The Iconic Drumming Behind "Blood And Thunder" | Mastodon Song Breakdown

[@jasv49]

So nice of Brann to allow those other guys from Mastodon to play over his amazing drum solo "Blood and Thunder"

[@mdcampbell7360]

He must just have a generous heart. 😂

[@tr33hous3]

A real musician encourages that right?! Nobody can do it like he does so it's an honorable thing for others to take a shot & acknowledge him.

[@BrandonToews]

Legendary drum part

[@BN-xj8wr]

WOULD IT HAVE BEEN AS BIG WITHOUT ROCK BAND?

[@Cybothron]

@@BN-xj8wr YES, I didn't even remember it was on Rock Band, this song is a BAAAAAAAAAAAAAANGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRR

[@vukjovanovicofficial]

Absolutely legendary!

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

@@BN-xj8wr I don't know if it would've been as big, but I never played Rock Band and had this album when it came out and I knew this was a metal masterpiece instantly.

[@RobertT1999]

​@@BN-xj8wr I only know this song because Iron Tusk featured on the soundtrack for Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. Apparently Blood and Thunder was also on Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Saints Row, Rocksmith 2014, Project Gotham Racing 3, Splatterhouse and Guitar Hero Metallica.

[@der_fisch_42]

The only drummer in the world that can make a measure-long snare roll sound amazing

[@majoradams]

Umm... lars ulrich? 😂

[@zakarhaavevuo2574]

Hahah😂 Lars. Well maybe Brann's not the only one but he sure is the coolest!

[@pascalschulz5894]

@@majoradams "sound amazing" is the key here. Lars' snare rolls are some of the rolls ever tho.

[@bradbutler]

​@@pascalschulz5894 they are DEFINITELY some of the rolls ever my man 😉

[@der_fisch_42]

@@majoradams 🤣🤣🤣 lars used to be good and all but he just makes it sound lazy

[@_snailmania_]

the first time i listened to this album all the way through i was walking an hour to a bus stop in the middle of an extremely humid summer day. i’ll never forget that the moment the drums kicked in for this song i heard an almighty rumble and realised that a huge thunder storm had just opened up above me. listening to this album while being drenched with rain in the middle of a very hot day was fucking awesome. it was maybe the perfect listening experience and i don’t think i’ll ever experience anything quite like it again.

[@matturner6890]

hell yea

[@Howitchewstofeel5gum]

Wow, I did not know Brann was such a big part of the songwriting, too. One of the most iconic riffs and metal songs of all time IMO

[@Sixpointtwoliter]

Yeah, the main guitar writer is Bill, but Brann gives them a lot of riffage ideas. Brann also does lyrics Troy is just there to have fun

[@dimitripapadinikolaus]

at this point i'm willing to say he's the most important member of the band

[@FremontMetalHead]

he's the lars of mastodon, but actually good at drumming

[@colddeadwitch]

The musical talent of Mastodon is legitimately insane.

[@murk4552]

​@@FremontMetalHeadAmazing how so many of you Lars haters have to bud in every goddammit Metal video to shit on his studio work when the drums for Metallica was amazing. Unless you're referring to his mid-90's and onward mediocrity.

[@ghostrobot3714]

'Split your lungs with blood and thunder' riff might be my favorite in their catalog. Brann kills it too of course.

[@Treyorrrr]

For me the only other riff of theirs that beats this is in Hand of Stone "TO KILL THE SHEPHERD JUST TO SEE HIS FACE"

[@DavidOakesMusic]

@@Treyorrrr What about the Knight Rider-esque funk riff in the Last Baron ? 😃

[@der_fisch_42]

It’s the reason I started listening to mastodon

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

​@DavidOakesMusic Can't go wrong with Knight Rider-esque

[@metalben005]

That's the best part of the song when watching live. It's so much fun to shout those lyrics

[@tubescream]

I first listened to "Blood and Thunder" playing the original Need for Speed: Most Wanted in 2005. It was an amazing moment, the forging of a core memory, both regarding the game - still regarded as possibly the greatest Need for Speed installment to date - and the song - an absolutely timeless banger. They will be forever connected in my mind.

