So. We've come to the end of this journey. After several months of completely enveloping myself in this band's discography, I really feel I got to know these guys well.
This isn't just because of the nature of the marathon. It's also because this one of those special bands who never really changed their lineup once they got going. Barring recent tragic events, It was always Brent, Brann, Troy and BIll. I love these kinds of bands, like Rush or Rammstein. You can tell it's a passion project more than anything. And you really feel like you get to see a good chunk of these people's lives by listening to the music they make and what they write about at the time.
I think Mastodon was always one of those names that I heard so much of even in my early days of discovering prog and metal in general. I'm not sure why it took me this long to check them out, but my god it was so good. I'm gonna be honest, these guys have a pretty flawless discography. There were only two albums I didn't enjoy, and the rest were up to an incredible standard. I've honestly not run into many bands that have this consistent of a discography.
I'm aware their journey is not the most loved, though certainly not the most hated. But they went from some of the hardest and craziest metal out there, to making catchy almost poppy songs. It seems they're entering a new era with their latest album, a very true monster prog sound. But it's only been one album, so we need to wait a little to see if that will continue. As is, they have two very distinct sounds, and I love both of them.
Here's the ranking from worst to best:
I think its fair to say this is only here because of a technicality. This feels more like n EP than actual album. It's incredibly rough. And even though the absolute insane heaviness of their early work might be enjoyed by some, I did not really enjoy it all.
Every song feels super messy, and the lyrics are pretty terrible to the point where they might as well not exists.
Favorite songs: Slickleg, Call Of The Mastodon
It's crazy considering this came out in between two of my favorite albums from them. But their first foray into more mainstream music was a total miss for me.
The songwriting is really what's lacking here. They'd go on to make some amazing hooks and melodies. But pretty much none of that is present here.
Favorite songs: Bedazzled Fingernails, All The Heavy Lifting
Though still extremely rough. I think this was a massive improvement over their first material. The songs here feel brutal with an explosive production and some of the most insane drums Brann would ever churn out.
I found outside of the best heavy moments at the start of the album. My favorite songs were the slower, more calm ones. It was a nice break from the non memorable heavy segments.
I cannot say I fully liked this record. It's so messy, and once again the lyrics are absolutely terrible. But it forged a path to greatness. And the balls it takes for this to be your first release is pretty insane
Favorite songs: Crusher Destroyer, March Of The Fire Ants
This might be the most controversial of my picks. Here's the thing. My level of enjoyment between the last albums and this one absolutely skyrockets here.
This album is insane. It's so heavy and balls to the walls, while being a little more ambitious than their previous album Leviathan.
However, I do think it's not very memorable. Some songs are absolute masterpieces, while others definitely feel a little like filler.
It also goes to show that I connected more with Mastodons more progressive and grand sound than their early work. Still, this is where I start to really enjoy the albums.
Favorite songs: The Wolf Is Loose, Capillarian Crest
Mastodon's 2010's era seems to be loved by many and hated by many others. I absolutely loved it. And this is just a full package of heaviness, progressive's grandeur and Mastodon's bluesy touch.
While it's a little long, it really has everything. Long epics, fun little pop songs, grand and epic genre benders. Honestly I think it's pretty underrated. I loved it.
It's main problem is that it's just not as good as the rest of their monster discography. Still, it's got so many bangers and some of Brents most memorable solos.
Favorite songs: Jaguar God, Ancient Kingdom
If Crack The Skye was their Master Of Puppets, this album is their Black album.
Long gone are the super heavy and crazy riffs of the early albums. Even the long epic and psychedelic songs of Crack The Skye. There's no playing around with long instrumentals, hard to follow time signatures. This album is pure unfiltered bangers from top to bottom.
Almost every song here has me singing it at the top of my lungs. We need more metal like this. It's still heavy, aggressive, but it's just so damn catchy and infectious.
Honestly, I headbanged harder to this than half of their early discography. It's probably the album I'm gonna return to most from them.
