Even though Troy Sanders is simply gearing up for another tour, something he’s done “over 1,000 times” with Mastodon, he admits that packing for this upcoming three-and-a-half-week trip was a little odd, post-pandemic. “I kind of forgot how to do it,” he chuckles. “The most basic of checklists — ten socks, ten underwear, two jeans, four shirts, toiletries — it’s pretty simple, but it was odd. It was nice to do that task.” Thankfully, two years of pandemic-induced sequestering hasn’t caused Sanders to forget how to play bass, and his fiery 4-string attitude is still anchoring Mastodon, and on their latest release (and eighth overall), Hushed and Grim, he delivers his kinetic bass lines with equal parts bombast and finesse. Sanders comes crashing in with his unmistakable roar right from the get-go on the opening track “Pain With an Anchor.” The ferocity continues on songs like “The Crux” and “Sickle and Peace,” where the band deftly melds heavy riffin