[@pathologicusmaximus]

Same. Good times, good times.

[@dethronedemperor]

Same

[@Mu4dD1b15]

Yup, that's the song that got me into mastodon initially. Also the best nfs ever made

[@jongallardo8006]

Just replayed it last year. Still holds up , not just nostalgia talking !!

[@Mu4dD1b15]

@@jongallardo8006 absolutely agreed. I did the same thing earlier this year.

[@kyley_wyley]

I should have known that was Neil Fallon from Clutch. I always just assumed it was Troy but it always sounded so distinct and carries into that final chorus so well! Incredible.

[@bobsala7780]

Right? I've been listening to the song for nearly 20 years and only just learned Neil Fallon sings on it.

[@muttonmark]

Troy is the voice of the whale, and I always thought “Reverend Neil”was perfect as Ahab! CLUTCH! You can check out Blood and Thunder with Neil Fallon at Red Rocks. Preach!

[@__FuLL__]

His name has been written in the credits for twenty years 😂

[@EZP33ZEE]

When they play it live, Troy does sing that part

[@oscarsometimes]

@@EZP33ZEE they should try get Neil back some time! the world needs the TRUE VOICE of Ahab!

[@vukjovanovicofficial]

When I first listened to Mastodon I was instantly sucked in by the drum parts! Brann is an absolute powerhouse. The power and intent behind every drum fill is absolutely rare and amazing!

[@orcapodmedia]

To think, after this there's still an entire album that's just as epic.

[@PlasmaBoom]

For the longest time I’d only heard Blood and Thunder, decided to go back and listen to the entire album and yah…holy shit. I actually like the track Megaladon most. The riff that starts at 1:25 is so fucking good.

[@Greennoob2]

​@@PlasmaBoomMegalodon is usually my favourite off that album too. My favourite changes though

[@BockwinkleB]

album(S)

[@desmondcole4300]

When I think of perfect metal albums, Leviathan is always on the list.

[@rippindrummer666]

Brann is one of my favorites cause his style is instantly recognizable. Also just got his signature snare drum yesterday!!!

[@leighbird8220]

I’m on the lookout for one here in the UK, but nothing available yet.. How is it? I’m going to the UK drum show 2 weeks tomorrow and I’m hoping someone has one there.

[@ChrisLT]

Love Brann, he can go wild and still keep the groove. Hearing this tune back then was mindblowing.

[@cajonesalt0191]

For me, the key take away is to have diversity in what you listen to. I could not have imagined he was listening to "Now That's What I Call Egyptian Music!" or that it would inspire the sound of Mastodon. It goes hand-in-hand with the advice from other great artists, which is to cast a wide net so you have a broad imagination. The only person I can think of that disagreed was Orson Welles, and even he walked back that statement *as he was saying it*. I need to get more music in my ears.

[@kuchisiki]

Brann’s snare work has always stood out to me. It reminds me of certain jazz drummers.

[@Rishi-nv7bp]

Absolutely insane how he's playing such complicated parts almost to the point of overplaying but it sounds so so good

[@Snowy-666]

I could watch Brann play all damned day...

[@oscarsometimes]

I'm really digging all the Brann and Mastodon content we're getting. I've suddenly gotten hyperfixated on Mastodon, Gojira and a few other bands and this is just feeding my brain. Keep it up guys!!

[@withJordanFrank]

Brann is such a joy to listen to and watch. He's a great example of one of my core beliefs that the most interesting musicians are great at their instrument BUT also actively interested in the other instruments involved in songwriting. You don't have to be good at them, but just the desire to pick up a guitar, write lyrics, sing along, etc., can make your drum parts (or bass parts, or guitar parts, etc) way better than if you only focused on your primary instrument. I'm a 50-year-old bassist and I still think the best music purchase I ever made was the 4-track cassette recorder I got when I was 16; forced me to focus on the other parts and that made my parts better. And you take a band like Mastodon and realize if you changed drummers you wouldn't be "simply replacing the drums", you'd be losing something Much bigger (and arguably more important) to the band. And equally important seems like a super cool dude.

