S Poddar
Mastodon and Lamb Of God just completed a summer tour across America, celebrating their music and the 20-year anniversaries of two iconic records, Leviathan and Ashes Of The Wake. Meanwhile, making the tour even more special was the connection between the two bands-sharing the stage with long-time friends like Kerry King and Sheffield heavyweights Malevolence. Now, this collaboration between the two giants in metal has finally led to an explosive new track: Floods Of Triton.
We sat down with Mastodon’s Brann Dailor and Lamb Of God’s Randy Blythe to uncover how this collaboration came into being, the creative process involved in making music with one another, and their mutual love of making music with friends.
How Did It All Start?
“Well, I got a text from Brann: ‘Hey, do you want to sing on a song with us?” says Randy Blythe. We have a song that I think you would really fit well on.’\” That was it. Brann explains, “Bill [Kelliher, guitarist] and I were digging through some older material, and we stumbled upon this riff that had been kicking around for years that never made it onto an album. The riff, although always set aside in the past, came together this time. The moment they heard it, Randy came to mind as the perfect fit.
Recording at Mastodon’s HQ
Unlike many modern collaborations, in which musicians often exchange files via email or online services, Randy traveled to Mastodon’s headquarters in Atlanta to record vocals in person. For Randy, being in the studio together was paramount. “Everybody works remotely [usually], but I think something happens when musicians are in a room together. Musicians have a weird way of communicating,” he said. Being in the same room allowed for that silent understanding that exists between musicians-that a grunt or an expression can shape the track in ways an e-mail never could.
Brann concurred, citing how quickly the recording process went once they were all in the same room: “It was pretty easy. Randy said he’d be around Atlanta, and once we had a rough outline, it was like: ‘Alright, attack!'” The band worked with intuitive communication-often joking about their “caveman-speak” that transcended musical jargon-in setting up what Brann described as a “kick-ass track.
Writing the Lyrics
Lyrically, Randy and Mastodon bassist Troy Sanders took the reins. “I wrote probably 75 per cent of the lyrics,” Randy proudly claimed, noting that wasn’t where the collaboration ended. He and Troy talked about what the song was going to be about, with its text structure, refining the lyrics to make sure all was in harmony. While Randy originally said he had been wishing for a 50/50 split in terms of writing, it’s come organically with both of the artists adding final touches in studio.
For Randy, it was not a guest vocal appearance but a collaboration that felt like the real deal. “It was a collaborative effort. It wasn’t like some strangers came up to me and said, ‘Hey, will you do guest vocals, and we’ll give you this credit,'” he said. It was about making music with buddies, mixing in their eclectic styles into something new and cutting-edge.
The Origin of the Triton Theme
Imagery of Triton, the son of Poseidon, gave them that epic, mythological feel for the track. Randy was saying this apocalyptic type of vibe in the lyrics just brought them to brainstorm a lot of these song titles, and the Triton theme came about. Brann took it a step further by recalling a fun conversation they had in the studio about owning tridents as a form of home defense. The idea that they would be using a trident in this comic, powerful image just lingered and helped define the name and feel of the song.
“The imagery was in my mind from having a conversation when we were having fun in the studio. I had this image of Triton causing that flood,” Brann said. From that came the title Floods Of Triton, and that perfectly described the song with its intense and adventurous atmosphere.
Looking Back on Tour
As for their summer tour, Randy and Brann were in perfect agreement that it was something special. Arguably, the highlight was their gig at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. Brann reflected on that show: “We all agreed it slotted in the top five all-time Mastodon shows. Sometimes you play these big historic venues, and you want it to go great, but it doesn’t always work out that way.”. But everything just went really great and it became magical.”
Randy also welcomed the opportunity to tour with newer bands like Malevolence, citing their attitude and work ethic as positive examples for all bands. He imparted a smidgen of advice for the newer bands: “If you’re a younger band and you act like a shithead, none of us are going to carry you out. That’s a little advice to young bands: don’t be a shithead.”
Looking Forward
Now that Floods Of Triton have finally been set loose upon the world, the teaming of Mastodon and Lamb Of God serves as yet another testament to the power of good friends and shared vision for their music. More than riffs and lyrics, it is magic created by these artistic people in one room, making something that speaks across their own bands.
For fans, this one collaboration does bring precisely what has been wanted: two strong bands putting their different sounds together into one track that will be remembered. Be it through imagery such as an apocalyptic flood or the raw energy of the music itself, Floods Of Triton is an instant classic born out of years of friendship and a mutual desire to make music.
