MASTODON: Behind-The-Scenes Footage From Making Of 'Asleep In The Deep' Video

Behind-the-scenes footage from the making of "Asleep In The Deep", the latest video from Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON, can be seen below. The band teamed up once again with "Once More 'Round The Sun" cover artist Skinner to push the boundaries of psychedelia as far as they can.

Skinner is the mastermind behind the "Asleep In The Deep" video, which tells the psychedelic and epic journey of a house cat who unknowingly travels into a bizarre gypsy catacomb where it encounters a giant bullfrog, a three-headed evil rat king, cat gnomes, cheese slaves and a warrior squirrel.

"Asleep In The Deep" was directed by Atlanta-based director Video Rahim and co-directed by special effects guru Shane Morton and Skinner. Hey Beautiful Jerk, a New York City-based design and visual effects boutique, provided creative direction and all post production services.

Skinner has this to say about the video: "This concept was birthed out of my curiosity about what a cat really does at night while we are asleep. Where do they go? Cats have a very mysterious myth to them and I thought it would be cool to explore that, as little nocturnal heroes. I decided to put a sort of Joseph Campbell hero myth spin on it and add some Jodorowsky psychedelia as well."

He added in an online post: "Everyone involved went above and beyond! This whole thing was limited to budget and time and the people involved did what they had to do in the time allowed and they all did more then they had to go beyond what any budget would allow. With love and vision and involvement, this project became everyone's baby. It's beautiful and it's what happens when you don't play by the rules. It's what happens when you treat a project as a process of learning and collaborating with others. When you see what happens when you don’t limit yourself. When you do your best and pass it on to the next person to theirs. You watch it grow through the filter of the next person… it's almost spiritual. I had faith in it, in the people I was working with. I had to believe in it in a way that left no room for doubt."

He continued: "I know that sounds ridiculous, but watching something happen in this perfectly strange, perfectly beautiful way that can't be quantified by what a demographic likes or what the kids think is cool or what an executive wants to go viral. It's rare and special to me that this beautiful collaboration happened; it was a gift. The experience, the friendships, the struggles, the times waking up tired and having to do it all over again. It was the best gift I could have received, because I learned more about myself and what I'm capable of than I thought was possible."

MASTODON recently announced the cancelation of its previously announced shows that were to take place from August 7 through September 3 due to a personal family matter. MASTODON will return to the road in Latin America in late September. The September 5 show in Iceland has been rescheduled for December 5.

MASTODON's latest album, "Once More 'Round The Sun", sold around 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 6 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 24, 2014 via Reprise Records.

"Once More 'Round The Sun" was recorded in Nashville with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz, who is known for his work with RUSH, DEFTONES, FOO FIGHTERS and ALICE IN CHAINS.