[@DirtObseXXion]

I;m having a hard time reconciling with the idea that Leviathan is 20 years old this year! Blood and Thunder is a top 10 all-time metal track in my book! Mint content!

[@EZP33ZEE]

I just recently saw them with Lamb of God for the Ashes of the Leviathan, both 20 years old! Amazing show!

[@dot-comintelligence9148]

Totally

[@NotSarahLee358]

Wow. That's crazy!! It was the soundtrack to a super fun time in my 20's!

[@dicejohnson8919]

Speaking of Clutch, you all need to have J.P. Gaster. His feel is always perfect and his creativity shines through in a really subtle way that serves the music.

[@muttonmark]

I second, third, fourth, fifth (just keep going) that idea! JP is a groove master!

[@shontroelstrup2023]

Yes! JP is a legend!

[@MoosicDude]

JP is a criminally underrated drummer. Electric Worry gets me air-drumming every time, the groove is crazy infectious.

[@NotMyWar]

@@muttonmarknot only a groove master but a tone master as well. The guy knows how to get incredible sounds out of his drums.

[@tamayoamp]

THIS !

[@Lift805]

This was one of the first songs I saw a drum play through on YT years ago ..like maybe 15ish years ago. Him, and Chris Adler heavily inspired me to start drumming…was a lot of fun when I was younger. Wish I kept up with it but I still love to watch drum content.

[@plenku]

Would be awesome to see John Theodore or Thomas Pridgen do some The Mars Volta stuff!

[@markwright-c1o]

I don't think he's using his full potential with qotsa atm. He doesn't need to because the songs don't call for it. A lot of these guys much prefer to rain it in after they get to a certain age. Then in their 50s they want to go crazy again.

[@flightgravity7483]

For some reason, I feel like Theodore and Pridgen want to leave the Mars Volta years behind them.

[@bryanthecook]

@@markwright-c1okinda like when Chris Pennie joined Coheed?

[@capoeragames2081]

that intro is a banger, couldn't imagine a different version, i'm glad he stuck with it

[@klmauldin]

I always loved the quarter note triplet fill he does in the outro (9:01). It really stands out from the busy 16th note fills he's been doing and adds much needed poly rhythm.

[@CanyonDanCars]

I LOVE when he does stuff like that. You can listen to these songs a million times and they never get boring because he's doing so many different things constantly. It's always stimulating, every time.

[@smashrhythm]

Leviathan will always be my favorite Mastodon album, it’s an absolute masterpiece. No band has ever managed to write a concept/homage album that has encompassed the source material so well. It takes me on the full journey every time, And obviously I need to listen to the entire album once it’s started. Love ya Brann!!!!

[@MrShippopi]

Absolutely insane to me that Amr Diab was somehow an influence for Blood and Thunder. Yalla Mastadon

[@kaishibruv]

The opening of this track is so sick and different , like nothing else. It kinda gives you the vibes that this song is gonna be banging right from the get go.

[@Pushturd]

I truly love Brann as a drummer and as a human. This guys is my friend and I’ve never met him.

[@NicolasPBJ]

Met Brann a week ago at the Shane Gillis show in Atlanta. Super awesome dude!! Been a fan for 20+ years

[@itz_premium]

I almost went to that show too. Damn that's awesome. Favorite comedian and favorite (2nd) drummer in the same building? Fucking cool dude.

[@jobe_wj]

I met Brann when I saw them last month! After LOG finished, he was just standing there amongst the crowd so I went over! Super chill and polite guy!

[@phredbull]

I'm not a drummer, I just enjoy hearing Brann talk, about anything!

