Mastodon

Item: Leviathan
Author: Jonathan Sabutis

Leviathan

(2004)

Reviewed by Jonathan Sabutis

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Label Relapse RecordsDecapolisMarch 2005

heavy metal progressive metal sludge metal

If I were to imagine the members of Mastodon in person I would envision them as four giants towering above me. Red-bearded and clothed in massive buffalo hides, they would stand ominously with their Viking helmets pressed firmly down over their noses. Every other aspect of this band is monstrous, so I would be surprised and frankly a little disappointed if their size proved any different. Their name, sound, and album art all communicate prodigious qualities. And "yes," they can back that up.

Leviathan, the new album by the "Sabbath of the South" is in and of itself an epic journey like the classic Herman Melville tale that it's based off of. From the opening cry "I think that something is trying to kill me" to the classical guitar cool down, Mastodon's new album is musically both raw and coherent at the same time. Unlike their previous effort, Remission, the meticulous attention paid to the flow and order of the ten tracks is clearly evident.

The coarse whaling (excuse the pun) of singer, Brent Hinds, rings out like a pirate captain steering his vessel through a storm of crashing cymbals and thundering bass. The rolling percussion of drummer Brann Dailor acts as the backbone for Mastodon's huge sound. His unique artistic style is teeming with torrential fills, dynamic patterns, and incredible syncopation. I dare say he could be compared with or at least influenced by the late, great Neil Peart (Rush). The bass, when locked in sync with the drums, produces a brutal pulse that you can almost feel. The running drive on tracks like 'Seabeast' and 'Island' sometimes sound as if time signature and tempo are being devoured by a maelstrom of furious musicians attacking their instruments. The well-placed "country western" interlude on the song Megalodon is almost comical. The brief pause sets you up and then drops you down into an even more bone-shattering onslaught than before.

Mastodon has once again proved themselves experimentalists and pioneers on this very musically, solid album. Even if you are not a regular fan of metal in general, Leviathan offers up some conceptually complex entertainment that exudes more and more with each listen.

3.5/4