"The Hunter" is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band, Mastodon. Released on September 26, 2011, through Reprise Records, it marked a departure from the band's usual conceptual album format and was the first of their albums to display more simplified song structures and a significant decrease in the use of complex instrumental solos.
The album was named in honor of Brent Hinds' brother, who unexpectedly passed away while hunting during the making of the album, hence "The Hunter". The overall sound on "The Hunter" has been described as hard rock, drawing influence from other genres including psychedelia and prog. Notably, the album includes a lot of experimentation, with many songs avoiding the heavy metal genre altogether.
Despite the changes, the album was received very positively by critics and fans alike. It debuted on number ten on the Billboard 200 chart, selling over 39,000 copies within its first week. The album also won a Golden Gods Award for Best Album.
