Perhaps this introduction was a result of some of O’Brien’s contributions. It reminds me of the first few bars we hear in “Tread Lightly” from the band’s previous album, ‘Once More ‘Round the Sun.’ In a press release by the band, guitarist Brent Hinds praised producer Brendan O’Brien’s work, highlighting his unique additions to the record. The beginning of the track opens with a quiet yet commanding strum of a steel string guitar, accompanied by a floating, distorted sonic breeze, echoing from one side of my headphones to the other. It is a stark reminder of the concept of this album, and the message it’s trying to convey to the listener. “Don’t waste your time/don’t let it slip away from you.” – Troy Sanders sings in the chorus. A subtle yet clear addition of a tambourine can be heard throughout the song – it might seem like a small addition, but it really adds a new depth. In “Precious Stones”, the first thing I notice is Brann Dailor’s drums. There are parts of this album that really capture my attention.
However, this album feels like another dimension has been added a presence just out of sight that can’t grasped. There is no fundamental diversion from the trademark elements that make up Mastodon. There’s something heartbreaking about it – an invisible anchor that is the fifth member of the band, adding intense, morose beauty. With ‘Emperor of Sand’, it feels like we’re witnessing the latter stages of this journey. Collectively, the band’s seven-album epoch forms an overarching story, a sonic progression through their own lives. Each of their albums carries its own individual story while tying in perfectly with the rest of the catalogue. ‘Emperor of Sand’ is a sage addition to the Mastodon catalogue, joining predecessors like ‘Leviathan,’ and ‘Crack the Skye’ in sharing a concept and provoking the audience to listen and really process the album’s message. Eventually, the star of the saga succumbs to death’s grip, embarking on a journey that we must all eventually face. Cursed to wander the drought-ridden land, he battles through, learning lessons before his time comes to an end. The concept: a man is condemned to die at the hands of a desert king.
They’ve been gifted with the insight of impermanence once more, and have channeled these lessons into a fucking masterpiece. Stephen King wrote – “Time takes it all, whether you want it to or not” – and the past 18 months have been yet another lesson in time for the Atlanta band. It seems like Mastodon is making a statement about the disaffected groups and the atmosphere around the time this song was released, and even two years later today.What will you do when you run out of time? Mastodon‘s latest album, ‘Emperor of Sand’, challenges this question. I feel this song illustrates a part of the story of any number of real life people who, once lost and angry, find a cause to join after being absorbed into a clan. "And devour your humanity": another way of saying "Give your life." "Follow me and follow sound to the end of your eternity": where, "eternity" was an infinite path the character being spoken to was on before, but by following "sound", the character now has a "destiny" or destination, bringing it back to the song title. Maybe unveiling itself "above the ground" is another one of the clan's goals. Underground in a dark, silent environment. "We can be above the ground": suggests they are living underground right now. This line also downplays "life", as if it was something fungible.Ī few things here. "It's all we need": we don't need your other unique aspects your "life" for the clan is all we need. "Save your life" suggests the acting out from the beginning may have included downward spiraling / suicidal thoughts/ behavior. It needs the "lives" of its members, literally or metaphorically: organ transplant ("So I can breathe"), vs something like devoting all your energy to the clan. The clan will do these things, "mend your broken heart" and "retort the trials that you have lost" if the person joins.
"The moment" could be the the event or that started the clan the clan's ideals therefore consumed their "sight". The recruiter describes how the environment for both of them is "dark and bare," with "no clarity, no light". These next few lines are how the "recruiter" describes the clan: "no illness and no pain", "Have not found any suffering". Running without vision." "Wronging all that's right" suggests that the character is acting out because he/she was suffering.
In this story, the character being spoken to has suffered without a say or guidance: "Silent all you life. So to me, this song tells a story where a secretive clan recruits someone to "Give their live". This is not only a play on "clandestine" but also evokes imagery from the words "clan" and "destiny". My InterpretationI like the song's title, Clandestiny.
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