[@NotSarahLee358]

I didnt know Leviathan was recorded in Seattle. Thats awesome! I've been to Robert Lang's Studio, I'll have to see where they recorded that!

[@NotSarahLee358]

Oh! I just went to Google and it looks like they recorded part of Leviathan there! How awesome! I went there right around the time that album came out with my husband's old band. It was a BEAUTIFUL studio. ❤

[@croakingfrog3173]

Brann is so good..... world class skill and creativity

[@MHATherapy]

Thanks for posting this video. I'm not a huge Mastodon fan but a huge fan of this song. Its cool to see how he put it together

[@Rain_power]

When this album came 20 years ago it turned my ears on to listening to drummers much more closely. Such rad drumming this record. What a treat to see this!

[@bakedspade]

Nice one Drumeo. Been one of my favourite songs since it was released, learnt to play it on guitar and drums so hearing Brann break it down and give insight is priceless.

[@caioaugustosantos]

Brann is one of those drummers that you can know exactly who is playing by just hearing the first drum fill, he has such a unique style, always a pleasure watching him playing

[@pauletasse7024]

This song still gets me as pumped every time I listen to it as the first time. And that’s thousands of times. Absolute masterpiece 👌🏼

[@Buckers2202]

One of my favourite bands of all time no doubt. Brann is so incredible, he has a sound that is totally unique to him. Even when other people cover Mastodon it never sounds quite right. What can sound like overplaying by anyone else just sounds perfect when he plays and fits their sound to a tee 👌

[@loochan-o7174]

It's unbelievable how complicated is correctly understanding a drum pattern only by listening, even though the sound of the album is great. I've been playing this 15 years, still missing a few things so, thank you a lot Brann, you're great 🔥

[@celoceanicon]

Leviathan and Blood Mountain are absolutely peak Mastodon. I know their popularity has grown exponentially in the years after when they took their sound into a new direction. But for me, Remission, Leviathan, and Blood Mountain are the holy trinity of Mastodon albums, which has never been topped by anything else they've released.

[@HellaKwik]

Every album is killer

[@celoceanicon]

@@HellaKwik Yeah, not quite. And that's ok.

[@MeshuggahFan-iy6tb]

I don’t know, I’ve never been a big fan of remission and leviathan, don’t get me wrong, those are the albums that put mastodon on the map, and what gave them a fan base, and while they both have their moments, on the whole I find those albums to both be overhyped. Remission in particular, with the exception of songs like march of the fire ants, and where strides the behemoth. Remission to me is pretty one dimensional. Leviathan is better with songs like aqua dementia, naked burn, I am ahab ect. But to me, blood mountain is really where mastodon crafted their signature sound, which was just blown into the stratosphere with crack the skye. Both of those albums are completely different from one another, and never get old no matter how many times I’ve heard them.

[@stevenmilligan2480]

Missing Crack the Skye. They took a big prog swing and holy shit did it work out.

[@celoceanicon]

@stevenmilligan2480 I don't like that album at all

[@gabrielbtorres]

I was literally just going to search “brann blood and thunder” to watch a drum cam. Thank you drumeo

[@exortor]

Sick!!! 🔥🔥 Im patiently waiting for brann hears ___ for the first time.

[@haikalemir3623]

the fact that brann wrote this riff is something else man!!!

[@TokeyTheBear_AOE]

Snare sounds insane between the kit, mix and Brann's technique. One thing I've always admired about his drumming is is strike consistency. He hits with power but is so consistent. His wrist control is ball bearing smooth.

[@sebastienrodriguez5998]

2:21 this is SO COOL

[@frontpuff]

my favorite drummer of all times. Next to Danny C.. and seems to be a sweet human too!! much love

[@codeP08]

That "ta-ta-ta" at "break your BACKS AND CRACK your ores, men" always gives me goosebumps for whatever reason. Blood & Thunder is my #1 Mastodon track

[@oscarfernandezgomez1432]

Brann is the most creative drummer in metal, thx for sharing

[@killercroc99]

Glad I got to see em play this live along with the rest of the album in July. Leviathan was already a beast of an album, especially as far as the drumming goes, but then Brann sings two songs in the encore set and nails both? Dude! I dunno what we did to deserve Mastodon, but we need to keep doing it.

