LIFESBLOOD

So, I'll finally start to review the Mastodon's albums, a band that I've followed for years. This little EP, their first official release, is their least worthy work!

Mainly because the true style of the band would be later developed. While in this album the dominant key is death metal, with some trash and stoner rock elements, and a bit of experimentation. Ok, this mixture is the Mastodon's trademark, but in Lifesblood the direction of the tracks is not really clear, and a bit too chaotic. The poor production doesn't help to improve the sensation these five tracks give. The vocals are poor in comparison with later Mastodon's albums, and they are too synthetized and artificial.

But if you are a Mastodon fan, of course you'll find some interesting things here. Like I found! We Built this Come Death has some of this macabre and odd ambience that Mastodon can give to their songs. The little initial riff of Hail to Fire has the typical sharp and special Mastodon's guitar sound, and Brann Dailor was impressive behind the drumkit. And of course, Battle at Sea is a worthy track, a little Mastodon's classic.

Nevertheless, if you are new to the band, I recommend you start with one of their full-length albums (specially Leviathan or Crack the Skye)

Conclusion: if you are not a Mastodon's fan, you will hardly find anything interesting here. Because this album is maybe too rough, too death metal, and the later Mastodon's style is almost invisible here. I'm not speaking in terms of prog (are Mastodon really prog?), but in terms of quality and the original and unique sound that Mastodon give to their music in albums like the great Leviathan.

So, in my humble opinion, Lifesblood is only recommended for fans and the band's completionists.

My rating: **

Mastodon - Lifesblood 2.5

A typical debut EP.

It happens for nearly all bands to put out an immature debut EP, and Mastodon is no different. I think it is better than most efforts though since it already contained a nice new taste of metal, the only lackluster would be the result of some unfulfilling influences such as death metal and trash, however they weren't the abundance. The abundance would mostly be a straight 'metal' sound and some of the nice twists, tempo and time changes that Mastodon would conjure up on further releases.

One thing to take note of would be the virtuoso drummer Brann Dailor. Besides Buddy Guy, Brann can rip up a small drum set like no other, but can keep a nice simple beat, meaning he is not an over-indulgent musician. The guitarists take a lot of influence from classic rock artists, the largest being ACDC, as stated in interviews. They're the type that just likes to plug in and jam, and at this stage, it sounds just like that.

On later releases, the nice hard rock jams will still be there, but the band will open up quite a bit too nice experimentations and conjure up some strong sections and wonderful melodies. If there is one thing that this EP showed, would be promise.

"Lifesblood" is an EP release by US metal act Mastodon. The EP was released through Relapse Records in September 2001 (their second 2001 EP). Mastodon formed in 2000 and released the "9 Song Demo" later the same year. After only a few shows supporting the demo release original lead vocalist Eric Saner left Mastodon and the band opted to re-record and replace Saner´s vocal tracks with vocal tracks performed by guitarist Brent Hinds and bassist Troy Sanders. Five of the nine tracks from the demo (featuring the re-recorded vocals) make up the 15:37 minutes long "Lifesblood". All material from the EP would later be released as part of the "Call of the Mastodon" (2006) compilation album.

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 often doubled by the two vocalists. The soundscape is raw, brutal, and busy, and Mastodon immediately prove that they are a technically well playing unit. Drummer Brann Dailor is on fire throughout the EP´s five tracks, driving the music forward in a both powerful and creative fashion.

If anyone feared that material culled directly from a demo would feature a bad sound quality, those fears are unfounded as the material on "Lifesblood" features a powerful, raw, and detailed sound production, which suits the material well. The songwriting is maybe a bit unfocused and all over the place, but it´s part of the charm of early Mastodon. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives).

Progressive death sludge, anyone? Yeah? Then check out LIFESBLOOD, the very first release by MASTODON. This is the first official release preceding 'Remission' by a year but like that debut LP it's a massive molten heap of hot, sludgy brutality. This EP only contains five tracks that are just shy of the 16 minute mark, but this little beast does not disappoint, that is if you love your metal fast, brutal and raw. Think Behemoth meets Neurosis here, only with the progressive leanings of a much more sophisticated band like early Atheist. While the the vocals are brutal, growly and tortured, the music is equally brutal but sophisticated and unrelenting and most of all shows MASTODON with a unique progressive style of metal from the very first track.

Like many, i didn't hear this one until after all the full-length albums. I never hold out any hopes for these early releases but i have to admit that with MASTODON it's the early brutal beasts that rock my world the most. Brann Dailor is the star here showing us from the start that he is one of the fastest technical drummers in the universe. He claims his playing was developed from playing with the guitars instead of the bass as most metal bands tend to. Whatever the case, wow! I can hardly ignore the excellent guitar and bass work of the rest of the band. Every player is top notch and the passion pits are flowing here living up to the name of the giant extinct mammal after which they are named.

While this EP isn't essential, i would argue that the tracks on it are. They are also available these days on the 'Call Of The MASTODON' compilation albeit without the movie track samplings that begin the tracks on the original, which has become quite the rare collectible only having been produced limited numbers. If you love MASTODON at their most aggressive and unpolished then you will love this one. I swear this even blows 'Remission' away. Not even close to as polished as the later works but satisfying for its raw beastly brutality nonetheless. LIFESBLOOD is an excellent slice of progressive death sludge metal in my world.