LEVIATHAN

Leviathan is the album where Mastodon really came into their own and established their identity as a dominant progressive metal band. Lifesblood and Remission showed us some flashes of what was to come but overall they are much harder to listen too.

Mastodon's music has a very unique sci-fi flavor to it. It is hard to define it but I think it has kind of a Norse 'Ragnarok' feel to it. I think of them as apocalyptic Viking warrior Gods where as the first two albums sounded more like a bunch of dudes in their garage.

Leviathan is powerful, technical, and complex but also highly structured and melodic. Their drummer is probably the most talented member of the band(genre?) from a technical standpoint, but the guitarist riff and fill work is exemplary as is the clean and screaming vocal parts. Don't expect any 'Petrucci-style face-melting' here, but you'll see it isn't at all necessary.

What is special about this album is the continuity and cohesiveness of the feel and the story, an aspect that would wane a little for Blood Mountain but return in full force for Crack the Skye. Favorite tracks are 'Blood and Thunder', 'Naked Burn' and 'Hearts Alive', but there isn't much of a drop off aside from those mentioned.

Mastodon's first huge musical success.