CALL OF THE MASTODON

"Call of the Mastodon" is a compilation album release by US metal act Mastodon. The album was released through Relapse Records in February 2006. It bridges the gap between Mastodon´s second- and third full-length studio albums "Leviathan" (2004) and "Blood Mountain" (2006). "Call of the Mastodon" features all nine tracks from Mastodon´s "9 Song Demo" from 2000. After only a few shows original Mastodon lead vocalist Eric Saner left, and guitarist Brent Hinds and bassist Troy Sanders subsequently re-recorded the vocal tracks on the "9 Song Demo". The demo tracks featuring the re-recorded vocal tracks first apppeared on the three separate releases. "Demo 2001" and the two 2001 EPs "Slick Leg" and "Lifesblood". One track on the former, three tracks on "Slick Leg" and five tracks on "Lifesblood". So this compilation is the first time all nine demo tracks featuring the re-recorded vocal tracks have been released in its entirety.

Stylistically Mastodon play a hard to describe type of metal, influenced by sludge, thrash, hardcore, and even death metal. The vocals are angry, shouting, and are often doubled by the two vocalists. The soundscape is raw, brutal, and busy, and Mastodon already this early on proved that they were a technically well playing unit. Drummer Brann Dailor is on fire throughout the release, driving the music forward in a both powerful and creative fashion, while guitarists Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher produce one heavy, occasionall even brutal, yet sophisticated and intriguing riff after another. The songwriting is creative but generally lacks memorable and hook laden moments, and it´s in that department that Mastodon still needed to hone their skills. Considering that Mastodon formed the same year as recording the material featured on "Call of the Mastodon", and the fact that this was originally released as a demo, it´s still quite the impressive early release from Mastodon and a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives).

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