{{Infobox song | name = The Motherload | cover = The_Motherload_Mastodon.jpg | alt = | border = yes | type = single | artist = Mastodon | album = Once More 'Round the Sun | released = September 29, 2014 | recorded = Rock Falcon Studios, Franklin, Tennessee | studio = | venue = | genre = Progressive metal<ref>{{cite web|website=AllMusic|last=Jurek|first=Thom|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/once-more-round-the-sun-mw0002671413|title=Once More 'Round the Sun - Mastodon|accessdate=May 17, 2018}}</ref> | length = 4:59 | label = Reprise | writer = Brann Dailor, Brent Hinds, Bill Kelliher, Troy Sanders | producer = Nick Raskulinecz | prev_title = Chimes at Midnight | prev_year = 2014 | next_title = Show Yourself | next_year = 2017 }}
"'''The Motherload'''" is a song by American progressive metal band Mastodon. The song was released as the third and final single from the band's sixth studio album, ''Once More 'Round the Sun''.
==Music video== The song's music video shows several women twerking in front of a group of men inter-cut with footage of the band performing the song. During the solo, the women start dancing in front of the band. Another woman enters and as she dances, psychedelic images appear, with the others cheering her on. They all begin dancing again as the song ends.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWFWazj7Ud8|title=Mastodon - The Motherload [Official Video]| date=29 September 2014 |accessdate=April 12, 2015}}</ref>
===Controversy=== The video caused some controversy as it featured many women twerking. Dom Lawson of ''The Guardian'' criticized the video, calling it "blatant, idiotic and utterly pointless sexism."<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Guardian|last=Lawson|first=Dom|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/sep/30/mastodon-the-motherload-misogynistic-new-video-sexism-metal|title=Rock bottom: why Mastodon's misogynistic new video misfires|date=September 30, 2014|accessdate=May 17, 2018}}</ref>
Brann Dailor defended the video, saying it was meant to be a parody of "esoteric", "creepy" '90s rock and metal videos and the videos for Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda", Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" and Iggy Azalea's "Booty". The video was also meant as an homage to the band's hometown, Atlanta, which was one of the cities pivotal to early hip hop music.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Pitchfork Media|last=Gordon|first=Jeremy|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/56917-mastodons-brann-dailor-talks-the-motherload-video-its-not-to-be-taken-so-seriously/|title=Mastodon's Brann Dailor Talks "The Motherload Video: "It's Not to Be Taken So Seriously"|date=September 30, 2014|accessdate=April 12, 2015}}</ref> One of the dancers in the video, Jade, defended it, saying "it's not a satirical video, but rather one with an inclusive message."<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Pitchfork Media|last=Minsker|first=Evan|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/56972-dancer-in-mastodons-the-motherload-video-defends-band-details-behind-the-scenes-experience/|title=Dancer in Mastodon's "The Motherload" Video Defends Band, Details Behind-the-Scenes Experience|date=October 5, 2014|accessdate=May 17, 2018}}</ref>
The video received a positive response from publications such as ''The Huffington Post'' and ''The Independent''.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Huffington Post|last=Kristobak|first=Ryan|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/29/mastodon-the-motherload-video_n_5903338.html|title=Mastodon's 'The Motherload' Video Proves It Is Possible To Twerk To Metal|date=September 29, 2014|accessdate=May 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Independent|last=Hooton|first=Christopher|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/metalheads-are-confused-as-to-why-mastodons-the-motherload-music-video-is-full-of-twerking-asses-9765194.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/metalheads-are-confused-as-to-why-mastodons-the-motherload-music-video-is-full-of-twerking-asses-9765194.html |archive-date=2022-06-18 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Metalheads are confused as to why Mastodon's 'The Motherload' music video is full of twerking asses|date=September 30, 2014|accessdate=May 17, 2018}}</ref>
==Track listing== ;Digital single {{track listing | title1 = The Motherload | length1 = 4:59 }}
;12" single {{track listing | headline = Side A | title1 = The Motherload | length1 = 4:59}} {{track listing | headline = Side B | title1 = Halloween | note1 = instrumental | length1 = 4:39 }}
==Chart positions== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2014) ! scope="col"| Peak<br/>position |- | US Main. Rock | 24<ref name="US-Mainstream-Rock-singles">{{cite magazine | url={{BillboardURLbyName | artist=mastodon | chart=Mainstream Rock Tracks}} | title=Mastodon – Chart History: Mainstream Rock Songs | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | accessdate=April 12, 2015}}</ref> |- | MEX. Air | 43<ref name="MEX-Airplay-singles">{{cite magazine | url={{BillboardURLbyName | artist=mastodon | chart=Mexico Ingles Airplay}} | title=Mastodon – Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | magazine=Billboard | accessdate=April 12, 2015}}</ref> |}
==Personnel== * Troy Sanders – bass, lead vocals (refrain) * Brent Hinds – lead guitar * Brann Dailor – drums, lead vocals (verses and chorus) * Bill Kelliher – rhythm guitar
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Mastodon}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Motherload}} Category:2014 songs Category:2014 singles Category:Mastodon (band) songs Category:Reprise Records singles Category:Songs about suicide Category:Song recordings produced by Nick Raskulinecz Category:Music video controversies