POOK said:

It depends upon the album you are talking about. "Remission" came with a live DVD that had really, really low sound quality. "Leviathan" comes with a DVD of live tracks and 5.1 mixes of album tracks. The DVD for "Leviathan" is better than the one with "Remission."

On to other areas. Didn't you find the drummer to be the most incredible drummer in rock?

I have a question:

Why do I never understand POOK-threads?

abierman said:

Probably because you are not trying... at all.

Mastodon said:

maybe you're right, and maybe I don't care too much.....

abierman said:

Right, but you cared enough to say something, so you do care.

Back to the topic:

Mastodon are the best new rock band in the world.

Mastodon said:

POOK HEAR NEW ALBUM

ONE ABOUT WHALING!

ARRR!

IT CONCEPT ALBUM ABOUT BEING PIRATE OR NORSE GOD

POOK NOT SURE

BUT THAT DVD SOMETHING POOK GOTTA HAVE?

EXTRA SHINY CASE AND LINER NOTE LOOK REAL COOL

POOK said:

The shiny case is neato and all that, but it is really just a slip cover. The DVD is not essential, as there are no videos or anything on there. I bought the version with the DVD, but it is not really anything special.

By the way, it is a concept album about Moby Dick.

"Split your lungs with blood and thunder when you see the white whale
Break your backs and crack your oars, men, if you wish to prevail"

Mastodon said:

well maybe I don't care so much for you.....

abierman said:

Oh, no. How will I ever persevere in the face of such hurtful words? Where is my sunshine now? With what strength will I now get through the day?

I guess I'll just take it day by day and see how it goes.

Mastodon said:

don't let it put you down, dude! If it does, go listen to some of those cheerful Mastodon lyrics and you should be alright!!!

abierman said:

I was just listening to some Mastodon and you are right, I feel like I can go on with my life, even with you not liking me. There will always be an empty space inside me, but Mastodon will help me through it.

Someone compare them to another band for me? I wanna know what they sound like....they look very neanderthal like....not that I'm going on appearances...

mrdespues said:

MTV.com said that they are a cross between Metallica and Rush.

I would say that they are like a cross between the following bands:

Testament
Thin Lizzy
Metallica
Rush
Iron Maiden
Judas Priest
Black Sabbath

They are hard to describe, but they are really great.

Mastodon - Leviathan

by Dan Bennett, SMNnews.com

Hailing from Atlanta, Mastodon is a band that defies genres. If Queens of the Stone Age were looking for a heavy metal counterpart, Mastodon would be it. Lead vocalist Troy Sanders has a voice like what Lemmy Kilminster’s would sound like if he never smoked a cigarette in his entire life. On their full-length follow up to their strong debut, Remission, Mastodon stays true to their formula. The strong opening track “Blood and Thunder” sets the tone for the rest of the album with a stoner rock groove accented by powerful screams and wailing guitars. The album continues in this fashion with “I Am Ahab”, a more fast-paced track with a southern rock feel to it. Mastodon is a very technical band that borders on Prog-rock on many occasions. A good example of this is in the 13 minute track “Hearts Alive” which features many instrumental breakdowns. Other standout tracks are “Seabeast” which features melodic shouting surrounded by a sludge-metal type sound; “Megalodon” which kicks in with an intense, almost Slayer-like, section of fast guitar riffs and brutal percussion; and “Aqua Dementia”, a very heavy piece accented by the rhythm section. The album closes on a more mellow note with “Joseph Merrick”, an acoustic instrumental piece which shows that this band is not just heavy riffs and raspy screams. Fans of Mastodon will have a lot to like about this album, and it also stands as a good introduction to new listeners. It is a vast improvement over Remission, which is an amazing achievement.Rating: 9/10

Mastodon
Leviathan (Relapse Records 2004)
Album review

Mastodon continue to redefine "heavy", and lay waste to all that is boring and stagnant in metal with their 2nd full length album. "Leviathan" satisfies cravings for those who dream of what Metallica would sound like if they were still 23 and were really into Neurosis.
Oh, but this is so much more. Mastodon still dazzle us with the technical prowess they've displayed on every release thus far, but they've managed to do so without repeating themselves. This album is no "Remission 2". The vocals vary in style from song to song, and well, you never know what's coming from the guitars in this band until they hit you. Fluid, yet crushing riffs, combined with Dailor's insane drumming, result in a collection of unique sounding tracks. Nothing boring or repetitive here. "Seabeast" and "Naked Burn" should be welcome surprises. "Hearts Alive" reminds one of "The Call Of Kutulu" or "Orion", while the instumental "Joseph Merrick" goes in another direction altogether. Another huge step towards Mastodon's ascension to the metal throne.

