| Mastodon is a largely instrumental and relatively new metal band (formed in 2000). When I say largely instrumental I don't mean they have no words. Most of their songs do, but they're always secondary to the song's instruments. The songs are not lyric-driven. Last.fm dubs them as progressive metal, and they occupy the slot for 10th most popular progressive metal band. They're actually the only American heavy metal band I enjoy, which is because I can't stand American accents mixed with loud music. I don't know why, but I normally stick with British or foreign language bands for heavier stuff. The reason Mastodon can slip under my scrutiny is that there aren't many words in their songs, and when there is I barely notice them. Plus, it's mostly incomprehensible growling anyway. Having said that, in my opinion their best songs are, completely without coincidence, the ones with little or no vocals. It's all about the music, man.
The absolutely best thing about them is that Mastodon is the perfect name for their sound. When I listen to one of their songs, I am suddenly aware that I'm experiencing the exact auditory equivalent of a mastodon in various moods and motions. Every mastodon documentary should have a purely Mastodon soundtrack. Every twang, squeal, whine, thump, burst, and crash is flawlessly metaphorical in representing thick, shaggy, resilient fur, thunderous, crushing, yet ponderous footfalls, and those solemn, spear-like doom-tusks. Their song "March of the Fire Ants," my personal favourite, is the last thing you hear before a mastodon flattens your puny body with utter indifference and smugness.
If you like thunderheads of guitar plus bass plus drums being complex and melodious while crushing you to death with awesome, listen to Mastodon. If you like progressive metal listen to them. If you like mastodons or mammoths (or maybe, and this is probably stretching it, elephants) listen to them. If you like gentle singing lightly placed over a meandering clarinet sonata do not listen to them, because you probably won't like them. I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't your style. However, this writeup means greater exposure and I would be glad if anyone read this, tried them, and could see what I'm talking about.
Here's a discography of their works thus far:
Call of Mastodon
Released February 7, '06
Leviathan
Released August 31, '04
Remission
Released October 21, '03
Lifesblood
Released November 30, '00
Oh, and they're doing the opening theme song for the ATHF movie.
rarr, mastodon!!!!
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