[@TeamGambleBMX]

Brann is rad. Being able to enjoy great quality footage of him playing is one of the awesome things about the internet; thank you Brann and Drumeo 🙏 Hüsker Dü were famous for touring, then recording the album too. I think all bar 2 of the 25 tracks on Zen Arcade were first takes 🤘🤘

[@arnarmarolafsson1645]

When I was 15 years old Mastodon came to my city, doing their Remission tour. I have never been as mind blown over music in my life, before or after. They were at the peak of their powers there.

[@joemannix007]

can't wait to see him hearing for the first time!

[@sandansaiyan5675]

Never expected this iconic song was inspired by world music.Brann has good musical taste

[@tood6459]

I caught a drumstick from Brann after a show on the Emperor of Sand tour. The stick was all beat to hell! One of my favorite pieces of memorabilia.

[@fettfan91]

Iron Tusk introduced me to Mastodon, but Blood and Thunder made me fall in love with them. Epic song!

[@beefstroganoff9298]

I'm a millennial guitar player(31)but the intro drums blew my mind and today it blows my 15 year old sisters minds. It will take a lot for a drum part to be better than his drum intro. one of the best intros ever.

[@vilecomfort]

Brann has been an amazing drummer for a long time. I saw him live with Today is the Day back in the late 90s on a Relapse Records tour with Morgion and Soilent Green... The band's PA went dead halfway through their set, so Brann jumped on the kit & put on an impromptu drum solo for what seemed about 10 minutes until the power was back on... still remember that as one of the highlights of the show!

[@gregchapdelaine4889]

One of my all time favorite metal songs. Brann is amazing.

[@petertyliszczak3411]

I didn't think I could love Brann even more, but the explanation of the bridge is just incredible.

[@jcout25]

9:54 Always close the show with it except when you opened with it a few weeks ago on the Leviathan tour 😜

[@chris_2714]

Hearing the inspiration for the bridge was cool. Can definitely hear the influence in the guitar parts

[@jasonwillett2126]

Fantastic video with one of metal's most iconic riffs

[@xskyforger6299]

Blood and Thunder is one of my favorite songs of all time. It's an absolute banger.

[@paulendymion9096]

I know this track for ages but I never thought this was a big deal for drummers. Now I got it.

[@headbangerharry666]

Perfection. Killed it. Never get tired listening twenty years later. So underrated \m/

[@mdcampbell7360]

I saw Clutch last year and see Mastodon in a couple of months, great to see the connection between them with this amazing tune.

[@brianstorm597]

I'm obsessed with the drums on this one, I always wished a video like this existed

[@nailbombx2311]

The first Mastodon song i ever heard! And been on the ride ever since!

[@parrydox.gaming]

Yesss another Brann video! Ty!

[@DarthPew]

Brann‘s single stroke hits are the stuff of legend

[@markusszelbracikowski956]

Sometimes busy is THE word. Their sound is unique in a lot of ways, and the drums are the cherry on top.

[@GozMaster]

I'm a simple man... I see Brann... I hit like and notify.

[@gingalypse7417]

that makes two of us

[@travisfurlong7954]

Same

[@sunpeaksturner]

Brann .. you are legendary.. and one of a kind …! I luv your style .!

[@andrewpappas9311]

This was the first song I heard from Mastodon and is still one of my personal favourites so far, such a badass song and Brann and the guys just fucking killed it

[@fartooeasy7315]

My friends and I all shit our pants when we heard Blood and thunder. We couldn't fuckin believe how awesome that jam was.

[@elpeluca7780]

Never listened to the band but this video is awesome, always interesting to have a breakdown of how a song came to be. Very nice drumming too

[@Kynsi666]

Every time I see them live and they end with Blood and Thunder the place goes fucking wild! Epic

[@AKJACKAL99709]

This song kicked ass when I saw them live this past Labor Day weekend, and I caught a stick from Brann at the end of their set!

