Customer Reviews

Blood Mountain (W/Dvd)

5 star:		(89)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

It's true that less can sometimes be more in the world of metal, but Mastodon have clearly never even considered it. Fortunately, though, this Atlanta-based quartet have proven that they're more than capable of using the "more is more" theory wisely, and getting great results from it. Their enormous and expansive new album, "Blood Mountain," is yet another addition to the group's increasingly epic catalogue.

This is Mastodon's first release on a major label (they left Relapse to sign to Warner Music earlier in the year), so many immediately assumed it will sound overly polished and more melodic than the band's previous works. Both of those assumptions prove to be true to some extent, because the new disc isn't as raw or sonically heavy as, say, 2002's "Remission." But when the results are as good as "Blood Mountain," they're hard to argue with. This is a perfectly natural and creative progression from their two year-old masterpiece "Leviathan." The newfound progressive metal touches don't dilute or restrain the album's heaviness, and they actually help to emphasize the heavy parts and make them even more intense.

Like "Leviathan," 2004's whale of an album which was based on Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick" novel, "Blood Mountain" is also conceptual. It tells a tale about a character climbing a mountain and becoming stranded, and different things happen (the character hallucinates, runs into strange creatures, begins to starve and freeze, etc.) Couple this wondrously imaginative storytelling with such complex, experimental music, and the end result may very well be an album that's the new summit of Mastodon's career.

Most of the songs are greatly unpredictable, but there are a couple hypnotic moments. "Sleeping Giant" and the album closer, "Pendulous Skin" (which begins with pretty acoustic guitar strums) are two gorgeous, brooding tracks with subdued drum beats, dreary vocals, and other ominously ambient sounds (i.e. guitar feedback).

The rest of the disc, however, is a different story. Drummer Brann Dailor really gets to show off his talents on the album opener, "The Wolf Is Loose," because he begins the song with a fast, bouncy, all-over-the-place drum pattern that makes the listener wonder how many arms the guy really has. The rest of this song is a crushing, bludgeoning avalanche of distorted guitar leads. The next track, "Crystal Skull," continues in this same vein, with a heavy, bullying rhythm; but this song stands out from the one before it because it also features a mazey, spiraling guitar solo, and a cameo by Neurosis' Scott Kelly.

"Capillarian Crest" is quite awesome. With occasional riffs, somewhat melodic guitar leads, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink drumming, and a strong, grumbling bass line, the listener is unsure where to focus his or her attention. Later, "Circle Of Cysquatch" and "Hunters Of The Sky" boast catchy, crunching rhythms that cascade like falling logs. "Bladecatcher" is also of note because it's a total head trip due to its rapid tempo changes, a careening guitar lead, and wild, almost schizophrenic vocals. Following that, "Colony Of Birchmen" is highlighted by some very melodic singing (by Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme), and a wailing solo. Next, the propulsive ninth track, "Hand Of Stone," is fueled by a fiery, blistering flood of riffs. Lastly, "This Mortal Soil" and "Siberian Divide" (featuring The Mars Volta's singer, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, and the same band's keyboardist, Isaiah Owens) are both vaguely reminiscent of "Leviathan." These songs have a restrained, slow beginning with the drums and guitars playing different time signatures, but then a whiplash tempo change kicks in and the song launches into a deep, intense, corrosive groove with thrashy, surging riffs.

The thought of Mastodon having such a creative idea for their third full-length is pretty amazing in itself. But the fact that the band was able pull it off so excellently is downright staggering. The band set their sights even higher than last time, and as a result, Mastodon are not only officially among metal's best active bands, but they have made a record which probably sets a new standard for the rest of their career and almost all music released in 2006. The words "great" and "masterpiece" were made for an album like "Blood Mountain."

Following their thematic masterpiece, LEVIATHAN, the mighty Mastodon brings us their most ambitious and complex music to date on BLOOD MOUNTAIN. Mastodon have been called the next big thing in the metal genre, and with this album, it is hard to deny that they are the most exciting band in this music.

To use a jazz phrase, this band really swings. Mastodon is building a Rush-like reputation as the most technically proficient band in their genre. They can bludgeon, and they can simply rawk. They constantly play with timings, playing (almost) stoner-slow or blast-beat fast. Vocals sway from screaming intensity to bar-soaked looseness, and they can just as easily get weird and mess with your head.

BLOOD MOUNTAIN brings a complete scene change from LEVIATHAN. Whereas LEVIATHAN made you feel like you were riding the sea, hunting an elusive foe, BLOOD MOUNTAIN sends you into the deep wilderness, where you are the hunted. Themes range from the searching ("Crystal Skull," "Sleeping Giant"), the vertigo-inducing ("Capillarian Crest") to the fantastic ("Colony of Birchmen") and the frantic ("The Wolf is Loose," "Circle of Cysquatch").

