Emperor of Sand is the seventh studio album from American progressive metal band Mastodon. The album was recorded at the Quarry in Kennesaw, Georgia and mixed at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles. The band worked with record producer Brendan O'Brien, who they collaborated with on their 2009 album Crack the Skye. The songs were recorded as originally arranged, then they revisited each track to edit and refine the sound. Drummer Brann Dailor completed his drum tracks and began drafting lyrics while guitars and bass were being recorded by other band members. Scott Kelly of Neurosis and Kevin Sharp of Brutal Truth both appear as guest vocalists on Emperor of Sand. Kelly has appeared as a guest vocalist on every Mastodon studio album since Leviathan (2004).