Here are a few choice words from director Roboshobo about the new Mastodon video for “Sleeping Giant,” which will premiere right here on Friday morning.”
“The concept for the video was kind of my take on the mythology that seems to be encapsulated in the album,” he begins. “I thought the reference to ‘Father Snake in the song sounded like an actual priest of some sort and thats where the robot came in…”
Uh, okay. For those of us that haven’t yet seen the video (which is pretty much all of us), we’ll have to wait until Friday to see what the hell robot he’s talking about.
But let’s hear some more about this clip, which — having no idea what we’re talking about here — sounds like it’s gonna be a freak-out blend between “Blade Runner,” “Clash of the Titans” and “Tetsuo II: Body Hammer.”
“Turning the blind man into a miniature landscape that evolves and eventually commits nuclear suicide — that was my take on the ’sleeping giant — like a volcano that’s threatening to erupt,” he continues, sounding like a street corner schizophrenic.
“I also liked to think that the point of the ritual was to cultivate a crystal skull from the man’s bones after being in the earth for so long — sort of like the way coal turns to a diamond under pressure.”
Yes, clearly. But wait, there’s more.
“The blind man who was unwittingly used in the ritual goes nuclear and destroys himself before the bones crystallize, thereby thwarting the priest.”
Now that we’re all completely confused, let’s hear Roboshobo discuss the method behind his madness: “When I mentioned to [drummer] Brann [Dailor] and everyone the idea of giving it a period feel like [Michael Anderson’s ‘Logan’s Run’ or [Alejandro Jodorowsky’s] ‘The Holy Mountain,’ they lit up at the idea of a Jodorowsky vibe. I think its a nice blend of science fiction and surrealism.”
Despite the surreal plot, Roboshobo says the shoot was fairly routine. “The only weird thing that happened was that, while relighting the set, the actor playing the blind dude decided it would be fun to run up to cars outside the studio that were stopped at the traffic light,” he says. “But it’s LA, so I don’t know if anyone was actually startled by the pink bald guy with white eyes in a loincloth; they may have just thought he was a homeless albino.”
Although Roboshobo has mostly worked on animation-filled projects for indie bands, including Kiss Kiss, The Burning Tree Projekt and Blood Brothers, he says he’s also into metal. “I’m a fan of Mastodon,” he says. “So trying to create their heads as stone monoliths in space felt a bit like being commissioned to do a portrait for a royal family.”
Now here’s something that makes a lot more sense — the video for Mastodon’s “Colony of Birchmen”:
Like a rollercoaster ride at the carnival! I was first aprehensive. Got in for the ride. I threw up.Now I want to do it again!
I enjoyed this video. I appreciate artists that thrive thinking out of the box. I see this video as a revolution in form and attitude from the director and with a nod of approval from the band. It seems that they are both genuine and I LIKE that.
The Sleeping giant video is pretty cool, but I CAN’T STAND great songs being butchered just to make them more radio or tv friendly. In my mind it completely ruins the song. When is this ?**$ going to stop!? I really hope that there is a full version of the video out there. Mastodon is still the best band out there.
First let me say that Mastadon rocks my socks!-But the FULL version of Colony of Birchmen is much better, in my opinion. Why is this video version chopped up? What happened to “hunt for.. ogres and dwarves, LION SLICER! (I have that full video myself.)Anyways guys, I’m not gonna waste any more time.Have a Heavy Metal day!