Mastodon: Leviathan
Review by: Farlus

A few years back an online acquaintance of mine, Mike, introduced me to the mammoth known as Mastodon. He figured I'd like it and sent it on over. The album was their first full-length, Remission. Admittedly, I didn't really like it at first. I listened a few times, then put it away. A few months later, when I heard that the band would be playing nearby, I decided to go check them out live and see what they had to offer in that fashion. I'm really glad that I decided to go because Mastodon puts on one hell of a live show and they are a band that you need to see live in order to fully appreciate their CD efforts. Since then Remission has become one of my top 5 favorite albums and constantly spins in my CD player. Lately I've been getting anxious because the band had been touring in support of that CD for nearly two years and it was definitely time to hit the studio again and record their sophomore effort. This would definitely prove whether or not they had what it took in the long run. Glad I was to hear that they did just that and the product is this album, Leviathan, to be released on August 31st. I'm happy to say that Mastodon has exceeded my expectations with this album and put together another masterpiece that I can enjoy and spin for years to come while they again tour like madmen.

Right off the bat I'll say that if you didn't like Remission you probably won't like Leviathan. The music is equally technical and complex and if that was a turnoff for you then, it'll turn you off here. At the same time, the music maintains an unrivaled heaviness and groove that keeps you hooked. "Blood and Thunder" is a killer opening song. It opens much in the way that "Crusher Destroyer" opened up Remission - heavy, fast and in your face. Brann Dailor displays his ungodly drumming skills straight from the start and doesn't let up all the way through the album. If you aren't impressed by the drumming on the CD, seeing him pull it off flawlessly in a live setting will blow you away. The vocals on the CD are probably the biggest difference between this album and Remission. Whereas pretty much all the vocals on Remission were heavily distorted, low growls, Leviathan mixes it up a bit. The distorted growls are far less distorted and more discernible. There are also some clean vocals through the record and there is one style used on "Seabeast" and "Naked Burn" that really annoys me. It sounds really whiny and kind of stupid and it's my only beef with the album.

The album is mostly comprised of songs that are fairly short (four and a half minutes or below) but each song is carefully crafted of some major timing and style switches. The band seamlessly moves from a heavy repetitive riff to some beautiful melodic guitar work. It definitely takes a few listens to truly appreciate the eloquence of each song. I've listened to this album a good dozen times and I'm still surprised and pleased by it with every new listen. Now, in the sea of these short songs comes "Hearts Alive", which accounts for nearly one-third of the album's total length. Coming in at just over thirteen and a half minutes, it easily makes my list of top songs on the album. The seamless transitions Mastodon pulls off makes this song seem like it's only a few minutes long until you sit back and reflect on what you've just heard. I think that with the way the song ends it'd be a great way to end the album - on a heavy, headbanging note. However, the band opts to end the album similarly to the way they ended Remission - with a somber instrumental track. "Joseph Merrick" is a really good song, don't get me wrong, but as I was hearing the end of "Hearts Alive" I thought "Man, this would be a great way to end this experience." I'm not sure what the big deal about the Elephant Man is with this band (the last track on the last album was called "Elephant Man", and Joseph Merrick is the Elephant Man's real name) but hey, it makes for good music.

By far my favorite track on the record has to be "Iron Tusk". This thing has one of the most catchiest openings I've heard. Very rarely does a song make me smile when I hear it for the first time but this song does exactly that. All I could do was grin, say "That's fucking badass.", throw the horns and bang my head. You can't deny power like that. I was also pleasantly surprised by the bands eruption into a speedy, heavy riff in the middle of "Megalodon". Just listen to that song and melt in the metal goodness.

I'm giving this album a 9 /10. Very solid second effort by these Atlanta natives. I'm thoroughly impressed and I think you will be too. Make sure you catch these guys live. Watching Brann Dailor is worth the price of admission alone. The fact that each other member is equally as talented makes them just that much better. If you don't buy the CD for anything else, get it for the cover art. The cover for this album and Remission are just beautiful to look at. Solid work, fellas.

Mastodon Reviewed - 08/20/04
Leviathan
[Relapse Records]

After being so thoroughly blown away by 2002's Remission, Mastodon had set my hopes impossibly high. I often worried that there was no possible way for them to meet my lofty expectations for their newest release Leviathan. I decided months ago that the excessive amount of personal drama that was sure to ensue was a journey that I, and only I should be allowed to take. I actually forbade all of the other Metal Coven reviewers from reviewing this album, an impudent action that, to be quite honest, will most likely result in my untimely demise. However, I am willing to take such risks for Mastodon. Why? Read on.