Favorite songs: Literally every single song except Feast Your Eyes and Aunt Lisa
This album is just a perfect progressive record. It's got every single element you're expecting, but it's done in their style, and GOD do I wish they'd done more albums like this.
Really, this is the only album like itself out there. The band didn't even attempt anything like it before or after.
It's a massive, heavy, psychedelic journey full of epics, climactic moments and some of the strangest soundscapes I've heard in an album like this. It's incredible.
If you're looking for the best, and most traditional progressive experience from this band. This is where you look. Some could even call it their magnum opus, though the OTHER album definitely has that title in my opinion.
Favorite songs: Oblivion, Divinations, The Last Baron
This is the me pick. Well, really all of them are. This is my list, however, I am aware this is probably much higher than most people would place it at. I don't care.
I adore this album. It's such a dark and atmospheric experience, it almost reminds of early 2000's Opeth. It genuinely transports you to this misty forest and keeps you there for it's monster length.
I don't dislike a single song here. They are so memorable, so experimental. It's the most progressive record they've done since Crack The Skye.
It's got such a good mix of epic and melancholic moments. All the choruses feel like grief itself. The slow moments are so ethereal and mystical. And the heavy moments absolutely blow me away. The final stretch of this album is some of the saddest and most grand experiences I've had in a long time.
Favorite songs: Teardrinker, Eyes Of Serpents, Gigantium, Had It All
Its impossible to put anything else here. You might notice that I vastly prefer their more mainstream era than their heavy era. It doesn't matter. This album is that good.
I don't even know what to say. It's genuinely one of the greatest heavy experiences you can ask for. Every song makes you want to break your neck.
Every riff is so good, the solos are blazing. The DRUMS are so good they almost make me dizzy with how much they make me want to follow them.
The production is so good for it's heaviness. It's tight, doesn't waste a second. The concept and narrative about Moby Dick fits it so well. The vocals are so damn aggressive.
I can't possibly list everything this album does amazingly. You likely know how amazing it is. If you don't, listen to it. THIS is their magnum opus.
Favorite songs: The entire album
This is one of those bands that really makes every member shine. I've already sung my praises of Brann constantly, but my god, he is the sauce of this band. In the early days, he was an absolute beast of a drummer. I feel sorry for his kit cause he sounds like he is beating it to all hell. He was fast, frantic, complex, blew my mind away. The drums are the highlight of every single one of their early albums.
Then, as they mellowed out. He started to sing, and somehow, he became the best singer in the band as well. Like come on, that's just not fair. He has the perfect voice for the super catchy and epic melodies they've gotten so good at writing. It's so full too, like the fact that it's so high doesn't make it feel like he'd doing power metal screams. It's still very much a dark and melancholic sound.
While Brann is the sauce, I think Troy is the core. Honestly, he is the most consistent member of the band. His early screams were equivalent to that of a banshee. They were so aggressive and primal. Then he started to sing a little more, and though he mellowed out more, he was still a beast in the more mainstream albums. I do think his style of vocals got a little tired by the end of the 2010s, but that's when he suddenly got the glow up of the century. His voice nowadays genuinely sounds so good and seasoned. It's incredible.
I've talked very little about Bill, and I do feel bad for that. I suppose its hard when all the other members do playing AND singing. But Bill is a super tight player, and for the kind of riffs Mastodon puts out? His contribution is not to be understated. The entire rhythm section of the guitars is just as insane as the leads.
Speaking of leads. Brent. Despite him growing less and less involved with each album, honestly you'd never really know that by listening to their discography. I mean, it's pretty crazy, but I believe his best work was in Hushed and Grim without a single doubt.
He was the wildcard, the flavor bomb, the spice you didn't expect in a band like this. His playing was extremely unique and equally as insane. It's pretty famously known that he started by playing the banjo and not the guitar, and you can absolutely see that in his playing.
It's super bluesy, and almost sloppy at times. But it has such a lighthearted air that you cannot help but to love it. He can uplift the sound of a song with just a few notes, and I think that's his greatest achievement.
I enjoyed this marathon so much. And I can tell you these guys are absolutely going to be in my constant rotation from now on. Long live this beast of a band.