My favorites so far include the (aforementioned) full-force of "The Wolf is Loose," the intricately prog-like "Capillarian Crest," and the extremity of "Circle of Cysquatch." Probably the sharpest left turn on the album comes on "Sleeping Giant," another sign that Mastodon isn't afraid to stay at a groovy mid-tempo for a while. And I just wish the graceful album closer, "Pendulous Skin," could only have continued that cool vibe for about ten more minutes.

It's hard to top such an epic like LEVIATHAN, and it's too early for me to decide where this album will fit in their history. The band suggests that BLOOD MOUNTAIN is a metaphor for where Mastodon stands in their musical "quest." Appropriately, they have reached a peak with this album, although it's a different peak from LEVIATHAN and REMISSION. And it's exciting to know that Mastodon should continue to reach higher with their future releases.

****1/2

Comparing Mastodon to typical metal (Avenged Sevenfold, HIM, Lacuna Coil)is like comparing Miles Davis to Kenny G. Yes you'll find them both filed under "Jazz" but each is a whole different beast. Some call this genre "thinking man's metal", I prefer to see it as a rock band not willing to cater to the whims of middle-aged suits or covet the glare of celebrity. This is metal with a work ethic that is not pretty and not for the faint of heart or the weak of mind. If you feel you're up to it, then welcome to Blood Mountain.

So........

Im not really a metal head at all anymore (Was back in my teenage years) But I really do enjoy any type of music, as long as it is .... well.....good.

Back in 2001 I saw another one of my favorite bands...A little band known as Clutch. Opening for them was another band I had never heard of known as....you guessed it!..Mastodon. I was impressed by the musicianship but not the tattooed metal hairbanging with the masturbatory guitar solos.

I was wrong.

So after hearing Remission (1st Album) I thought.."Man this stuff is a little to hard for me anymore. Leviathan (2nd Album) I think is possibly one of the best metal records I have ever heard. I immediately enjoyed the complexity of the music. The whole album losely revolved around the story of Moby Dick.

Now...Blood Mountain..So the new Mastodon has had alot to live up to when compared to their last album (I know thats not fair). It is really an incredible experience. The complexity of the music is insane. Normal metal is like Kenny G...Mastodon is like John Coltrane.

What I am trying to say after all this B.S. Is if you have an open mind to music of different genres..Pick it up..Now.

That's right...I had to write this review from the hospital. Let me recap my situation...I walked out of my local record shop with Blood Mountain CD in hand. Stomping to my rig to let the disc rip. The Wolf is Loose (first track) starts up and I'm hit with some raw dog drumming. Vocals break through as a lumberjack hacking into a tree base. Amazing. At the 2 minute mark Mastodon breaks off some funky axe riffs and that's when I absoultely lost it. My neck began to violently jerk around and my head was in full bang mode. At some point my head hit the steering wheel, I see black and wake up in the hospital. The doctor asked me what I remembered last...I paused for about 15 seconds and screamed..."I was on Blood Mountain baby!!!!!!".

Get this album.

Mastodon are already quite widely regarded as one of the most important and best metal bands of the current decade, and `Blood Mountain' ought to do a lot to solidify their position as such. They will doubtless alienate a few more fans, as they already did with `Leviathan', due to the very slick production and their contract with a major label, but I think far more fans will stick with them rather than abandon them. Anyway, I think `Blood Mountain' is absolutely fantastic, and perhaps the best of their 3 full lengths. (I definitely prefer it to `Leviathan', though it's a tougher call with `Remission'.)

Mastodon has definitely progressed a lot stylistically over their relatively brief career. Their debut EP was wild, flailing metalcore, for the most part, while `Remission' took things in a sludgier, more southern direction albeit while still staying in contact with their roots. `Leviathan' removed the sludge for the most part and played up melodic tendencies and some thrashier riffs. `Blood Mountain' continues this trend with more clean singing than ever before and a very polished production. Nevertheless, I suggest this is actually a less accessible album then `Leviathan', as the increase in singing is counteracted by an added emphasis on their jazzy/progressive angle. All in all, `Blood Mountain' simply cannot be shunted into any of the major metal subgenres, though the typical classification of Mastodon as `tech-metalcore' will suffice, even if it isn't all that helpful. I could call it thrashy-southern-jazz-tech-metalcore I suppose but, uhh, that's a bit unwieldy....

From an instrumental standpoint this is definitely their most accomplished album. Brann Dailor seemed to reign in the drumming slightly last time around, but he's back in top form now with a simply astounding metal/jazz fusion performance. He's simply the best, the most entertaining drummer in metal bar none, and this is perhaps even better than his legendary contribution to `Remission'. The guitarwork on this album is stunning as well, and widely varied, mixing in stomping groove riffs, crunchy thrash riffs, speedy trem work, numerous frenetic, jazzy licks and quite of bit of melodic acoustic work. The vocals are the relative weak point of the band, but this most just emphasizes how good everything else is. They get the job done, anyway, and are fairly varied due to the use of multiple vocalists and a few guests. (Though most of it falls into the growled/howled or quasi-melodically bellowed categories of singing.)

