Mastodon - Medium Rarities

[Mooncat]

Blood Mountain was always my favourite of theirs. It's by far the least talked about of their classic run of 'elements' albums, but it's always my go-to when I'm in the mood for Mastodon. I will concede that Leviathan is probably better, but there's something very absorbing about Blood Mountain. It's a big, meaty album and the one that most feels like you have to set the time aside for it to go on that adventure.

I never fully got into Crack the Skye but it often seems the one most raved about after Leviathan.

Agree with this. CtS left me kinda cold when I first heard it at release and for a good few years afterwards. Eventually warmed up to it in a big way, but would still call it my least favourite of the first four.

Blood Mountain sounds like they threw everything including the kitchen sink down in the studio, and it all stuck. Their best production job too.

Leviathan is home to Aqua Dementia, which is one of my favourite songs full stop.

Aqua Dementia is a beast! Also the outro to Sea Beast is crushing. They did those dynamics so well of moving from something complex and fiddly into something crushing and heavy.

[ochoill]

Been listening to basically nothing else spinning around the last few days.  Blood Mountain, Leviathan, Crack the Skye anyway.  You would nearly forget sometimes how good they are and they take me right back into an era of my youth where I was obsessed (Leviathan and BM in particular).

You would also forget how lethal Hinds' style of playing is, it is ridiculous and really makes the songs.  A hundred thoughts surrounding the rest of the band, their albums, form, formula, etc etc but outside of all of that - when the music is good it is unreal.

[Circlepit]

Blood Mountain almost turned me off then when it cane out. Leviathan was so powerful in felt BM was wishy washy in comparison.
Crack The Skye though, that's perfection.
I'd still listen to The Hunter and Once More Round The Sun on a regular basis. Brilliant albums.

There are countless tributes and well wishes online , it seems everyone thought he was the life and soul of everything.

[OpenSores]

Like most I've been listening to my favourites and revisiting the albums I've disliked. Some tracks between Hunter, Once More..., Emperor are fine but Hushed & Grim I've enjoyed more. Live at the Aragon up next.

[Sworntothecans]

There are countless tributes and well wishes online , it seems everyone thought he was the life and soul of everything.

I did laugh at Ben Weinman from Dilliger Escape Plans story about him , where Brent pretty much did the Dewey Cox "You don't want none of this shit" to him.


I've had Remission & Leviathan on this afternoon since I've the house free. Pair of flawless records.

[Mooncat]

There are countless tributes and well wishes online , it seems everyone thought he was the life and soul of everything.

In fairness he is absolutely integral to their sound. His guitar playing, the dual vocals, and Brann Dailor's drumming are the core aspects of the Mastodon sound. I've never actually listened to the new iteration, but it's hard to imagine what they'll sound like now. Will be a different band for sure.

[Mooncat]

Been listening to basically nothing else spinning around the last few days.  Blood Mountain, Leviathan, Crack the Skye anyway.  You would nearly forget sometimes how good they are and they take me right back into an era of my youth where I was obsessed (Leviathan and BM in particular).

You would also forget how lethal Hinds' style of playing is, it is ridiculous and really makes the songs.  A hundred thoughts surrounding the rest of the band, their albums, form, formula, etc etc but outside of all of that - when the music is good it is unreal.

Exact same here with all of that. Been spinning those three non-stop the last couple of days.

The detail in the complexity of the riffs, band interplay, and songwriting, without overindulging and still making it all work perfectly as a song is stunning. Melodic, atmospheric, and heavy.

For as big as they are it's making me wonder how they weren't a lot bigger. I guess they just never really had their Enter Sandman moment to take them past that final hurdle into the biggest leagues. Not even so much a crossover hit, but even songs that became metal standards. I guess Blood and Thunder was the closest they got to a metal 'hit'

[Pagan Saviour]

I think that's it to be honest. Thought when The Hunter dropped they might level up but it didn't really happen.

Also it has to be said they weren't great live. I gave them a few goes earlier on so maybe someone else is best placed to comment on later performances. The one that stands out for me was the Slayer support at the ambassador- a lot of people here were calling time on them   , and ahead of the gig I thought yeah maybe. But mastodon were awful that night just stood there, sound absolutely garbage, vocals terrible.

[The Great Cull]

I think that's it to be honest. Thought when The Hunter dropped they might level up but it didn't really happen.

Also it has to be said they weren't great live. I gave them a few goes earlier on so maybe someone else is best placed to comment on later performances. The one that stands out for me was the Slayer support at the ambassador- a lot of people here were calling time on them   , and ahead of the gig I thought yeah maybe. But mastodon were awful that night just stood there, sound absolutely garbage, vocals terrible.

I saw them live twice. That time supporting Slayer and then supporting Metallica at Marlay Park in 2009. Live they did little to impress me but I was OK with that. There are several bands that I like that just cannot translate their art on stage.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

Just occurred to me, did anyone have a bad live experience of a headline show of theirs? Both headline shows I saw were lethal, the one support (Tool in the Point) just weak, could barely hear what was going on.

[Pagan Saviour]

Yep Tool support was terrible too. Someone suggested I needed to see them headline and I went to a show in Vicar street which was even worse, they played as a three piece for whatever reason, can't remember who was missing but sound woeful, vocals woeful and zero presence.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

Well that's just damn bad luck for you! Who was missing that night?

[ochoill]

Just occurred to me, did anyone have a bad live experience of a headline show of theirs? Both headline shows I saw were lethal, the one support (Tool in the Point) just weak, could barely hear what was going on.

I've seen them four times I think, three headlining and one support.  One was bad, rest were lethal.  The bad one was a headline slot touring OMRTS in Dublin.  On the same run of tours but a month or two beforehand in Vancouver they were excellent.  The one support was with Opeth, they put Opeth to shame that night lol

[Pagan Saviour]

161  Today at 07:56:47 PM
Well that's just damn bad luck for you! Who was missing that night?

Genuinely can't remember! Must've been 2006/2007?

I never stopped buying the albums mind, as someone said earlier maybe just doesn't translate to live performances

[Squigs]

Bill missed that one, he was sick. Fiend Without A Face supported. Brent played a 12 string for most of the show to beef out the sound. I had seen them a load at that point so the novelty was fine for me, but it was less than ideal.

They always got a bad wrap live and I definitely saw some really poor shows by them, but on-form, which was the absolute majority of the time, they absolutely slayed. Their last shoe here was the Olympia in 2019 with Scott Kelly for a few tracks and they were absolutely lethal.