Mastodon’s Swampy Take On ZZ Top’s “Just Got Paid” Is Pretty Much The Coolest Thing We’ve Ever Heard

Now THAT’S How You Do A Cover!

With one of the year’s most lauded metal albums under their belt and a host of others to their name, it’s no surprise that Atlanta rockers Mastodon were able to take a Southern rock classic and spin it into pure swampy goodness. The cover, a heavy, bluesy take on ZZ Top’s “Just Got Paid” from the band’s 1972 album Rio Grande Mud, is nothing short of a good time – one that finds Mastodon sticking faithfully to the original blueprint when crafting their version for the 2011 tribute to ZZ Top, A Tribute From Friends and the result is one of the coolest covers we’ve ever heard.

Fun Fact: Formed in 2000, Mastodon is composed of bassist Troy Sanders, guitarists Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher, and drummer Brann Dailor, all of whom perform vocals in studio (except Bill Kelliher). They all perform vocals at live shows.

Adding traditional Southern rock elements in the form of dueling slide guitars and a punishing rhythm section set against the vocals of guitarist Brent Hinds, “Just Got Paid” as interpreted by Mastoon proves to be a heady, perfect brew of the Texas blues and Southern rock that drive ZZ Top, and the progressive metal sound that’s come to define Mastodon. Check it out in the audio below!