`Blood Mountain' is one of those very rare metal albums that has over 10 tracks, but which doesn't have anything which ought to have been cut. It would be very easy to discuss every track here, so I'll have to restrain myself. `The Wolf is Loose' is a first rate opener worthy of their tradition. Monstrous drumming, nicely varied, ferocious riffs, and an effective pairing of harsh and almost ethereal vocals. `Sleeping Giant' is a more low-key, stoner-ish track with some fine acoustic work and an unforgettable main lick. `Capillarian Crest' is one of the most immediately striking songs. It's one of their wildest tracks ever with a staggeringly energetic and jazzy middle section. (That part stands out the most, but it's all great.) `Colony of Birchmen' is a somewhat controversial track. It's probably the most accessible thing here, and while this will doubtless turn of some people, I think it's absolutely great. The main riff is fantastic, and this has got some of the strongest vox on the album, with two excellent choruses.

The last 3 tracks display Mastodon's progressive side particularly nicely, moving between tempos and styles adroitly and continuously. `Siberian Divide' is probably the most widely varied track here, moving from acoustics to a wide variety of riffs and back again and again, combining occasional melodicism with outright discordance. This song has also got perhaps Dailor's most pummeling fills ever. `Pendulous Skin' is a relatively low-key closer with distant, indecipherable vocals over top of melodic electric and acoustic instrumentation. (Plus some synths, an organ and a great solo.) A rather wistful sounding song which somehow manages to be harshly melodic. Definitely a first-rate closer.

Anyway, this is another great album from Mastodon. Probably the finest album I've heard yet this year. Check it out.

Mastodon comes up with this. One of the best (if not the best) metal album of the 21st century. Better than Remission and Leviathan, Mastodon have truely outdone themselves this time around. Brann's drumming has never sounded better, the band as a whole has never sounded as tight.

These guys are the real deal, too bad that they don't get even a fraction of the recognition that they deserve.

For the first time in years I'm unable to form the words neccessary to give this a review. I'm unable to put into words its magnificence. Exquiste ear candy for metal fans that demand more from their music.

Mastodon's evolution is nothing short of phenomenal.

What a useless gushing review this is. If it serves any purpose let me just say that if you liked Mastodon before, kneel before your new God - Blood Moutain.

...or for that matter noone does it like Mastodon...PERIOD.

You can take the previous 3 albums and put each one in their own category. Certainly Blood Mountain stands on its own just as well.


The songs seem more straight forward and groove oriented, sort of in the vain of Leviathan, but much heavier. Lyrically dark and in your face , BM pulls no punches from the get-go. The overall sound reminds me almost as if they were conjuring up the classic spirits of Metallica and Slayer (the great 80s era of each band) but mixed with that trademark Mastodon sound of gritty duel vocals and berserker drumming. The guitars are less texture this time and more melodic. Only bizarre point on the album may be Bladecatcher which may come across as instrumental filler to some, at least in contrast to the other tracks on the album. However, I can say there's not one boring track to speak of. As in previous releases, the band ends off the album with a more mellow track, though this time there are lyrics.

In an era of screamo-emo metal that pollutes the scene, Mastodon stands on its own. No fashion, no silly haircuts, no misunderstood teenage angst, just serious musicians doing what they do best; Great f***ing music!

Coming off as the best selling artists on the Relapse Records roster, there was a lot of buzz, and ultimately, concerns in the "metal community" when it was learned that Mastodon would be heading to a major label in Warner Bros. Records. Having been a fan of Mastodon for some years now, I was not part of that group nor did I concern myself with the "banter." I have had faith in everything they've done because they were so unique in their choices and have stood by everything they've done. Mastodon have always been the approachable band in every way. Sure, they're on covers of magazines and are in the "metal" spotlight, but that won't ever stop them from hanging out a bar or tavern before and after their shows which is something their fans love them for.

Blood Mountain is as "epic" as their 2004 masterpiece, Leviathan was. It is the story of a man who sets out on a journey up the mountain to find the "Crystal Skull" and has numerous encounters with many of the mountains creatures including a wolf, deadly trees and a Cysquatch.

The musicianship is at the forefront of this release with every one of the band members shining on their instruments and complimenting each other in every way. Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher have my MVP vote. These guys compliment each other so well. Whether it's Bill's rhythms and landscapes under Brent's "chicken pickin'" or their harmonies a la Maiden, they're at the top of their game. "Capillarian Crest" is a prime example of this (the middle part is some of the most intense and spastic playing by any band in recent years). Also, check out Bill's "The Edge" (U2) like guitar playing on "Sleeping Giant." So masterful and textural. Brent also has some GREAT guitar solos i.e., "Crystal Skull." They're both showcased throughout the entire disc.

Tool's "10,000 Days" was the most highly anticipated release for me this year, along with The Mars Volta's "Amputechture." I think it is safe to say Blood Mountain has surpassed those albums in every way. I hope Brann, Bill, Brent and Troy debut at #1, buy mansions and get beer endorsements.

LONG LIVE THE DON!