2018) and Mastodon's "Remission" (2003). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Orion Landau is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Baronesspath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Orion Landau: Baroness's "Blue Record" (2009) and Mastodon's "Remission" (2003). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Orion Landau is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Brain Tentaclespath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Orion Landau: Brain Tentacles's "Brain Tentacles" (2016) and Mastodon's "Remission" (2003). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Orion Landau is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Cave Inpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance illustrator Richey Beckett: Mastodon's Cold Dark Place (2017, Illustration) and Cave In's Heavy Pendulum (2022, Artwork). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) -- Beckett is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. source ↗
- Cephalic Carnagesatellitepath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Orion Landau: Cephalic Carnage's "Lucid Interval" (2003) and Mastodon's "Remission" (2003). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Orion Landau is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Circlepath →
Both bands' cover art was done by freelance artist Paul Romano: Circle's Earthworm (2006, art direction/artwork/design) and Mastodon's Leviathan (2004, artwork/design) -- one of Romano's many Mastodon covers (Remission, Leviathan, Blood Mountain, Crack the Skye and others). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7). source ↗
- Deathpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Orion Landau: Death's "Vivus!" (2012) and Mastodon's "Remission" (2003). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Orion Landau is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Dillinger Escape Planpath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Orion Landau (Discogs artist id 594339): The Dillinger Escape Plan's "Cursed, Unshaven, And Misbehavin'" (2003, Design/Sleeve) and Mastodon's "Remission" (2003). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Orion Landau is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. Dillinger Escape Plan joins Landau's existing pairwise cluster as a 10th client. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Dysrhythmiapath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Orion Landau: Dysrhythmia's "Live From The Relapse Contamination Festival" (2004) and Mastodon's "Remission" (2003). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Orion Landau is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Earthpath →
Both bands' cover art was done by freelance artist Paul Romano: Earth's Legacy Of Dissolution (2005, art direction/artwork/design) and Mastodon's Leviathan (2004, artwork/design) -- one of Romano's many Mastodon covers. Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7). source ↗
- Rosettapath →
Both bands' cover art was done by freelance artist Paul Romano: Mastodon's Leviathan (2004, artwork/design) -- one of Romano's many Mastodon covers -- and Rosetta's Wake/Lift (2007, art direction/artwork/design). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7). source ↗
- Russian Circlespath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Orion Landau: Mastodon's "Remission" (2003) and Russian Circles's "Blood Year" (2019). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Orion Landau is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Starkweathersatellitepath →
Both bands' cover art was done by freelance artist Paul Romano: Mastodon's Leviathan (2004, artwork/design) -- one of Romano's many Mastodon covers -- and Starkweather's Croatoan (2006, art direction/artwork/design). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7). source ↗
- Today Is the Daypath →
Both bands' cover art/design work was done by freelance artist Orion Landau: Mastodon's "Remission" (2003) and Today Is the Day's "Sadness Will Prevail" (2002). Pairwise artwork tie per the 2026-08-07 ruling (PROTOCOL rule 7) — Orion Landau is not an atlas band member so there is no anchor band. One representative Discogs credit cited; the companion credit is logged in research/edge-taxonomy-ledger.json. source ↗
- Boredomspath →
Shared label roster: Reprise Records, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Faith No Morepath →
Shared label roster: Warner Bros. Records, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Gojirapath →
Shared label roster: Volcom Entertainment, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Nine Inch Nails (Ghosts era)path →
Shared label roster: Loma Vista Recordings, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
- Nine Inch Nails (industrial era)path →
Shared label roster: Loma Vista Recordings, per MusicBrainz. source ↗
FURTHER LISTENING
Nearest score profiles in the atlas.
- Mathcore / DEP-verseEI 4Giraffe Tongue OrchestrasatelliteTechnicalHardcore
Giraffe Tongue Orchestra is an American rock/alternative-metal supergroup founded in 2012 by guitarist Ben Weinman of The Dillinger Escape Plan, melding hard rock and progressive metal. Its lineup drew members from various established acts: Brent Hinds of Mastodon (guitar), William DuVall of Alice in Chains (vocals), Thomas Pridgen of The Mars Volta (drums), and bassist Pete Griffin (Dethklok, Zappa Plays Zappa). The band released its debut LP, Broken Lines, on September 23, 2016 via Party Smasher Records, reaching #85 on the Billboard 200.
- Mathcore / DEP-verseEI 4Killer Be KilledsatelliteTechnicalHardcoreDeath
Killer Be Killed is an American heavy metal supergroup formed in 2011 by Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan) and Max Cavalera (Soulfly), later joined by bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders (Mastodon) and drummer Ben Koller (Converge). Conceived by Puciato and Cavalera in the vein of Cavalera's 1990s project Nailbomb, the band signed to Nuclear Blast and released its self-titled debut in 2014, with drums by Dave Elitch. Elitch left in 2015 and was replaced by Koller, who plays on the second album, Reluctant Hero (2020).
