Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor recently explained how his band ended up choosing ‘Supernaut’ for their performance at the ‘Back To The Beginning’ show. He revealed that their first choice was already taken by another band. The details were shared in an interview with Bloodstockfestivals.
When asked about the song selection process, Dailor discussed the band’s initial preference and how they adapted to the available options.
“So, obviously, there was the songs that Sabbath themselves were gonna do. And so they were doing their biggest hits and their biggest songs,” Dailor said. “Initially I wanted to do ‘Children Of The Grave’ just ’cause our band, we live in 6/8 [tempo], that heavy metal shuffle that that ‘Children Of The Grave’ invented for us.”
The drummer explained how this particular tempo fits naturally with Mastodon’s style and why it seemed like an obvious choice.
“We have a lot of songs that are in that; that’s a very, very comfortable wheelhouse for us,” he continued. “But I saw Lamb Of God had already picked that, which I figured it would be scooped up — that one — pretty quickly, being such an amazing song. But then [we saw] ‘Supernaut’ [was available], and I was, like, ‘What about ‘Supernaut’?'”
Dailor also revealed that his ability to handle both drumming and vocal duties influenced the final decision.
“I felt like I could sing it, so it was kind of gonna kind of maybe come down to that, if I could pull it off, playing drums and singing it,” he said. “And then when we got picked to open, I was, like, ‘Man, I think if we crush this, it’s gonna be the perfect opening kind of song.’ It’s a high-energy one. Some of the doomier ones might have been a little too slow to really kick things off. But this was the perfect one, I think.”
Mastodon’s choice of ‘Supernaut’ proved to be more than just a backup plan. The track carries significant weight in heavy metal history and has earned praise from unexpected quarters in the music world.
Wikipedia reported that ‘Supernaut’ originally appeared on Black Sabbath’s 1972 album Vol. 4. The classic lineup of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward wrote the song. The track stands out for its infectious riff and groovy energy. It features a funk-infused bridge and dynamic drum breaks that make it a standout track in Sabbath’s catalog.
The track gained unexpected recognition from music legends outside the metal sphere. The Tapes Archive revealed that Frank Zappa praised ‘Supernaut’ as his favorite Black Sabbath track in 1975. He credited its riff as “prototypical of a certain musical style.” This endorsement from the experimental rock icon helped shift critics’ views on the band and demonstrated the song’s crossover appeal.
The Zoo Rocks noted that the track reflects the band’s creative energy influenced by the turbulent lifestyle they led during recording. The lyrics evoke themes of living life to the fullest amid a drug-fueled atmosphere. This intensity and groove likely contributed to Mastodon’s choice, matching their high-energy performance goals and Dailor’s dual role as vocalist and drummer.
The song’s enduring influence extends beyond its original era. Wikipedia documented that even Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham was among the drummers who appreciated the track’s dynamic drum breaks. This legacy of rhythmic complexity aligns perfectly with Mastodon’s reputation for intricate drumwork and explains why Dailor felt confident he could deliver both the vocal and percussion elements effectively.
