Mastodon Details The Hunter Album Process

Mastodon experienced an increase in recognition among progressive music listeners through their album Crack The Skye. Following a tour for Crack The Skye that lasted two years, the band created their album The Hunter. Brann Dailor stated that The Hunter served as an immediate reaction following the two-year Crack The Skye tour. The release stands out as the most melodic album Mastodon had put out up to that point.

Troy Sanders stated that abandoning the idea of a new concept album gave the band fresh energy. Sanders also expressed that each individual song on The Hunter features its own independent story.

Mastodon worked with producer Mike Elizondo for the project. The band completed the entire recording process for The Hunter within six weeks, working between Los Angeles and Atlanta. During these sessions, the track All The Heavy Lifting was the first song recorded for the album. For the visual presentation, AJ Fosik was chosen to create the cover of The Hunter instead of Paul Romano, who had prepared the artwork for the band's first four albums.