- Bay Area / SGMEI 10Free Salamander ExhibitTechnicalHardcoreTheatrical
Free Salamander Exhibit is an avant-rock band from Oakland, California, formed by former members of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. Comprising roughly four-fifths of that group's lineup plus additional players, the band pursues an art-prog / rock-in-opposition sound built around an arsenal of homemade instruments alongside guitars, bass, and drums. Their debut album, Undestroyed, was released December 13, 2016 on the Web of Mimicry label.
- Mathcore / DEP-verseEI 8Mutoid ManTechnicalHardcoreTheatrical
Mutoid Man is an American heavy metal band formed in 2012 in Brooklyn, New York City by Cave In vocalist/guitarist Stephen Brodsky and Converge drummer Ben Koller. The project began as a two-piece before adding bassist Nick Cageao, who was replaced in August 2021 by Jeff Matz of High on Fire. Their sound has been described as metalcore that engages hardcore punk, rock and roll, math rock, progressive rock, and psychedelic music.
- Estradasphere / MimicryEI 12Deserts of TraunTechnicalHardcoreDeath
The Deserts of Traun (stylized TRAUN) is an experimental, multi-genre metal project from Santa Barbara, California, founded and largely composed by drummer Dave Murray, formerly of Estradasphere. Its self-titled 2003 debut features Murray on numerous instruments alongside contributions from Estradasphere guitarist Jason Schimmel and others, blending metal, jazz, progressive rock and soundtrack styles. Murray later carried the project's polyrhythmic-metal sensibility into High Castle Teleorkestra.
- Patton-verseEI 14Faith No MoreTechnicalHardcoreTheatrical
San Francisco shape-shifters who smuggled funk, hip-hop, synth-pop, thrash, lounge and film-score bombast into stadium-sized alternative metal, peaking commercially with The Real Thing (1989) and creatively with the gloriously perverse Angel Dust (1992). When Mike Patton was poached from Mr. Bungle in 1988, the band became the primary launchpad for his sprawling avant-garde universe — making Faith No More the closest thing this atlas has to a mainstream gateway drug. Few bands did more to convince metal that genre borders were optional.
- Patton-verseEI 8The Jesus LizardTechnicalHardcoreTheatrical
Formed in Austin in 1987 and relocated to Chicago in 1989, The Jesus Lizard perfected a blueprint of noise-rock menace: David Wm. Sims and Mac McNeilly's lurching, hydraulic rhythm section, Duane Denison's wiry precision guitar, and David Yow howling from deep in the mix like, in one critic's words, 'a kidnap victim trying to howl through the duct tape over his mouth.' Their Steve Albini-recorded Touch and Go albums Goat (1991) and Liar (1992) stand among the most significant noise rock records of the era, and a split single with Nirvana briefly brushed them against the mainstream. After disbanding in 1999 and reuniting for tours from 2009 onward, they released Rack in 2024, their first album in 26 years.
- UnaffiliatedEI 8Zimmer's HoleTechnicalDeathTheatrical
Zimmer's Hole is a Canadian comedic thrash/heavy metal band formed in Vancouver in 1991 as a side project for members and friends of Strapping Young Lad. The lineup pairs vocalist Chris Valagao with three Strapping Young Lad alumni — guitarist Jed Simon, bassist Byron Stroud and drummer Gene Hoglan — playing fast, riff-driven thrash laced with tongue-in-cheek humor and song parodies rather than genuine genre experimentation. Across three albums (Bound by Fire, 1997; Legion of Flames, 2001; and the Motley Crue-inverting concept record When You Were Shouting at the Devil...We Were in League with Satan, 2008) the band trades on satire and over-the-top metal imagery. The debut was produced by Devin Townsend and released on his Hevy Devy Records label.
- Mathcore / DEP-verseEI 3StarkweathersatelliteTechnicalHardcoreDeath
Starkweather is a Philadelphia band formed in 1989, widely credited as an early architect of metalcore and a direct influence on mathcore and sludge-adjacent bands like Converge, Coalesce, and The Dillinger Escape Plan. Their sound fuses dissonant, tempo-shifting metalcore with sludge metal and death-metal drumming, most fully realized on 2005's Croatoan (produced by Pierre Remillard of Cryptopsy/Gorguts fame). Bassist Liam Wilson played on Croatoan before/during his long tenure as bassist of The Dillinger Escape Plan.
- Post-metalEI 15The OceanTechnicalHardcoreDoom
The Ocean (also known as The Ocean Collective) is a German post-metal band formed in 2000 in Berlin by guitarist and principal composer Robin Staps, built around a fluid, revolving cast of musicians. Their sound blends post-metal, progressive metal, sludge and avant-garde elements across ambitious concept albums exploring geology, evolution and oceanic depths, including Precambrian (2007), the paired Heliocentric and Anthropocentric (2010), Pelagial (2013), and the Phanerozoic double-album series (2018-2020). The band released early records via Make My Day Records before signing to Metal Blade Records, and Staps also runs the post-metal imprint Pelagic Records.