Famous for resurrecting the lost art of the concept album, Mastodon have returned with another uncompromisingly progressive effort, Blood Mountain.
Their sophomore effort, Leviathan, impressed fans and critics alike with its ability to create a mood consistent with its theme of a battle with the giant, white whale we know oh-so-well. On Blood Mountain, Mastodon use their signature brand of metal to construct the ambiance of an epic and perilous journey definitely worth taking.
It is difficult to attach a single label to Mastodon's sound (technical metal? stoner? epic?). A quick glance at the list of guest vocalists on Blood Mountain speaks volumes about Mastodon's feelings on the subject. With appearances from Scott Kelly (Neurosis), Josh Homme (KYUSS, Queens of the Stone Age) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (The Mars Volta), Mastodon clearly consider themselves Progressive Metallers.
As well they should. All the elements of prog-metal present on previous albums are even more noticeable on Blood Mountain. The band combines the masterful and, at times, awe-inspiring drum work of founding member Brann Dailor with blazingly technical, yet unpredictable, guitar work. The marriage of these elements with vocalist Troy Sanders' mournful and sometimes strangely timed bellowing creates a gloomy dissonance one can't help but revel in.
The album opens with one of its strongest tracks, ""The Wolf Is Loose."" Musically, the song seems a comfortable segue from their previous work, maintaining the complexity of Leviathan. However, the vocals alternate between the classic, acrid Mastodon roar and a new style of vocals where Sanders and guitarist Brent Hinds perform a sort of drone-yell chorus. It sounds less anguished than their other vocal styles, but maybe that is a sign of their growing maturity.
Other standout tracks include ""Capillarian Crest"" for its unconventionally fast presentation of ""this could only be Mastodon"" riffs as well as ""Colony of Birchmen,"" in which Homme's haunting vocals add depth to Mastodon's already immense sound.
The only parts of the album that longstanding Mastodon fans may find questionable lie in the band's experimentation with electronically altered vocals on two tracks: ""Circle of Cysquatch"" and ""Siberian Divide."" They are merely backing vocals, but they sound like a bad '80s cybervillain. They only last a minute or two though, making this a forgivable offense.
There are two versions of the album available: one with only the CD and one with a DVD featuring a 45-minute making-of-the-album documentary. Unfortunately, the upgraded edition costs significantly more than the barebones package. Decide for yourself how hardcore a Mastodon fan you are, but be careful: One listen of Blood Mountain may make you a DVD-buying diehard.
(For those who are truly old-school, look for the 12"" vinyl release of Blood Mountain on Oct. 3.)