This album simply smokes. By now, most of you have heard Mastodon and think you know what this will sound like, but you are only half right. Mastodon could have taken the easy way and simply made Remission part 2, but they instead chose to take a risk and really evolve. Now, they haven't evolved so much that they are unrecognizable, but this is a bit of a jump from the sound we're all used to. While Remission was outstanding, it was also very focused on a particular sound as opposed to the experimental nature that was hinted at by their debut EP Lifesblood. One could have assumed that Mastodon had locked into their sound with Remission. One could have assumed that every release thereafter would simply be a refinement of that exact sound and formula. One would have assumed incorrectly. Mastodon apparently are not a band that is concerned with formulas. The experimentation has increased exponentially with Leviathan and yet, they remain every bit as intriguingly accessible as ever, perhaps even more accessible in many ways.

The most obvious difference is the production. The vocals are much clearer and not covered in heavy distortion. Unlike Remission, you can easily distinguish that Mastodon features two vocalists with distinct voices at work on Leviathan. The vocals themselves are still slightly buried by the music. This might annoy some of you initially, but Mastodon is not a band that puts vocals and lyrics over the music. This mix allows the vocals to be viewed as instruments equal with the guitars and drums and is totally fitting for their sound. Rest assured though, the vocals aren't buried much and you can still follow along with the lyrics quite easily. This might be of interest to many of you since this is a loose concept album based on Moby Dick and nautical themes in general.

But the real surprise with the vocals is the variety. In stark contrast to Remission's singular vocal approach, Leviathan features not only the smoother yell of Troy Sanders and the harsher yell of Brent Hines, but also a healthy dose of singing (which you know is quite good if you've heard their cover of Thin Lizzy's "Emerald") and even some brutal screaming that wouldn't be too far removed from a black/death vocalist. This vocal variety never feels forced and adds a great deal of depth and texture.

The guitar production is far less dirty this time. The organic nature of their sound is still quite obvious, but the cleaner sound allows you to hear the obvious metal influence all over every riff (for the few of you who didn't notice). There are moments when you would swear that you were hearing unreleased Metallica from their heyday. The leads and solos simply sizzle as well. And yet, as fantastic as the guitar and bass work are, as deep and technical as they may be, Brann Dailor's drumming continues to steal the show. Holy fuck this guy shreds! I have never heard a drummer be that busy and still keep an obvious groove. Most drummers can't even come up with fills that are half as insane as his normal beats. It's just stunning to behold. The production of Matt Bayles is simply amazing here as the drums feel live yet sound perfect.

Musically, this is far more eclectic than I expected. They are still technically proficient as always, but song structures have become far more dynamic. At times they go from relaxed to frenetic, from slow to fast, from simple to complex, from groove to brutal chaos. Some build in intensity to such levels that you're left nearly exhausted just from listening. Others display surprising calm and restraint. However, at all times, this album simply rocks. Maybe it's the southern rock flair or the huge 80's metal influences, but there's just something completely, totally accessible about Mastodon. You would never guess it if you analyzed their sound what with the technical proficiency, adventurous song writing, and outright brutality that they display at times; yet even with all of those typically "underground" elements, Mastodon manages to strike a nerve with their sincerity and depth.

Mastodon are gaining some serious ground. They will be hard to ignore in the coming years. I realize that there are quite a few metalheads out there who might normally like them, but who are turned off by their rising popularity. Now Mastodon simply isn't for everyone, but before you write them off you need to ask the yourself: am I in it for the music or the image? What needs to be remembered is that a select few bands are simply so great that they deserve their popularity. Black Sabbath, Slayer, Metallica, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden can all sell out stadiums simply because they are the pinnacles of their individual styles of metal, but they had something more. There was vibrancy and even a joy in their music. Something that's been sorely lacking in most of today's metal, replaced instead by jaded escapism, self-absorption, and even the very same snobbery and closed-mindedness that metalheads claim to struggle against. Mastodon transcends all the over-categorization of modern metal. There is that same vibrancy to their music that those afore mentioned bands possess(ed). You see, those bands became metal legends, not simply because they excelled at metal, but because they transcended metal. Yes, I'm putting Mastodon in such a lofty category. Leviathan has cemented their place in metal godhood for the very same reasons that Judas Priest and Black Sabbath are such legends, they transcend metal and strike at something deeper and have forced everyone to take notice. Mastodon are legends in the making.

