Call of the Mastodon [Original recording remastered]

Mastodon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 7, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Relapse
• ASIN: B00005R5L4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,861 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #17 in Music > Indie Music > Rock > Hard Rock & Metal
  • #21 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Post Hardcore

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Call of the Mastodon, although short, is such a strong album it's hard to believe it was a demo. But really who wouldn't sign them after receiving this? It shows a band already accustomed to playing together and feeding off each other. It's already intricate, intense, brutal music. Is it Remission or Leviathan? No, it's not. It doesn't have either their sense of scope or their sense of melody. But it does show peeks at every nuance to follow. "Shadows That Move" illustrates that they have always known how to pick an album opener. It pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Thank You For This" previews their amazing use of time change. And "Battle At Sea" and "Deep Sea Creatures" are obvious forbearers to songs on Leviathan. There are a few tracks that show the band testing their waters: The vocals on "We Built This Come Death" almost sound like a Ministry outtake, while "Slickleg" bursts out into punk licks in a few spots. It's hard to imagine, with the amount of progression so far, just where Mastodon will ascend to now that they have signed to a major. -- Robert Arambel

Product Description

The Call of the Mastodon, a collection of Mastodon's first-ever forays into the recording studio, exposes the humble beginnings of hard rock's heaviest hitters. The nine tracks laid to tape here, the first the fledgling quartet had ever written, document a band finding its own voice and place in the musical world. Remixed and remastered by original producer Matt Washburn, and repackaged by the band's longtime artist Paul Romano, The Call of the Mastodon is a vital piece of heavy metal history and the crucial starting point in the still burgeoning Mastodon legacy. 9 Track CD including a Bonus Relapse Records Sampler CD. Relapse Records. 2006.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mastodon's masterful 9 song 'demo' finally released, March 5, 2006

By 

Justin Bean (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Call of the Mastodon (Audio CD)

In order to fully appreciate a band I always make an effort to uncover their older work, thus providing a more complete picture of the group's musical vision. As with any art form, metal music included, the artist(s) most current work is a culmination of previous efforts, the result of a process of revisiting and recrafting .

I can't recall how I came upon "Call of the Mastodon" (or "9 song demo" on my iTunes), but I've had it for some time now and always considered it as worthy of my attention as any of Mastodon's other work. The five songs off of their "Lifesblood" ep first appeared on Call of the Mastodon, along with four other tracks that rank among my favorites, which can only be heard here.

Mastodon in their earliest work was every bit as daring and innovative as anything heard on "Remission" or "Leviathan", and "Call of the Mastodon", originally recorded in 2000, helps demonstrate the process of refinement and musical evolution that the band has undergone. Unlike many 'harder' bands that make it big by toning down their music, taming it for a mainstream audience, "Call of the Mastodon" shows how Mastodon has risen to national acclaim by staying true to their own creative vision.

For newer fans of Mastodon only familiar with "Leviathan", "Call of the Mastodon" offers a more raw and, in regards to song writing, arguably less focused Mastodon. But rest assured that everything there is to love in "Leviathan", and even more so in "Remission", is present on "Call of the Mastodon" - the tehcnical, serpentine guitar work and unique harmonies, the frantic but flawlessly metronomic percussion, and the beastly, passionate cave-man shouts. I think it safe to say that any Mastodon fan will enjoy this release.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great grab for any fan, February 24, 2006

By 

A. Stutheit "Teyad" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Call of the Mastodon (Audio CD)

If the track listing for this album looks familiar, it's probably because you own Mastodon's out-of-print "Lifesblood" EP. Some fans probably think that re-releasing this EP is a way of the band cashing in on their popularity; but personally, I think it's just a way of Mastodon providing this C.D. to their fans without making them pay a billion dollars for it. Plus, "Call of the Mastodon" also features four extra early songs ("Thank You For This," "Deep Sea Creature," "Slickleg," and the title track) which are extremely hard to find.

Every Mastodon characteristic is in place on this album: bouncy, walloping drums, big, bone crunching riffs, and throaty vocals. But this album is also somewhat different from "Remission" and "Leviathan," because it sounds quite a bit more raw and thrashier. A couple of movie samples are also slipped into the mix here and there.

The album begins with "Shadows that Move," which has explosive, churning riffs. The next track, "Welcoming War," has pounding guitars and insanely fast drumming. "Thank You For This" is backed by buzzsaw guitar flurries, and "We Built This Come Death" jumps from being slow and restrained to an almost blindingly fast tempo. Track six, "Battle At Sea," is probably my personal favorite. It begins slowly, but it eventually kicks into high gear (with a blast beat, lumbering riffs, and Deicide-esque bellows).

"Call of the Mastodon" may only be 29 minutes long, but it's essential for every complete Mastodon collection. As another reviewer said, you will find a lot to like here (if you're already a Mastodon fan), so, if you need to, you should sell your copy of "Lifesblood" to have enough money to buy this C.D.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For Mastodon Completists, August 24, 2009

By 

Elvis Zombie "Dustin" (Angola, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Call of the Mastodon (Audio CD)

I'm a huge Mastodon fan. I love the band, I love Brann Dailor's drums, and I love this album! I was ready to give it five stars immediatly just because it's Mastodon, but I stopped. I put myself into the mind of someone who has never listened to Mastodon before. I tried to imagine what a new buyer would be interested in.

The Pros:
- You get nine demo songs from Mastodon's early days. Five of these cuts appeared on the "Lifesblood" EP. Since Lifesblood was only printed for a limited time, it has become quite rare and sought after by Mastodon fans.
1. "Shadows That Move"
2. "Welcoming War"
3. "We Built This Come Death"
4. "Hail To Fire"
5. "Battle At Sea"

Four more that didn't appear on Lifesblood
1. "Thank You For This"
2. "Deep Sea Creature"
3. "Slickleg"
4. "Call Of The Mastodon"

- All cuts feature remastered sound (superior sound quality is a big bonus)

- It's Mastodon!

CONS

-The nine songs run less than 30 minutes in length.

-The Japanese version includes an extra live track "Where Strides the Behemoth"

-Despite being remastered the sound production isn't as good as Mastodon's other albums (Especially the vocals!)

The final verdict:

If you love Mastodon buy this album. Even if you own the EP, the remastered sound makes Call of the Mastodon worth buying.

If you are a newbie to the band start with Leviathan. If Leviathan turns you into a fan, get their other albums too.