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EDITORIAL REVIEWS Emperor Of Sand finds Mastodon returning to a deeply imaginative and complex conceptual storyline that ponders the nature of time. Threading together the myth of a man sentenced to death in a majestically malevolent desert, the band conjures the grains of a musical and lyrical odyssey slipping quickly through a cosmic hourglass. "Emperor of Sand is like the grim reaper," says drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor. "Sand represents time. If you or anyone you know has ever received a terminal diagnosis, the first thought is about time. Invariably, you ask, How much time is left?" "Were reflecting on mortality," adds bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders. "To that end, the album ties into our entire discography. Its 17 years in the making, but its also a direct reaction to the last two years. We tend to draw inspiration from very real things in our lives." Emperor Of Sand was recorded at The Quarry Recording Studio in Kennesaw, just outside Mastodons hometown of Atlanta, with producer Brendan OBrien (Pearl Jam, Neil Young, AC/DC, Rage Against The Machine) , who first worked with Mastodon on their seminal 2009 album Crack The Skye.