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Album Details

• Artist: Mastodon
• Album: Leviathan
• Label: Relapse
• Year of Release: 2004
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2005-04-18

Mastodon were mentioned on a number of year-end best of lists. So much, in fact, that it got made me curious to check them out myself. Mastodon has actually been around for a few years now and have slowly been gaining notoriety in the metal world but it really wasn't until this album that they hit the big time (in the underground world that is). Leviathan is one bloody heavy album but in a way that is somewhat accessible to those who do like their music heavy. The album opens up simply enough with the fairly simple guitar intro into "Blood and Thunder", BUT, that only last for a matter of seconds before the wall comes crashing down. The band's sound is a mix of Sabbath, black metal, hardcore, thrash, all without really sacrificing any given element. There are not really many of those time changes that many metal fans have come to expect with the genre this day and age. That doesn't mean that Mastodon doesn't switch it up at all. They keep the tempo steady but have many mood changes throughout a single song. They have the old-school guitar acrobatics on pretty much every track but one that really stands out in this department is "Aqua Dementia". The intro is something future guitar gods will be try to mimic for years to come. Talking about acrobatics, look towards the drumming for some forward thinking too. On "I Am Ahab" Brann Dailor kicks much ass behind the kit. That's a standard for Mastodon too.
Leviathan is defined as "the largest or most massive thing of its kind". Mastodon have actually accomplished that with this album. This album will be a landmark for years to come.

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