Masotdon is ready to explode and you can get on board now or get the fuck out of the way. Mastodon clearly have the potential to be huge, a next level juggernaut of epic proportions. Think the next Metallica. Seriously. Mastodn freakin' rule, and everyone who sees them live realizes this, as will everyone who seriously listens to their new record, Leviathan. From the artwork, to the production to the musicianship to the songwriting to the literary basis for the Moby Dick-centered album title and lyrics, everything about this album screams professional and intense. Even the band's name effectively communicates the raw, unbridled power the music conveys. Mastodon take the best elements of diverse bands like Metallica, Opeth, Iron Maiden, Neurosis and Death and combine them into something dirty, raw, lumbering and massive, yet precise, expressive, intricate and tight. Melodic guitar harmonies and intense tribal jams; complex technicality and punishing heaviness. This band just has that esoteric extra element that you can never define but that you know when you hear it, that element that elevates a band from great to all-time classic status. Mastodon is already there, I think. You often hear people say "band x may be the future of metal." Read my lips: Mastodon are the future of metal. Like I said, you can either become a part of the inevitable, or you can simply step aside.

How does one even begin to describe the music of Mastodon to a newcomer? “Brilliant” is the adjective which invariably comes to mind. Their songwriting skills are unparalleled, taking the listener through twisting avenues of sound, to ultimately arrive at exactly the spot you knew it should, but with absolutely no clear knowledge of how you arrived there. The songs are delivered deftly, yet performed with a level of musicianship that is nothing short of astounding.

I know what those of you who are already familiar with this amazing band are thinking: Can they come close to topping Remission? Well, since an issue like this depends on your perspective, so you’re going to have to listen to it to decide for yourself, but it is my opinion that they, at a minimum, managed to equal it, and quite probably did indeed top it, though I’ll need to ponder the hierarchy a bit longer to properly solidify it in my mind. I tend to have great difficulty discussing the albums I enjoy most, and Leviathan proves to be no exception. The fact that Mastodon is a musical entity unlike any other on the face of the planet certainly does nothing to alleviate this problem.

The backbone of Mastodon is the songwriting, but it is the indomitable skill of the musicians in the band who are able to bring these epic songs to life. Each instrument is played deftly, and in ways that you heretofore may not have imagined possible. Top all of this off with pristine production, and you have an undisputable contender for album of the year. To be honest, I have been dragging my feet, taking forever to write this review, mostly because I have been clinging to this as an excuse to keep it in my player for as long as possible. You can be assured that it will return there again before long, and will continue to do so for a long time to come. Stop by the music store on your way to work on August 31, so you can begin your enjoyment at the soonest possible moment – you’ll regret it if you don’t. Leviathan is absolutely fantastic.

Any band that received as much uniform praise as Mastodon did with their last full-length, Remission, has to be prepared for a more critical eye on their follow up album. The simple fact is that expectations are much higher for this record, and because of this the average reviewer may be much harder to impress. But I'm not the average reviewer (hell, I barely even qualify at all), and I can say without a moment's hesitation that Leviathan is exactly what the title suggests, a massive, menacing presence.
Mastodon have solidified their claim to being one of the most original and important bands in metal today. They continue to utilize a unique blend of southern rock, odd arrangements and oppressive heavy metal. In short, Mastodon is a juggernaut of interesting and challenging music. The rhythm section continues to stand out, much like it did in the band's earlier work, coming at the listener from all sides. It is as unpredictable as it is compelling, anchoring the songs, but not overshadowing them.

The production is a little crisper than their last album, which might initially turn some fans off (just about anything different seems to piss some metal fans off), but I think it makes the overall product sound more accomplished. The vocals also drift into more accessible territory on this release, but fear not, despite the fact that they are 'cleaner' they still retain an edge that keeps this album grounded.

Ever since I first saw this band live I've thought of them as a 'metal jam band' and I can't wait to see this new material performed on stage. The riffs are easy to listen to but aren't obvious or contrived; they're catchy but not commercial. The simple fact is that this band is looking at music from a different perspective than their peers, and the end product is impressive. They avoid meandering too far off of the path, but continuously surprise the listener, hitting a perfect stride between experimentation and improvisation encompassed within songs you can sing along with.

Mastodon hit this one out of the park, delivering in all areas. This album shows growth, but respects their established sound and caters to the fan in all of us. Mastodon have deserved all of the praise they've received, and are one of the most important bands in metal today. Let the inevitable backlash begin! One word review: Bravo!

POOK said:

I'm glad that you liked it!

Maybe a few more people will buy it and then they will tell some more people and so on.