Mastodon C/D ?

The tracks on the last two albums are less obviously proggy than their earlier stuff but there are a lot more twists and turns in there than may be apparent on first listen.

I've listened to it a few times now, but it's just not doing it for me! They're still a pretty good band but I don't think I'll be listening to this too often. If I want sludgy proggy pop-metal Torche and Floor are way superior so I'll stick with them for the time being

yeah i actually thought this record had a lot more oblique and unexpected passages than say the hunter

i've only listened to it once though. iirc it was groovy and fun

I really tried with The Hunter but some kind of spark of life is just missing

Having difficulty rallying my irl friends for the Brixton show in November, anyone off here going?

http://i1.wp.com/www.ghostcultmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/mastodon-game-of-thrones.jpg

Mastodon’s Brann Dailor describes their time Beyond the Wall:

It was such an incredible experience to be on set as extras for our collective favorite show Game Of Thrones and to be wildlings murdered and then brought back to life by White Walkers was beyond amazing. I watched my best friends Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher, murdered right in front of me as I myself was stabbed in the stomach and had my throat slit multiple times, and I didn’t mind at all. It made me love being in Mastodon even more. We are more than privileged and honored to have been a part of one of the greatest stories ever told on film, and the catering wasn’t bad either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og39iIBeOHI&t=184s

I'll try again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og39iIBeOHI

It's good. Doesn't appear to be a radical departure from their last two albums, but I don't think anyone was particularly expecting that at this point. New album coming March.

The opening riff is rather similar to the one on the most recent Baroness album.

I am v bored of what they sound like w/ Brendan O'Brien on the boards

this is the first time he's produced them since crack the skye, but i agree

they're much better singers now at least

oh is it? all their recent albums have that same flat dull sound to me. xp

right, only Crack The Skye, which I think sounds great, but that's not a popular POV

They all sound fine to me, but I'm not a production nerd.

I like the new song, but it's about as predictably Mastodon-ish as anyone could imagine. I'm still looking forward to the new one, though. Current ranking: Leviathan > Crack the Skye > Once More 'Round the Sun > The Hunter > Remission > Blood Mountain (though honestly the last three are basically a tie for "yeah, no thanks").

Would more or less agree with your ranking, I find Remission and Blood Mountain fairly impenetrable. The Hunter has an ep's worth of good songs.

once more 'round the sun is a great record; i think the hunter is pretty easily their worst. ranking remission and blood mountain that low is nonsense

I've tried with both of them and never got into them. It's not that I don't enjoy their heavier work as I love Leviathan. Maybe they'll click one day.

Speaking as someone who didn't like their last two albums very much I think this new song's pretty good.

Blood Mountain is great y'all. The Hunter is the only one that I can't really get with although I love "Black Tongue".

I like Brendan O'Brien's production work because he really shines a light on their awesome guitar riffs. New song is dope, BTW.

feel like the drums get sorta buried in the riff clouds on crack the skye and this new song, but i'm looking forward to the record anyway

you're probably right, I prefer guitar over drums production on this type of album because it sounds more naturalistic to me and just louder overall. But that creates a situation where the drums do end up taking a little bit of a backseat.

you're probably right, I prefer guitar over drums production on this type of album because it sounds more naturalistic to me and just louder overall. But that creates a situation where the drums do end up taking a little bit of a backseat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdxZ4YXFcpQ

hm

Can't listen right now, is that a bad hm?

it's an undecided hm

I uh can't imagine their fanbase getting super stoked about this lol

The first track had me a little bit intrigued but now I think I'll just give this album a miss

I don't hate this track, but I don't really get why they keep trying out these pop metal tracks that just don't play to their strengths. Also leaning way to much on Bran Dailor's vocals.

Brann is the weakest of the vocalists, easily.

It's not nearly as bad as I was expecting from the reaction. I ike the off kilter solo.

Oh I don't hate it but it's just vanilla radio-rock and I don't feel the need to ever hear it again.

I suspect this isn't what the whole album will sound like, but we'll see

I also suspect it might be a better tune than it first appears, as I find many Mastodon tracks to be.

Like that Mark Twain quote about Wagner's music being better than it sounds?

this rocks i think

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ry7FStwey4

OK, so now I've heard three songs from the new album and I still haven't been convinced to pre-order it. This is a bad sign. I guess I kinda wanted them to still be capable of surprising me, and none of these songs do that. I liked the last album, but... I might be over these guys.

Mastodon have a new 4 song ep out and I'm loving it. It's a little cleaner and less brutal than their last album, basically just straight up modern rock. I really like this change of pace.

Also getting a bit of a Pink Floyd vibe in places.

Apparently three of the tracks are left over from the Once More 'Round the Sun sessions, and the other is from the Emperor of Sand sessions, so it's no surprise it's more mainstream. I've only listened to it once but I liked it.

At first listen "Cold Dark Place" seemed very Southern rock, not a stretch geographically but still something of a surprise ... sounded good to me.

My understanding is that Brent Hinds was really driving this one, and he's definitely their southern rock guy

"Blue Walsh" is great

Mastodon was teasing a new song and it was just released today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiXTJvnWA_4

Not for a new album, but a "collection of rare tracks" called Medium Rarities that will be out 9/11.

http://linkstorage.linkfire.com/medialinks/images/872f0207-db7f-495f-9c50-1f5f7b4c6f1d/artwork-440x440.jpg

Track listing:

Fallen Torches (Previously Unreleased)
A Commotion (Feist Cover)
Asleep in the Deep (Instrumental version)
Capillarian Crest (Live)
A Spoonful Weighs A Ton (The Flaming Lips Cover)
Toe To Toes (Instrumental version)
Circle of Cysquatch (Live)
Atlanta (Butthole Surfers Cover)
Jaguar God (Instrumental)
Cut You Up With A Linoleum Life (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)
Blood & Thunder (Live)
White Walker (from Game of Thrones mix tape)
Halloween (Instrumental version)
Crystal Skull (Live)
Orion (Metallica Cover)
Iron Tusk (Live)

I'll check it out, but a little disappointed it isn't all new stuff

I think they are working on new material as well?

Medium Rarities

that got an actual groan from me - well done!