Metal Hammer of Doom: Mastodon - Emperor of Sand

Jesse and Mark review the highest-selling album of the week across all genres, Mastodon - Emperor of Sand!

Emperor of Sand is the seventh studio album by American metal band Mastodon. The album was released on March 31, 2017 through record label Reprise.

Emperor of Sand is the seventh studio album from American progressive metal band Mastodon. The album was recorded at the Quarry in Kennesaw, Georgia and mixed at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles. The band worked with record producer Brendan O'Brien, whom they collaborated with on their 2009 album Crack the Skye. The songs were recorded as originally arranged, then they revisited each track to edit and refine the sound.  Drummer Brann Dailor completed his drum tracks and began drafting lyrics while guitars and bass were being recorded by other band members.

The concept and story in Emperor of Sand follows a desert wanderer who has been handed a death sentence.Themes of death and survival are woven into the song's lyrics, which were inspired by experiences members of the band had when family and friends were recently diagnosed with cancer.

"At the end of the story, the person simultaneously dies and is saved," Dailor said. "It's about going through cancer, going through chemotherapy and all the things associated with that. I didn't want to be literal about it. But it's all in there. You can read between the lines."

"We're reflecting on mortality," bassist and vocalist Troy Sanders said in a statement. "To that end, the album ties into our entire discography. It's 17 years in the making, but it's also a direct reaction to the last two years. We tend to draw inspiration from very real things in our lives."