I’ve only managed to watch Mastodon once in the five years during the three album cycles that I’ve been a fan, but my grin that stretched across my face as I cautiously drove along the M62 was proof that was about to change.

First up was a supergroup of sorts, that comprises members of SiKth, Cry For Silence, Gallows, Hexes and The Bloodhound Gang into one, sludge-ridden group, Krokodil.

The band played some of the filthiest and downright nastiest sludge metal to grace my ears. As the band said themselves, ‘it’s mostly beards and riffs.’

There’s only one noticeable slip-up, but the band still play so hard that confetti is shaken from the rafters of previous shows over the weekend. Despite their other commitments I’m sure we’ll be seeing the band again soon.

Atlanta’s greatest export finally graced the Manchester Academy and slayed the crowd with plenty of numbers from ‘The Hunter’ and ‘Once More Round The Sun’, which came out earlier this year.

The new album features a lot of sing-a-long choruses, which were lapped-up by the crowd and will become festival favourites in years to come.

There was plenty of new material and, although there was a slight delay in playing older songs, the crowd were overjoyed when they were finally played. But no matter what was being played everyone in the room was head banging, fists or air-playing to whatever they deemed the most satisfying or inspiring.

Mastodon are easily one of the greatest metal bands of this generation and show no signs of slowing down.