2014 may well be the year that finally validated those ‘biggest metal band in the world, ever!’ comments that have followed Mastodon for the past few albums, though tonight showed that, even at their most stadium-rocktastic, there’s still plenty of what got them there in the first place. There’s a smooth progression between the band’s numerous phases; a streamlined segue from ‘High Road’s thuggish anthemism into the 20-fathom crush of ‘Aqua Dementia’; they even manage to make an unlikely, dream pairing of ‘Oblivion’ and the now-infamous ‘The Motherload’ – opposites attracting in a flood of raised-fist riffage.

Troy Sanders embraces all the pomp of these cuts, a splayed-limb roarer determined to bring a touch of ZZ Top cool to prog, and between the effortless lead breaks of Brent Hinds and Brann Dailor’s octopoidal percussion, they inject even the most radio-friendly hook with an air of angular aggression. Though the sound tonight wasn’t at its finest, dulling the edge of their more dextrous workouts and drowning much of the vocal support, there was plenty of kick where needed, and it would take a catastrophe to kill the showmanship of these four. It’s big, it’s clever and it’s probably going to get even bigger in years to come.

Mastodon played O2 Academy, Glasgow, Wed 26 Nov.