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Mastodon
If you're a musician, like Metal guitarist Bill Kelliher, you need to assess living in Rochester, NY. It's a nice place, or so says the Chamber of Commerce. But you can't make a living in music unless you're willing to log some serious clerk time at the local Used CDs/Records Shop. The only time music industry types stop in Rochester is when their car breaks down. So rather than try to beat AAA to a record exec it might be a good idea to relocate. Moving down state to New York City is an option. But the summers are suffocating and the winters, frigid. Besides, New York isn't really Metal friendly. And forget Manhattan , rents in even Brooklyn or Queens are steep. So you have a high cost of living and a low number of opportunities. Better keep looking further south... like say, Atlanta , the region's music nexus. That's where Kelliher and drummer Brann Dailer headed. Within a month they hooked up with vocalist/guitarist Brent Hinds and bassist Troy Sanders to form Mastodon.
Within a year, Mastodon recorded a demo and spent much of '00 touring the east coast as an opening act, including a stint with Queens Of The Stone Age. '01 was more of the same, only their tour range spread to the mid-west and deep south. They released their debut EP "Lifesblood" which was followed by the full-length "Remission," containing "March Of The Fire Ants," a song that earned the group some attention.
More touring, including a jaunt to Japan, ate up '02 and a good part of '03. All the work was starting to pay off.
MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball" compilation included "March Of The Fire Ants." The group then made a video for the song which garnered airplay. In August of '04, the buzz around the band was turning into a roar as the group released the well-received "Leviathan." A European tour, opening for Slayer and Slipknot, and the Jagermeister Music Tour, came next. But their days as an opener were winding down. In '05, Mastodon returned to Europe , this time as the headliner. And they maintained their marquee status on a U.S. trek.
Now signed to a major label (leaving Relapse for Reprise), Mastodon unleashed "Blood Mountain," in August (yep, another summer release) of '06.
A couple tracks from Mastodon's "Crack The Skye" made their debut at the '08 Bonnaroo Festival. But concerns about unauthorized internet distribution and a desire to play the songs in the proper context halted any further previews until the album's release date was closer.
"Crack The Skye" dropped in March, '09. Neurosis guitarist/vocalist Scott Kelly, who had played on previous Mastodon albums, contributed to the title track.
Months later, Time magazine ranked "Crack The Skye" as the third best album of '09. The Progressive Metal set was the last of four in a cycle that focused on the concept of Earth's elements. "Nods to European Folk, Free-Jazz and Prog Rock . . . the ambition and tenacity of Mastodon's music makes "Crack The Skye" sonically unforgettable," wrote Time. Brad Paisley's "American Saturday Night" and Dirty Projectors' "Bitte Orca," were #1 and #2, respectively.
When Mastodon issued "The Hunter," their fifth album, fans could also purchase a Mastodon 3D virtual reality game called Augmented Reality. It "combines virtual and real worlds to create a one-of-a-kind interactive experience that users can control."
"The Hunter" made its debut at #10 on the Billboard 200.
2002 Remission
2004 Leviathan
2006 Blood Mountain
2009 Crack the Skye
2011 The Hunter
"Remission" has the headbanging "Crusher Destroyer," "Burning Man" and the intense riff Rocker "March Of The Fire Ants."
"Leviathan" amps it up. The fierce opener "Blood And Thunder" paves the way for " Island " and "Naked Burn." Metal magazines fell over themselves proclaiming Mastodon "the next big thing." Some wondered, or worried, that the group would do for Metal what Nirvana did for Grunge.
So does " Blood Mountain" live up to the exceedingly high expectations? Well no, Mastodon hasn't reinvented Metal but they have successfully continued down the "Leviathan" road." "Blood Mountain" amply exhibits the group's take on Metal and Prog Rock. Killiher's razor sharp guitar can lay down a thunderous din or execute intricate runs, without unnecessary notes or indulgent flourishes. Hinds provides dark, forceful vocals, sounding like a raging beast. The set starts strong with "The Wolf Is On The Loose." A frantic guitar, displaying flashes of brilliance drives "Capillarian Crest." "Circle Of The Cysquatch," "Bladecatcher" and "Hunters In The Sky" meld power, intricacy and melody into a potent brew.
Coincidentally, Coheed & Cambria's live box set "Neverender: Children Of The Fence" was released on the same day as "Crack The Skye." It's a Prog Rock alignment of the stars - wormholes, metaphysical concepts and just the plain old mysticism.
Prior to its release, "Crack The Skye" was rumored to be about Czarist Russia. That proved false though "The Czar," a four-part narrative, clearly illustrates how the buzz originated.
The extended tracks on Mastodon's fourth studio album vault from Heavy Metal ("Quintessence") to Nu Metal ("Ghost Of Karelia" and the title track) with enough tempo and textural changes to fill a symphony. Dark riffs ("Oblivion" and "Divinations") give way to Speed/Thrash Metal, all governed by an "epic" mentality.
For "The Hunter" Mastodon rein themselves in a bit. They don't become riff-mongers but they are a lot more direct. "Curl Of The Burl" is great.