Tag: mastodon (Page 1 of 2)

Album number six for Atlanta’s finest, released back in 2014. I’m a huge fan of Mastodon as there is no one else sounding the way they do. The concepts for each record that they create are on a different scale to all that’s gone before.

Although this album is more of a straight up (for them) rock record there are themes to be tackled, and the title track is (from what I can tell) about addiction and alcohol abuse and it’s a subject close to members of the band. I don’t want to dwell on that subject too much as I find the music very uplifting, and in High Road with the huge monster riffs and melody it is just joyous. How can Crimes At Midnight sound so evil and yet beautiful at the same time? A quite complicated riff leads into some huge riffing and the back and forth vocals between Troy and Brent works so well. Definitely my favourite tune. Aunt Lisa is another favourite as the groove and busy riff are so cool. That, mixed with Brent’s psychedelic vocal style is awesome.

This album wasn’t loved by the critics when it came out and some of the reviews were really bad. I just don’t get that at all. If you take this as a piece of music by a band that you’d never heard before you would be drooling as was I. Bands are free to move on in what ever direction they choose and if that doesn’t please you then fair enough, but to expect a band to stay and make the same record over and over again just to make you happy is not the basis to give a bad review.

Great record and highly recommended.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

This is the band’s third album, and was released in 2006. It’s cool to see how far they have come in those 16 years. It’s a concept album based around getting lost on a mountain and the experiences one would have. I’m sure some chemicals must have been imbibed at some point, as I’m sure my imagination would not conjure up themes as this.

The first two tracks, The Wolf Is Loose, and Crystal Skull, are quite heavy and speedy with some great riffs and hooks. Sleeping Giant is more of the direction the band are in today – a great change of pace and vibe. Capillarian Crest was released as a single, and is a very busy tune with so much going on riff and groove wise. They were nominated for a Grammy for the track, Colony Of Birchmen. That would have been cool if they had won. My favourite track on the record is Hunters Of The Sky. I love the proggy intro before the chaos begins. There is so much happening in this tune it’s incredible.

I love the whole production by the band and Matt Bayles – it’s a killer sounding album. Mastodon are a one-off that keep on making killer records that progress from one to the next, and long may they do so.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

This is the band’s fifth album released in 2011. This is the second non-concept album and the title is a tribute to Brent Hinds’ brother who tragically died while the band were recording the album. The big single from the album was Curl Of The Burl which reached 15 on the rock singles chart. The songs are a lot shorter on this album as the majority clock in under 4 minutes, but that does not take away from quality of the tunes. The riffs are here in great quantities, in fact there are more of them as there are extra songs.

Mastodon have the gift of being the most melodic band on the planet, but within the blink of an eye become crushing. The quick burst of a Blasteroid making my point perfectly in fact – parts of this song remind me of Kyuss. Most bands in the progressive metal genre seem to either go down that overblown Dream Theater avenue, or drift down Meshuggah lane with the off time weirdness. It’s nice to hear Mastodon occupy their own little street of awesome where melody, crunch, and superb lyrics are their forte.

The tunes that I love the most here are the aforementioned Blasteroid, All The Heavy Lifting with its slightly demonic feel, The Hunter with its heartfelt lyrics from Brent to his lost brother, the pure metal onslaught of Spectrelight, and the superb mainly instrumental Sparrow, which closes out the record. I’m glad I’m around while bands like Mastodon are pushing there own boundaries every album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

This the first time this has happened – the randomizer has picked out the last album I bought! So I’m actually listening to this as a whole for the very first time. I had to go out and buy a normal copy as the Limited Edition I ordered from the band has not arrived yet.

Mastodon are a band I love dearly and have followed their development and evolution from the get go. I’m glad to report that this album is a whole lot of awesome and I am totally blown away. There are so many epic tracks, and weighing in at around 90 minutes, there is plenty to enjoy. The opening track, Pain With An Anchor, is delicate, beautiful, and monstrously heavy all at the same time. This is definitely hairs on the back of your neck time. The Crux has a supreme heaviness interspersed with mellow beauty. Sickle And Peace has a very King Crimson era Discipline vibe, at least to the music anyway, and shows the proggy side of the band. What sounds like a melotron intros the last tack on Side 1, More Than I Could Chew. The riff and groove is so heavy sounding with Bran’s very melodic tones over the top, and it has a superb solo on the exit of the song. Killer tune!

The Beast starts Side 2 with an almost country blues vibe, and a great vocal from Brent. This is such a beautiful song with killer lyrics “Pay no attention to the sound of the beast. Because you know it can’t hurt you when you’re with me”. Absolutely stunning! The fragility continues with Skeleton Of Splendour and I’m guessing there is more than one song written about Nick John – the band’s former manger who passed away – as this feel almost like a lament. A superb solo is towards the end of the song. I am almost lost for words here as this is a very emotional piece. The lead off track, Teardrinker, follows and Bran’s vocal is just fantastic and the melody and hook are just sublime – plus a great Mastodon heavy middle eight. Pushing The Tides closes out Side 2 and is awesomely heavy – it feels like Mastodon of old with a killer choppy riff and groove.

Peace And Tranquility starts the next Side with a very busy drum pattern and riff, keeping their Prog metal credentials up to date. This is a very wandering piece that is just phenomenal, there is so much to take in and digest. Dagger has an almost medieval beginning, and I love Troy’s deep tone to his voice. Had It All is the most laid back piece on the album, and again it feels like an homage. Savage Lands closes out Side 3 and we are off to a gallop. The band’s love of fantasy and D&D are to the fore here. The middle section of the song is epic with a killer guitar solo.

Side 4 is here and the delightfully named, Gobblers Of Dregs, starts us off. It has a very doomy intro and sounds huge, then we get to the middle section onwards and it sounds almost like a different piece as a tempo and groove change arrive (I’m guessing someone likes Yes in the band). The Eyes Of Serpents is the penultimate track, and this is as close as the band get to writing a ballad – that is until the instrumental section. The last track is Gigantum, and it feels as though we have reached an ending – we’ve been on a journey, and this is the getting off point. Although the music is very uplifting, the lyrics are very melancholic and a fitting end to an amazing record.

Mastodon are and incredible band that seem to channel all of their personal loss and grief into the most amazing music. I guess its cathartic for them. This album will have me coming back again and again as it is a work of genius.

10/10 from The Grooveman.