Mastodon - Leviathan (Relapse Records)
By Mat Urbancich
August 5, 2004

Loosely based on Moby Dick, Mastodon’s Leviathan is the great American metal album.

Despite having heard nine of the album’s 10 tracks live over the course of the past six months, I was a little taken aback upon initial listen. The production is leaner and the musicianship is less chaotic.

Above all, drummer Brann Dailor has been reeled in a bit. After a few more spins, I came to realize Dailor’s less-is more approach is the band’s gain. Dailor and bassist, Troy Saunders are a true rhythm section now. Sure, Dailor goes ape behind the kit, but he and Saunders are less Jack Bruce/Ginger Baker and more John Paul Jones/John Bonham now. Sanders really is the star of the album. His basslines rarely follow the lead and rhythm guitar and his presence in the mix is absolutely perfect.

The songs themselves are still very complex. It’s hard to believe Dailor writes most of them merely by humming into a Dictaphone. Layered guitar harmonies are the driving force, thus the record is as soothing as it is oppressively heavy. There’s more early Metallica and classic Maiden on here than on Remission. In addition, some innovative guitar techniques can be found. For example, check out the Jerry Reed-like picking interlude in “Megladon.” Rest assured, the band hasn’t lost any of their bludgeoning brutality-- “Island,” “I Am Ahab” and “Iron Tusk” are among the most crushing Mastodon songs yet.

For those who have been waiting for a true guitar solo, the one Brent Hinds dishes out in “Hearts Alive” is above reproach. The whole song is for that matter. The 14-minute album centerpiece builds and builds into the aforementioned guitar solo, followed by one of the all-time great metal riffs.

Lyrically, the songs tell tales of the sea, but on closer inspection, the words are more universal and applicable to anyone who listens. Surely, everyone has their own “white whale,” be it a dream they are chasing or an obstacle they are seeking to overcome. Although these are textbook metal themes, the incorporation of a sprawling, literary-based 70s prog nature, shows a maturity few other bands have.

Clearly, the band has taken note of fans’ criticisms. Many complained of the harsh vocal style on the group’s past releases. This time around the vocals are much cleaner and as a result, much more decipherable, an obvious necessity when writing a concept album. Hinds shares much of the vocal duty with Sanders and it works to great effect. Having guests Neil Fallon of Clutch and Scott Kelly of Neurosis sing on “Blood and Thunder” and “Aqua Dementia” respectively, further breaks up any monotony that listeners may have found in the vocal department on earlier albums.

The band chose produce Matt Bayles again and rightfully so. Each instrument is properly mixed and given ample space to breathe, thus making not only the songs seethe and brood, but also ebb and flow.

All of this adds up to the most rewarding, refreshing and surprising metal album since 1986. It has something for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re old school, nu school, a tangent metal fan or a diehard. After several listens you are going to love this and it won’t leave your rotation. And even if you do put it on the shelf, it will sit among Reign in Blood and Master of Puppets.

Coming soon tp the Hellride Music Superstore

Uncle Salty

Hey Barnesy, any chance you could edit sentence three of the fourth paragraph to say, "Layered guitar harmonies are the driving force, thus the record is as soothing as it is oppressively heavy"? That's what I meant to say. It doesn't sound right the way I wrote it. Thanks.

Chris

Done.

benhogg

get a mop. I just discharged.

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Kevin Esq.

Very well done, Mat.

Uncle Salty

Listen to Troy go Steve Harris on your ass during the second half of "Megladon."

Tito Brown

Good, but not as good as Remission.

Turkey

You're nuts.

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Where's the holy diver and the headless bat?

Tito Brown

The hard/soft dynamic seems to be missing. It plows away without building much in the way of atmosphere.

I'm sure after a few more listens I'll agree with you dudes, but for now I'll stick with Remission.

Greg

Leviathan sounds like it was released in 1989. It's what the Bay Area bands were trying to achieve and taking it a notch higher. If you've ever heard of Forbidden and dug their Maiden-like guitar onslaught, this is the album for you.

The bass and drums are mowing down the idea of the whole band playing the same riff constantly (thank your lord). What a break! We deserve it!

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"My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable..."

merlot brougham

One of the top 3 metal albums ever..on first listen.

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If you don’t see the humor in metal, then you should just move your ass to Norway and start burning churches and shit.

Chris

The deluxe addition, with a bunch of cool extra crap, coming to the Hellride Store VERY soon....

La Tray

Okay, this takes the cake. This is from my local indie rag, and I didn't think my buddy Andy was capable of liking anything that wasn't obscure sugary pop or even more obscure Finnish hardcore.

Mastodon
Leviathon
Relapse

Boy, was this one ever worth the wait. Atlanta’s finest really release the Kraken on Leviathan—a late-summer maelstrom of pile-driving riffs and banzai drumming to stir the embers of the most reticent metal fan.

Mastodon is to most metal as a melt-in-your-mouth wedding cake is to a pile of eggs, confectioner’s sugar and unbleached flour. You can find all the ingredients separately in the other aisles—Opeth for the intricate melodic bits, High On Fire for the down-and-dirty orc metal—but it’s how they all come together that makes Leviathan such an engrossing listen. One minute it’s Skynryd, the next it’s Sepultura, and it all flows together naturally—none of that partially digested “I know, let’s twist people’s heads around by going from this super heavy part into something pretty in, like, half a second” school of piecemeal songwriting.

Every song on Leviathan is epic in scope and majestic in execution. And if drummer Brann Dailor doesn’t rack up a slew of critics’ picks and readers’ choice awards this year, I’ll eat a Keith Moon biography. Beat the rush and put Leviathan on your Best of 2004 right now. (Andy Smetanka)

http://www.everyweek.com/AE/News.asp?no=4299

Uncle Salty

Hail Andy. How does a douche like you become friends with someone so cool?