[@casanovafrankenstein4870]

He's such a freaking monster!!!! So amazing powerfull drumming!!

[@Reject101Personal]

Stupidly insane drum part. What a beast.

[@ShillBicks]

Thanks drumeo for reminding me how much I used to love this band ... still do, but I used to too!

[@theunclemeat3284]

Hahaha I'd always assumed that harmonised part in the bridge was inspired by Maiden or Thin Lizzy, not some weird egyptian music. But that's cool, inpiration comes from anywhere and everywhere, that's the beauty of music. Once again, Brann showing the whole world how great he is. I can never get enough of his fills, or drum rolls. I can definitely hear some Neil Peart or Phil Collins in his playing, with his own special twist. Very creative and powerful drumming.

[@DanDisorder]

When they came to a festival in Mexico, I think in 2017 or 2018, the moment was magical. It was getting dark and when Blood and Thunder started, a pretty strong storm began and we all went crazy.

[@smokingcrab2290]

Very very good drummer. I love listening to mastodon mainly for the drums mostly

[@CW19941]

That last section of the song on drums is my favorite to play!🤘🏻💚

[@J_CostaPT]

Brann: " i can do a way longer version of it " me : " please do and release that extended track "

[@jakeblackwell1983]

Legendary drummer, song writer and good singer too 🤘

[@cirritiesjr6445]

More Brann!!! Hearts alive is my favorite song!

[@astrolopitekos]

Iconic. The drum fills, the drum riffs, the guitar riffs, the egyptian-inspired bridge, and that damned splitting of lungs of blood and thunder. Iconic.

[@TBF08EU]

Brann is arguably the best drummer in metal. Has been for years, and he gets better every album.

[@AtAlCost]

Arguably but I am not convinced. Not with George Kollias, Mike Mangini, Mike Portnoy, Danny Carey, even Scott Travis and Richard Christy out there.

[@pedringrr5886]

I had no idea that Neil Fallon sang that outro part. I think i love this song even more now.

[@tr33hous3]

Mastodon paint such striking sonic pictures 😮😮😮 the outro (lots of other parts on leviathan) evokes a feeling of waves climbing ever higher & crashing on top of each other kinda like page did in cashmere with the endlessly climbing riff. Pls more breakdowns can you get Brann to do blood mountain entirely?! 😂❤ asking for a friend. One of the most complete & refined concept albums ever. The breaks the basslines the arrangements the sheer relentless force connected by masterful breather tracks like sleeping giant. Monumental

[@kingo_clubs9097]

I love a band like Mastodon, Gojira, Metallica...something where every member has personality and importance, not just the frontman.

[@worldssmallestfan]

Blake Richardson from Between the Buried and Me has a recent video here

[@gfw5400]

“Blood and Thunder” is an absolute masterpiece!

[@nate4732]

First day i had listened this album, I had it on repeat. I eventually went to bed with it still on repeat because I kind of enjoy an album seeping into my unconscious in sleep. Safe to say i had some interesting dreams! And waking up in the middle of the night during the bridge or Blood and Thunder was surreal haha great album!!

[@seidimeow]

*THERE'S NO WAAAAYY* I was LITERALLY just watching the hears deftones for the first time episode and thinking 'man they need brann from mastodon on here' AND I SEE THIS IN MY SUB BOX, every flabber I have is gasted

[@exortor]

It's not the first one they release, they have a one hr live stream and other breakdowns videos.

[@seidimeow]

@@exortor yeah I went and looked and brann has been on the channel lol but I was more taken back how I was just thinking about brann and when I went back to my home page THERE HE IS 😂

[@stepitupandgo67]

I love this shit...what a unique and shredding drummer!!! No one like him

[@Utcheeow]

Singles masterclass. Love ya Brann ❤

[@vdemario]

I love this song so much!